The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-11
IN ALABAMA
now ELECTIONS WE'RE MANAGED
UNDER CdRPEI-Bi0 RULE


North arc SO persistsntly misled rs that Of tie
condition OF affairs In the South. 1t has been
matter OF surprise to the Southern peoIle for
many years, that with the constant Intercourse
Between the sections, with the facilities fur
aishod for proper nderstanding of the sub jeci.
Ihe truth should not long ago have been kr own.
And yet, upon the eve OF every important cleo
lion, we hear the s, me old tale oi Soutber out
RACES by the whites, when no outrases exst,
and there are thousands OF American citizens
who allow their political action to be controlled
exclusively thereby.
Isee from the Northern Republican p-pers.
Tor It 10 only from them that We Of the South
End out that outfages by the wnies are beng
pcrpetrated, that the same ruse 10 bong at
tempted in the resent canvass that bas here
tofore proved SO potent iD other campaigns. to
wit, the cry OF "intimidation and Southern
Iawlessness," VIII ch Is intended TO impress tho
Northern mind with the Idea that tho white
people Of the South are In armed conspiracy to
prevent the negroes from exercising the free
dom OF the ballot, and that reign Of terror
exists In consequence Of 1t. Is II not astonish-
iDc-SOw long 50 great number OF the Northern
people have allowed themselves to be persuaded
20 this delusiou, IN the face Of the plain aud
pnlpable facts Of tue case7
one OF the nrst things that imnresses the
Northern traveller visiting the South Is the utter
and entire absence Of any such state of affairs
as be has been taught to believe exists here
He travels for miles and miles through the
country, and he neither sees nor hears OF law
Iessness. He has read In the papers, hefore he
left home, that Gov. Kellogg stated that ne
groes In Mississippi were falling like leaves In
autuun" and he naturally expects 20 dad a
Wholesale massacre OF blacks going ON at every
ralroad station; but hc travels OF, and every
where Is peace aud iietness. assert. without
the slightest fear OF successful contradiction,
that, barring tho occasional crimes ncidout TO
eyery community. and which VIII occur long
as mankind have evil passions, moro peaf eful.
law bidlDg populatiD II than tee great hOoy OF
che Southern white people cannot be found on
abe American continent. Take the testimony
,ot the great travelling public, who nave hud
abundant opportunity Tor observation, and tnev
are unanimous on this point. Taking into con.
sideration the vefy peculiar Circumstanc 2 sur
rounding Southern socetv r-Cen ~ 50 elo-
puently and trutbfully depicted by MIR Lamar
and the almost universal peace and quiet inat
prevails Is really some hlug astonishing.
II our traveller happens TO be pre-en. while
On election Is going on. he Is Gstnnished at the
Iair e.llns OF the Whites and the perfect Il ee-
dom exer ised by the negroes. / have W.T.
pessed elections time aud time again. wneu thc
white reOule have actually greatly inronyeni-
enced themselves. ana have performed duties
That the law did not compel them to perform,
only to Give the negro aD opportunity to csst
bis ballot; anu that, too, vhen thry knew that
every negro vote would be cast az. inst the
Democratic candidate, md probably for some
very corrupt aud incom pc tent man. | have ire
Quentls seen White men. when the polls could
Eroes' Intellectual inaoihty To- conduct the cleo
uon. volunteer t. act a. CLERKS or inspectors and
conduct II for them. when u they uhe white
b d renamed slOof four or nye hundred vote.
would have oeen lost to the Republican canG-
But there has been fraud and Intimidation
practised at Southern electiOn.-dny QUANTITY OF
w. There has not osen an election in ,he South
cd, and VIII, re wholesale fraud has not teen
practised, and the Republicans have hy every
A.. ar IL
the people OF the North should thoroughly
understand this nntler. Dy your leav- pro-
pose, for the benefit OF the readers OF nE 5VS.
TO suomit a lew PLAIN aud undeuiaUle facts IN
relation to the subject.
shall take this, Dallas county, es q sample Of
The southern country sener4lly, for bore the ne
gro Dol ulHtlon rre1ominate IN the proportion Of
about nye TO one. Inc fact cannot ue est bli, n
cd by single reliah.e witness that in one single
Instance since 1885 - sin !ie enort oeen made
by white man. or a collection OF white men, ih
this county TO intimidate single negro voter,
or TO prevent in ny unlawful way the fIee,t ex-
srcise VI the elective franchise hy the black,
nor has the slightest fraud ever been attempt
cd In any shape or form by tne Democrats. /
make this statement No;. tonniertli. Tor tho
laots are notorious. On the o,vSr na..c, assert,
with equal confidence, rs the fscts are equally
notorious, that there has not been election
In Dallas county since the war wnere negroes
have not been intimIdated by those of their own
color by threats ana sometimes bv actual vio
lence because they voted OF wisaea 70 vote the
Democratic ticket. and where, until very re-
Gently. whoe esa,e fraud has not bec1 practised.
