The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-22
Grants Gai,t---oftacial.

When the rumor first reached It's that
President GRANT had ,inlawfully used
many thousands OF dollars belonging to the
Government lid order to Insure the success
of the Republican party at certain elections
held In New York, we did not for moment
credit It. We took 1t for granted that the
money had been paid out in pursuance OF
law to supervisors of elections and deputy
marshais, and for other lawful purposes.
| But VIC were mistaken. The Washington
Republican, the official organ, in its issue OF
yesterday, whilst trying to explain away
the corrupt acts OF the President, does in
fact prove him to have grossly violated the
law, and corruptly used the money OF the
Government. We quote from the organ !:
| The ATTEMPT TO SCAEpALIZE THE PRES
IpENT.-E General Williams was
yesterday privately Intercepted and said
| that Mr.. Davenport. the chief supervisor OF
| elections for New Yor.., under the election
| law, undertook to make perfect and com
| plete registration OF voters in that city for
the purpose OF preventing frauds. He had
authority under the law to require OF the
supervisors OF elections, when necessary,
! lists Of the persons who may register ana
vote, or either, in their respective districts.
This is true so far, except that his autho-
rity was not to register the voters, but TO
copy the registration books for the use OF the
supervisors. The reader will note the Diff
| ference The one was lawful and proper.
and could be done for few dollars; the
other was unlawful, improper, an outrage
upon the State OF New York, and costly
usurpation Of authority. The organ pro-
! ceeds:
He Acknowledgement Wiliams] says that
il Mr. Davenport had called upon the SUI
pervisors separately to make lists OF regis
-flation the expense, owing to the large
| number OF supervisors for each cleo
ton district OF voting precinct, would nave
been much greater. and the work not so
completely performed. Therefore the pay
ment of $4,000 WAS economy, and accom-
plished all the purposes contemplated by
the law. This amount was exclusive OF the
per diem paid to the supervisors.
This is nothing but lie. 1t would not
have cost half as much to copy the resistra-
ton books as it did to register the voters;
and if it had the former was lawful and the
latter unlawful. The organ goes on:
Mr.. Williams remarked that he had ALL
thority Of law for all he did. No living
man was instructed by him to favor the in
tcrests of either party any further than
would result in q fair register to prevent
frauds.
Another falsehood. lie had no authority
OF law for this usurpation, whether he ia
vorcd his own party or not; but everybody
knows that what lie did was in the interest
Of his own and no other party. Again the
organ says:
The President said ITO Williams] that ii
such perfect registration co''ld be prepared
in other cities OF 10000 inhabitants or more,
which under the law arc entitled to super
visors, much fraud would be prevented and
fair elections held.
That is, he could elect himself. Where
are the rights OF the States we are told OF !?
Nay, where are the rights OF the people!
The only defence that GRANT can set up is
that he knows nothing of law, and was de-
ceived by his villainous Acknowledgement.
The act itself cannot be justified or even
excused. 1t is one for which there can be
no apology made. The State OF New York
and every other State in the Union ought to
resent it.