New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-26
TIE AIAB4MA WEMORIAL.

The Report of the Joint Committee of the
Alabama Legislature, which forms the basis OF
the memorial Just presented TO the Senate for
an inquiry into the circumstances OF MI.
Spencer's alleged election in 1872, is most
serious document. and demands the promptest
and most serious attention. The evidence in
the case is er pdrte because Mr.. Spencer
refused to attend the sessions Of the Commit
tee either in person or by agent, and did not
see proper to make any reply to the charges
against him, or to discredit any OF the wit
ncsses The United States Senate however is
under no obligation to coniine itself to the
testimony hero presented and the memorial
lists only ask that it shall follow up the clcws
which they have furnished. IF half that their
witnesses have sworn to is true, Spencer's
presence in the National Capitol is disgrace
which the Republican party cannot afford
to tolerate another day. good outline
of the Report was furnished by our Wasnlng-
ton correspondent a few days ago, but III the
full text of the document now at hand We find
a multitude Of fresh and startling facts.
The charges against Spencer fall under sew
eral principal heads. First there was fraud III
the election of members OF the Legislature III
1872, and the worst of the agencies employed
to that end was intimidation by means of
United States troops and warrants of arrest
under the Enforcement acts. 1t is shown by
Spencer's letters that he had the troops sent
where they could be used in this work, and
he wrote to one of his agents, Robert Barber
in October, 1872, al wish Randolph, Deputy
Omitted States Marshal, would use the COM
"pany at Opelilla in making arrests in ITALIA
"poOsa, Randolph. and Cleburne, as - sug-
"gests,n which Barber explains rs follows: 81
"received a letter from Randolph County before
"the date of these letters suggesting that If
troops be sent into the counties named that
"enough voters would be run out OF them
Through fear OF arrest to secure the election OF
Republican representatives from those cOun-
" ties and the letter of Oct % was in reply
4" to a letter written to Spencer conveying to
him this information" The project was duly
carried out, the troops being placed in one in
stance under the lead of q special assistant
revenue officer named Perrin Zone of Spencer's
men of course) whose testimony is doubtless
a truthful picture of all the transactions. The
Ostensble object of calling upon the troops was
to protect revenue officers in their duty; "but
=" the real object" says Perrin, " was to parade
" the troops through the country with united
Estates Marshals having pretended warrants
"and exhibiting them for the purpose of in
timidating the people and driving per-
sons from the country. The war
Grants were simply papers folded with
ono writing on the inside, but names
"were on the outside on the folds" Mr.. Per-
rim further testifes that there was no necessity
for the presence Of the troops, but he fooled
them by shooting hole through his own hat
and pretending that the Ku-Klux had done it.
The sole object of the campaign. according to
the same eminent authority, was to secure
cat all hazards Legislature that would elect
George z. Spencer to the United States Sen
"ate;" and 1t appears that every Federal office
holder In tho State was made to feel that his
bread absolutely depended upon his working
Like slave for the same object.
Notwithstanding these heroic measures how