For several years after the war II was the com
moDest thing nj elec ions TO see the merest lads
sixteen and seventeen years old, crowd to the
polls and cast their b lou unmole-ted for tue
Republican election law was ingeniously CON
t<ived to prevent ANYTHING Ike successful email
lenging OF illegal votes. Idiots. penitentiiry
crowded TO the puils TO help stun the ballot
box for men running for the highest aud lost
GOULD not have be.n elected town constable
One of tho chief captains who used to marshal
this sable cDnstlt uency To the pOlls-l white
man. who held Office through their sunr5ges for
several yesrs-is now serving his term as
county convict, with twelve indictments still
psndinR against nim ior perjury ana emtcS2le
pent. Another of the Ring, who lived IA clover
iwbile toe s-turn ALA was going on-slso Office
,holder-ls serving term IN tho penltentiaTy.
but II Is not my purpose 10 SPEAK Of the ~ eTial
that has composed the Republican party here,
but of its perfofm mancss.
submit for your consideration, and as the
most satisfactory continuation Of this subject,
the following e1'racts from the evidence tsksn
~ the Contested election case OF DrOmbefg hgt.
Harrison. hariaon, negro, Is the present in-
cunbent In Congress from the First DIst,ict ~
Alabama. In, scat W r contested by tne Hon
h. q, Bronbere Of Mobile lie (Har ison) is
now in Washington, and has recentiy az s'umeJ
she IoIe OF Outrage shIlekeT aud tns Is tue way
he was elected:
james s. Perrin testified o-Pease Sats ~ha,
voters Of Monroe ana aojac nj counties 10 vote iGe
son Tor Congress sld to NaaI extent the t,e "
s ssia count Sna1sea ana controlled ihereOt Al
Concur snd T.le9I The dlsIrouliln ot b4Gcs. AZ.
PropIiAe1 ot CvhRress Tor Tue brnent Of tue over
sns the e" preseace u hea AHns s =, r SS.e te P
meins Of conIrolns anu e6aaging al es. 80 y,a ~.
against + q BrOmOerg and for j re Ilar,isOu vpirh
0therwlse Nou d have Dern cast Tor BrOmDerg.
Oh HJw oid the use Of Government DicOn Influence
tho negro Notep - -sued the bacon Tor Muuror
county PeVlOut 10 DOING 50, tep,it cirlur, ed
among the IA grOes that In order tor " Obtsi
bacon they would have 10 cOLscnt to vote .rAgnt
Republican ucket; and II thcy received bacon anu
1Djected 10 vote sad republican uc-es. they wVLld
Forfeit their rights IN Aw.
Q.-Are you a Repuulicani Alan.
Q-YOu spoke OF other Influences. What other lnnu.
ences2 Allie presence VI Uned States soldiers Ivr
enc
Q-Under whose controIf A.-Under mine.
Q-ln vast capacity were you actng1 A,-As Deputy
United btates Marshal. Chairman Of the County RepU
tlc.n kIecu.he Committee, ana United States super.
ON what way did the presence OF United States
pro Jps influence and control sAio electOu7 A.FrHt,
~ tne resrAlulng innu-nco OF theT presence tue
vhites aud II had been extensively circulated And
oertoOd that warrants for large number OF white
hhd Desn lsautd ana paced IN my hands As Uni.ed
Hoee that II they failed TO the Republican ckeI
theT would ose tneir nghts aud be liable 10 arrest
Q.Were any other lneans used ~ cOntroi Vot . for
pAid Republican ticket7 Alt eItenGlVelt crcu.
Hated through Monroe, COuecuh. CLARKE and KiicUK
counties. that barbecue YOU'D he held at MOnroeyll
on said election 1sy ami that ali negroes who 0uld
attend said election daI and vote tae Republican
ficket eontaning the name OF Jrre HARRISON fT Coz
Eress, would receive meat enough 20 last tbem yer
This induced many TO come from adjoining counties 10
Aonroeyllo ano vote on said DAY. Ihe barbecue Wa
held. and Largely attended;
Q-Where we're tue soldiers stationed 2 A.-DnsctJ
At tue yOll-.
Q-iad they their arms A'rhey had.
N he nae a m viii har. 4