The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-08
A SENATORIAL SCANDAL.

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The Legislature of Alabama, at the regula
session of last year, raised joint committee Il
investigate the means employed by George E
Spencer to procure his election to the United
, States Senate in 1872. While the true Legis
lature of Alabama occupied the State Rous'
, in Montgomery, fractional Legislature com
posed of Radicals occupied tie courthouse il
that city.
The latter body was composed in part o.
Radical Representatives and Senators really
elected, and in part of men who had been
beaten as candidates, but were counted in,
after the manner peculiar to Radical bodies in
the South, in place of the members actually
elected. Thus they made up a quorum in
each house precisely as quorum was made
in the lower House here year ago.
This fractional and spurious Legislature
elected Spencer to the Senate, which body
being Radical by large majority, made no
inquiry as to the mode of his election. He is
now about forty years DID, native of New
York, once member Of the Iowa bar, and
Secretary of the Senate of that State.
During the war he raised and COM
manded negro regiment of cavalry
from Alabama, for which service he
was rewarded with the appointment Of Regis
ter in Bankruptcy, a very lucrative Office in
the hands Of men Of his stripe. He was
elected to the United States Senate in 1868,
in the usual Radical way, to complete an I'M
expired term.
Although young he appears to be COM
plete master Of political knavery. Accord
ing to the testimony Of witnesses chiefly of
the Republican party, it appears that he made
use Of Federal patronage in such a way and
to such extent as to show that he was direct
ly aided by his army friend, the Presi-
dent. Eight Senators and fourteen Repre-
sentatives received appointments in Federal
Offices after Spencer was elected, all in con-
formity with promises made by him and his
agents. The whole patronage Of the Execu-
tive was thus placed at his disposal, and he
used it to bride members to whom he was
personally obnoxious, or who preferred other
candidates.
Among the official brides thus bestowed
were the following:
4 Collector Of Customs at Mobile.
-Four Deputy Collectors of Internal R4ve-
nue..
Five Postmasters in larger cities.
Two United States District Attorneys.
Four Clerks in Custom-House.
Three Deputy Collectors Of Customs.
A Governor Of Dakota Territory.
An Inspector Of Customs.
United States Marshal
Policeman in Washington, D. G.
Three United States Mail Agents
A United States Gauger.
A Route Agent
A Weigher and Gluger.
Besides members Of the fractional and fraud.
nlent body, many persons we're bribed by
means of positions under the United States
Government to aid him with their personal
influence. He made direct use Of money for
he purpose Of gaining votes, and this money
ne raised by blackmailing from the following
sources
The Mobile Post-Ofice, the Offices of the
Internal Revenue in that city and Montgo-
merry, and the State AMI National Radical
Executive Committees. Federal officers were
obliged to contribute under pain of losing
heir positions, ana the levy Of the corrup-
ion was made upon all subordinates.
1t is stated that the agents of Spenser tried
0 bride member of the true Legislature;
ut, failing in that, they lured him into inc
riety, and in that condition attempted to kill
i'm by poisoning, from the effects of which
heir victim remained PROSTATE and devoid of
rental and physical strength for some days.
The report leaves no room to doubt that in
recurring his election to the United States
enate Spencer employed means of base and
riminal character. What the Senate, as now a
onstituted, will do in the matter remains to L
9 seen. The report and the voluminous tes-
mony will be forwarded to that body with !
ut delay, and when, on the motion Of Mr..
oldthwaite, of Alabama, or some other Dem Z
cratic Senator, the subject shall be called up, I
9 shall have chance to see what amount of '
,lf-respect the Radical Senators have retained Z