The New York herald., 1876-11-18
men. to overcome the democratic msjorliles OF the

tion, eight overwhelmingly colored and two very
nearly equally divided between the two races. With
the negro vote in these counties the fcw white re-
publican leaders have been able, with :he aid OF fraud
TO overcome the white majores OF the other twenty
nine counties. II is notorious fact that IN almost
every election since 1865 the democrats here had an
honest majority but have been invariably counted out
Aud 10 fac tate this fraudulent counting the election
laws OF this State seem 10 havo been framed. But,
bad the law is administration has been infinitely
Under the law the Board OF County Canvassers
consists Of The County Judge tho Clerk OF The Circuit
Court and any justice OF the peace upon whom the
County Judge and Clerk can unite. These positions
are, with few honorable exceptions filed 5y bitter
partsans That elevated sense OF judicial honor aud
fairness which the Northern people expec, to see IN
their jcdgcs frequently gives place hero TO the lower
morals and habits OF the partisan politician. This be-
ing SO, It has invariably happened that enough official
dishonesty has the surface each election TO
give the election To the republicans, though fairly won
by the democrats.
AS Instance we state the fact that In 1872 when
the majority in tho senate and Assembly hanged upon
the result III Columbia county, the most shameless
frauds were pcrpetralcd there. The County Judge,
unwilling TO do the dirty work expected Of HIM, let
tho state TO AVOID canvassng the vote. The Clerk oil
the court, himself afcpuDican with the shern, who,
III the absence of the County Judge is, by law, ~
supply his place. met 10 canvass the vote. The Clerk
OF The court, having precedence, nominated respect.
able and honorable gentleman, VINO "a JUSTICE Ol
the peace, az the other member CT the Cahvassin5
Board; to tins appointment tho Sheriff would not
agrec and demanded that another Justice OF the peace
u bitter partisan and altogether unreliable should DO
chosen. The clerk demurrcd, but offered To take any
olhcr justice IN the county, 10 this the Shcr
would not consent and an Adjournment had TO II
subsequent hour OF the same day During this inter
mission telegram was sent 10 Governor Stcarns ny
the Sheriff rccounting the stuaton and every Justice
OF tho peace the whole county was promptly re-
moved by telegram except the chosen by the Sheri
to act With him. Under these circumstances The Clerk
refused 10 proceed with the canvass and tor this re-
fusal was arrested by the United states authorities
but subsequently discharged Tho sheriff aud the said
justice proceeded to canvass the votes They counted
the fraudulent and Illegal ballots cast and declared tho
republican candidates elected When tho State Board,
consisting OF tho Comptroller, Secretary OF State and
Attorney General, met 10 make nnal canvass the
facts presented to them in legal manner, but
they refused redress against these frauds aud counted
the illegal and fraudulent votes, the Attorney General
we believe dissenting
THESE IDENTICAL FRAUDS
those exposed Ia the Congressional invest
vi whom, by tho rejection OF these fraudulent votes,
obtained his seat, AZ previous election Hon. s. !.
Niblack, Congressman eject, was IN similar manner
counted out and alicrward obtained his seat
through the exposure Of the frauds before ropub-
lican House 0. Representatives. AZ tho same uec-
tion W. ID. Bioxham (ion candidate for Lieutenan,
Governor, was similarly counted out and aiterward'
through the exposure of thcsc frauds, obtained tho
Office to which he was elected through a decision OF
the State supreme Court, two oil tho judges being
publicans. state these facts, which now matters
of4history that the people OF tho North may realize
J. TlIen, in the opinion OF your correspondent has
fairly and honestly victory IN this state, aud
the very mon who were the prominent and main
the unfair and fraudulent action detailed above
are again and declare the result Of the
OF this State as cast on The 7th OF November last
They republicans and partisans, and judging their
future by their past what are We TO cxpccty
INJECTION
AS to the present contest II mas been active and Bit
mainly increasing their vote the negro counties
and holding the ncrcos ia:thiul 10 their party where
shey we're N the minority Tho first they have accom-
piishcd largely Increasing their vote in all the negro
counties two This WAS effected largely
by repeating, py voting minors oy bringing
therein ana voting them, aud, rumor says, by
voting women in male attire, which last could have
been easily done when such great crowds OF colorcd
people &cre voting solid phalanx. The democrats
real.zng from the first the onerous nature OF Tho
the difficulties 10 be overcome laid their plans
with consummatc SKILL In the hrst place, they put in
nomination State ticket nnexceplionablc IN every re-
spcct only Southern people, but to those North
people who have recently made our beautiful State
their home. They then instituted plan OF thorough
orRanilion which has ramincd the whole state and IS
perfect IN It's details Il graspcd the individual vqcr IN
every quarter oil the state aud brought all to tho
work the decisive moment 1t also organized sys-
Of chaIlcngers and adopted other measures
sary detecting aud exposing fraudulent and Illegal
voting OF every kiu0. Register ana votc' was tho
democratic watchword from the beginning OF the cam
paign Again. one Of the main duties enforced through
our their ranks submission 10 lawful author
,ty and the necessity Of avoiding all collision.
