Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-23


ing Of the electoral vote, was discussed uutll
the hour of adjournment.
The House resumed the consideration OF the
bill, prohihitog officers and employees OF The
Government from contributing money to lnhu-
ence elections.
Mr.. Blaine said he congratulated the House
| on the surrender OF the doctrine OF the State
| rights, which had heretofore been asserted by
the Democratic side, by the denial OF the right
oil the General Government to interfere 10 the
matter Of elections 10 the States. He regarded
this as significant and gratifying circumstance
10 the hist Try .! the times, aud an assurance
hat the Democratic party would unite with the
r publican party 10 preserving the purity OF
the elcclious. He referred 10 the recent Sena-
torial contest 10 the Virginia Legislature, Civ
Jog the details Of the baIloting aud the mauuer
in which the ballot was "purged' by the with
drawaI of the excess over the registration, claim
io4 that, as the Republican ballots were on
large per aud the Democratic on small slips,
all but FIVE Republican votes were drawn out.
Fl referred 10 two assessments made III 1856
by the D. mocrats. and said the Republicans
had never made but one, There was DO use
| in being Pharisacal about it. The fact that all
parties bad assessed and collected money from
persons holding F deral aud State Offices was
| too notorious to deny or bubble about. 1t the
| bill was intended to root out and eradicate the
| evil, it should 60 far enough to embrace Sena-
tors, members aud Delegates.
MIR. Townsend, Of Pa, offered an amend
ment providing th,t this law should not be
construed to interfere with existing State laws,
and proceeded to show that the laws OF Penn
/ syIvauia allowed Contributions for printing tick
cts, holding conventions AMI political demon.
strations and such proper expenditures.
Mr.. Goode, OF Va, said the ballot was
thing unknown to the people of Virginia until
it was put upon them by the Underwood Con-
vention, composed almost wholly Of Republi-
cans, aud that the law was strictly followed 10
reducing the numb Der of ballots to the humber
Of voters registered.
Mr. Blaue said that to conduct 40 election
| in the way denoted WAS no better than to de.
eide it by lhrowirg dice and with these small
tickets aud the mode OF "purglng" with load
ed dice on the one side. He had the authority
from distinguished Democrat of Virginia,
and he had 10 object for eoncealment-it was
| Henry \. Wisc-who said
Mr. G ode Gnterrupting.) He dos not be-
long to the Democratic party. Laughter.
Mr. Blaine. He does not belong to US.
This gentleman said, speaking Of this election,
1T rul Herods Herod, GU; carpet bags the car
! pet baggers aud out scailawags the scala
ways" Laueher.)
Mr. Bialue next proceeded to read from the
testimony of Cornelius Wendell, 10 which be
stated that he had agreed to pay 43 per cent.
of the gross amount Of the printing bills for
party purposes, and that President Buchanan
was party to the arrangement, although lie
| was not aware that he knew the amount 20 be
paid This case, said Mr.. Blaine, bore s,rlk
| lDg resemblance to a case that had recently
couvused the House, and Of which they would
probably hear more.
Mr. Hllman said the gentleman forgot two
thiDgs-frst, that the testimony of Wendell
vas not sustained by the whole evidence as
showing any knowledge OF the arrangement by
any ofhcer Of the Government; and secon d, that
a widespread suspicion of its truth caused
political revolution which brought his party
toto power, and he asked fthe gentleman now
doubted that widespread suspicion would
produce a corresponding result at this time?
MIR. Stowell, OF Virginia, said that in the
|
had all Democratic judges, aud 10 one there was
one Republican judge at each poll. The small
tickets were used 10 mis- district, aud after the
polls were closed the three judges aud Two
clerks, all Democrats, excluded all Others from
! the room, and drew out the large votes, as
shown by Mr.. Blaine. 10 the Portsmouth
| district, which had been cited, the Republican
judge of election was, as has been stated, offer
ed the privilege of being biudfolded and allow
cd to draw the ballots but be declined, and
gave his reason that he would not be a party
to any such fraud.
Mr.. MeCrary said he was glad to find that
the Democratic side was willing TO come up to
this effort in support of the purity of the cleo
TONS but he argued that it cut off, necessary
expenditures.
Mr.. Blaine then demanded the previous
question on the bill aud amendments, but the
House by party vote, 80 to 81, refused to sus-
tain the demand.
Nj. Goode then proceeded to address the
House 10 reply to Blaine, and charged the
grOssest corruption ia the MANAGEMENT of the
Portsmouth navy yard. In reply to MIR. Sto
we'll, he said that gentleman came from what
| Is known a. the black district, aud the reason
why there were all Democratic judges of cleo
tiuu was because there were not enough Re-
pubIic4os who could read aud write to make
judges OF. For long time all the Represen-
tatives in the Legislature from that district
| had been American citz.ns of African de-
sceot, unti the friend and colleague of the
gentlemap, a colored man named Robins 10,
had been expelled by vote Of whites and
blacks Democrats aud Republicans, for lar
ceny, and white man and Democrat had been
sent 10 his place.
Mr.. Harris, OF Va, said so far from the law
OF Virginia having been fran with view TO
fraud 10 conducting elections, the clause 10
question was copied from the laws OF New
Y rk.
Mr.. Cox said there had been good deal of
unnecessary discussion since both parties we're
anxious to secure the purify of election. Who
were responsible for the frauds iu the South
since reconstruction, the record, Of the House
would show. They had seen members from
the Sou seated in the House who were never
elected outside of it. He did cot care to med
Ole with natural history, as he had got int
soulc trouble already, but he would venture to