National Republican., 1876-01-07
SENATOR sPENcER's CAsE-rRUrH FROM
4 DEMOCRATIC SOURCE.

We have been shown a letter, written
by Democratic member of the Alabama
Legislature, regarding the current charges
against Senator Spencer, to distinguished
member of the Democratic party of that
State, at present in this city. 1t is an
honest confession from a man who is an
earnest and ardent Democrat, and q strong
political opponent Of Senator Spencer The
letter is as follows:
MONTGOMERY, Dec. 81, 1870.
Ny DEAR SIR: In view of our old personal
and political associations, and because de-
sire you 10 know that l condemn the present
action OF our Legislature in their foolish waste
OF time and money, which rightfully belongs
TO our people, in endeavoring to make political
capital out of the evidence trumped up from
witnesses against Senator Spencer, whom no
member of the Legislature would upon his
oath state that he would believe. God knows
l never voted for Spencer but once, and that
was in kind Of Democratic caucus, and |
would not now say word against the present
action of the Democratic Legislature of Ala
bama if ] did not know that their conduct
would inevitably bring shame and disgrace
upon our party, not only in the State, but with
the right minded all over the country. You
may ask how can it bring shame and disgrace
upon the party, and will answer plainly and
simply. by giving Senator Spencer an Oppor-
tunity of making public the private and uu-
written history of our party in connection
with the election of Senator during the session
of 1872. lie will certainly summon as wit
ncsses Ander: on and Hamilton, of Mobile:
Carmichael, of Dale, and Cobb, of Shelby,
who will he forced TO state, If interrogated,
that We were the first to violate every prin-
ciple of law and honor in order to cheat our
selves into majority in the Legislature. 1t
is more than likely that Parks, a member of
the committee which has just submitted
their report, knows all of what | speak,
and yet has the face to attempt
to throw dirt in this dangerous way.
Why, Sir, we were so much ashamed of the
fraud we had perpetrated upon the right Of
the people Of the counties Of Barbour and
Marengo, by permitting men not elected by
them to usurp the places belonging to those
elected, that Mr.. Cobb, even before We had
voted for Senator, introduced resolution
looking to the unseating of those acting as
Senators from Barbour and Marengo, which
resolutions were substituted by others drawn
up by Parks, notwithstanding the fact that
no one appeared to contest these seats in our
Senate and yet we would have elected DEM
ocratic Senator by heir votes, when VIC knew
that the Republican party had legallyelected
majority of the members of the Legislature.
Is it not strange that Parks neglected to men
tion these facts in the report You know,
from what / have already said to you on the
subject, how much | was opposed to this ac-
ton on the part of those who at that time
controlled our party, and that l only acted
herein under the party lash And now, to see
some of the men who know as much of the
secrets connected with our action in this re-
gard bringing up the subject in such way as
10 bring all of our raseality to light is more