The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-22
A SPECIMEN BRICK.
A Leaf from the History of Car.
pet.Baggism.
A Moral and Political Leper.
From the New York SUM-

"A
From the New York SUM-
condensed history of the aims, methods
and true character of carpet-baggism in thu
South is to be found in the investigation Just
made by committee of the Alabama Legis
lature into the so-called election of George E.
Spencer to the Senate of the United States
from the 4th day Of March, 1873.
After graduating as barkeeper at Indiana
polls, Spencer, like many other Adventures,
saw chance to improve his fortune BY the
convulson of great civil war. He fixed his
eyes early on Alabama as Offering profitable
field for his peculiar enterprise, and after
fourishing as q sutler, squa ted down when
peace came with an appointment as Register
in Bankruptcy. Being truly loyal, he was q
Grant Republican, and of course devoted
friend of the colored race and their votes.
Under the benign influence of reconstruc-
ton Spencer wac transformed into Senator,
and took the seat which William r. King,
Dixon Fl. Lewis, and other eminent men had
long filled with honor to the State, In that
capacity he was allowed to distribute the Fed
eral patronage and offices, and during the
whole period of Grantism has been one of its
recognized props and pronounced third
termer.
Although the Republican candidates for
Governor and other State Offices were counted
in at the election OF 1872. the Democrats had
q majority in the Legislature which was to
choose successor to Spencer. All the in
fuence of the Administration had been d.
rected to that point to secure his return, and
troops were brought in from q distance and
scattered in the close and doubtful counties
by his direction to intimidate the opposition,
while the United States Marshal and his depu-
ties were making arbitrary arrests for the
same object.
In spite of all these efforts they failed. But
defeat only melted q more desperate zeal.
A conspiracy was concocted to disorganize
the regular Legislature, and by withdrawing
the Republican part of it from the main body
and calling in enough outsiders to make a
numerical quorum, to set up this fraud and
re-eleot Spencer upon the faith that he would
be admitted to seat by the Republican Sem
ate, without regard to any legal right or valid
election.
There was still O serious obstacle to the
success Of this project. The real Legislature
chosen by the people was sitting at the Cap
itol with bona fide quorum to do business,
and by law had to elect Senator on the same
day with the outside body, which had been
patched up for Spencer. 10 overcome this
difficulty, the cOnspiritors bought over one
member with Federal office, induced
Democrat, and drugged third into insensi-
ability.
All these facts and others showing in detail
how money and troops and marshals were
used to send this man back to the Senate, are
proven by the very Republicans who were in
Spencers confidence at the time, and were
active agents of his choosing to do the infa-
nous work. Some of the witnesses admit
having fred bullets through their hats, and
then produced them as evidence of Ku-Klux
assaults, in order to justify demand for
troops
The chief manager of this villainy was j. j.
Hinds who was recently detected in the Post
Office frauds and forgeries while living under
Spencer's roof at Washington, and for which
he has soon to answer for four indictments.
Previously he had been q contractor under
the Washington ring through Spencer's in
fuence. G. G. Sheats, lately appointed Au.
ditor for the Post Office Department, was also
prominent in the same service.
Spencer appointed marshals, deputies,
Custom House officers, route agents of the
Post Office, and others, as if these places
were his personal property and there was no
public interest to protect He commanded
the disposition oftroops even more effectively
than their own immediate officers who prac-
tically reported to him for duty.
When the time came to present the creden-
tials obtained in this way, he attempted by
scurvy trick to bs sworn in with other Sena-
tors, knowing that objection was intended
After the failure of that experiment the ques-
ton was referred to the Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections, of which Mr.. Morton |
was then and is now chairman. The bottom |
facts were well known. 1t WAS notorious that |
Spencer had not been legally elected. But |
the Republican majority sustained his pre-
tensions, and for two years he has been |
voting on great questions with all the priv |
ileges Of q competent Senator.
Not content with giving him a seat to |
which he had no color or just claim, the Re-
publicans advanced him to the craftsmanship |
of the Committee on the District of Column |
bia. with iull knowledge of his corruption
and intimacy with Boss Shepherd and his |
ring And until this explosion, no other car
pet-baPger has stood nearer to the President |
or his Cabinet than Spencer.
When this testimony is laid before the |
Senate next winter, the majority will be |
sorely troubled how to dispose of it. The |
case is analogous in prinsiple to that of Cald-
well of Kansas, who was compelled to resign, 4
but much stronger in other respects
Nothing SO disgraceful has ever before been
disclosed as ths details of this transaction in
all its parts. And yet it is only of kind
with what has been witnessed in Arkansas,
Louisiana, Mississippi and other States
under carpet-bag rule.
The Republicans will not like to surrender
a vote with their fast. decreasing majority, and
will plead every technical bubble to
save Spencer. But the risk of such course
is serious on the eve of Presidential election.
and they may sacrifice him, since the evil
dence is overwhelming and their own rogues
have fallen out
Prof D. X. Whitaker has favored us with |
a copy of the Nm Orleans Monthly Reuie,o
for April Prof itaker is the editor and
proprietor Of this excellent magazine, and has |
brought to bear upon it all his excellent
ability and marked talent. 1t is replete with |
interesting reading matter, and just such q |