Aud this latter tact will explain, in somo
measure, why IT was that southern men, hot
boodcd they are, could brook unheard-or insults
at the hands OF negroes the day OF clcctiou
Tho policy OF the republicans during the campaign
the bloody shirt, while that OF the democrats
was TO plead for Cancellation and fraternity. As a
result the democrats have won victory Contribut.
lug this resu, was manly the increased white vote
resulting from hundreds who had not voted since Tho
war coming To the polls on the day Of cl,cton and
voting Their vote was swclled by large number Of
independent Northern republican citizens who united
with them, as also considerable colorcd voto in
every county.
now rHE RETrRSs cAag IN.
Returns from the republican counties came In first,
they ucng nearer railrond and telegraph communi-
cation. With the Increased maJoritcs which these
turns showed tho republicans were confident Of VIC
tory They scnt the story OF their triumph III every
direction hashing over the wires. tho democrats IN
the meantime. remaining confident, because tney
knew their strength and tho returns as they came
justified tncir expectations OF large tho white
counties aad The reduction OF majorites in few 70.
publican counties
White the republicans wcrc thus confident ana happy
their Journals the people upon the quiet
and orderly election. The Sentinel their leading or
gan capital It's OF the llth says that "
was The most quiet election ever held Florida and
cougruua The people that violence OF every KIND
and bioodshed was prevented by the law abiding and
quiet demcanor OF both partcs But AS soon II be-
evident that tho victory was with the democrats
the republican press began 10 cry against demo-
across the tales OF KuKuxing returns. &c. &c
Emlssares sent IN ali directions instruc-
tons, and AS a consequence fraud began 70 develop
ITSELF
AN ILLUSTRATION
In Aiachua county, with u heavy colored majority,
through the influence OF leading men, aided by Menard
tne colored poet of Florida WLo was independent
candidate Tor Congress, tho republican majoiiy was
cut down 70 40 Senator Dennis who has always
been active developer when majoritcs arc needed.
and who may be sad with Truth 10 c,ntroi all
the officers OF that county pcrs stcntly
claimed 500 majority though TIE precinct returns
showed majority OF only about 40 The canvass oi
made IN that county on yesterday. That
faud commi,,cd will be made apparent from ho
following kilograms, published in this mornings
Press-onc from an ex-circuit judge OF Ability. nu-
cncc integrity tho other from an intelligent
highly honorable lawyer, the son OF General Finley.
member OF Congress IRON this district
GsiSsvILLE. Alnchura County Fia, Nov. l3, 1876.
Hon j. DANIEL, Chairman. &c. =
Returns up from Archer precinct tNo. >. claiming
poicd3s,g republican and l3u democratic Two
inspec amt three bystantcrs make affidavit
jlo. OF which lsi republican and
iaU democratic No tally sheet found in the bal!of
only 40 ballots Returns forged and false and
hand 10 convict the parties TO the ,raud
J. B. DAWkiNS.
ANOTHER STATEMENT
GAissvitLE, Nov. l3. 1871
Whole number o. votes canvasscd l.a77;
Drew. 2eu republican majority. III Gould get
honest count clean forgery OF 2l9 votes proven huh
and Finley with Drew. T. FINLEY
Tho sc kilograms need no comment Tho fncts hcv