National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-02-17

OF humility that would have shamed Uriah
Heep. and by kindred criminal devices.
succeeded in capturing. for the time being,
enough of the loyal North, which, added
10 the fraudulent returns and intimidation
at the South in the Congressional elections.
had given them the United States House of
REPRESENTATIVES. To further the end in
view it became necessary. in the face of
the outrageous practices that had been re-
sorted to in Mississippi at the preceding
May election, by which the Republican
party of that State had been cheated out of
their just rights by asystem of uneXampled
terrorism, to send Lee and his Virginia as
sociates North, to renew the "gushings,"
lest the work done by Lamar in the preced-
ing fall should have lost its SAVIOR by reason
of the subsequent action of his party in
Mississippi but, unfortunately for the ulti-
mate success of Lee mission, while he was
ostensibly and, perhaps, honestly striving
TO promote reconciliation and emigration,
his party in Virginia were engaged in a
very different business. A mania had
seized them for defeating the Republicans in
districts that had hitherto been almost un-
disputed. The maj ority Of the latter party
being too great to overcome in legitimate
manner, measures Of the most nefarious
character were resorted to in their mad
purpose to compass the complete overthrow
of the 'taccursed Radicals" How far they
succeeded, the large number of elections
contested in the Legislature of that State
at the present session by Republicans or
Independents ill serve to show.
Editorial reference was made in THE Re-
PUBLICAN, few days since, to the case of
BRADY VS.. Gayle" now before the Senate
of Virginia, and in which the details of the
diabolical methods by which Brady, Re-
publican, had been cheated out of his re-
turn through system Of ballot box stuff
fling that would in some other States have
originated a vigilance committee, with
plenary powers to summarily dispose of the
authors of such crimes. Since the publica-
ton referred to, we have learned, unoffi-
cially, but from creditable source, that it
is the purpose of the Senate of Virginia to
send the matter back to the people. The
fraud being so glaring in its character rem
ders 1t impolitic to allow Gayle to retain
his seat without some shoto OF fair play,
when the object sought can be so well at
tanned by afofding the Locofocos of that
district another opportunity to renew
and improve upon the methods by which
Gayle obtained the seat in the first instance
This same body has, however, another an
alogous case on its hands, which is likely
to prove an elephant Of no mean proper
tions, in the case of Knight vs.. johnson,
and, whichever way it may be decided, is
likely TO result disastrously to the Democ-
racy of Virginia, not only in Richmond,
whence the case originates, but through.
out the Stale. The facts Of the case are
briefly these Col. W. c. Knight, msn of
such truly conservative sentiments that
rendered him acceptable to Republicans,
was an independent candidate for the State
Senate against one Gen" Bradley T.
johnson, Democratic nominee, at the late
fall election. Knight was supported en-
masse by the Republican party, and by
hundreds Of the best and most truly con-
sGrvativc Of the Democracy Of Richmond,
TO whom johnson was distastcful Not
withstanding this latter well known fact,
Knight was counted out and Johnson in.
In the contest which cnsucd in the Senate,
the Committee of Elections, composed OF
seven Democrats and one Republic IN, after
an investigation of the case, are divided,
the chairman, with three others, recon-
mendilg that johnson retain the scat,
while the other four, including the Repub,
lican, advise that the election be sent back
to the people. Just what the Senate will
do does not appear but the Locofoco press
of tic State is greatly exercised over the
predicament in which the frauds of its
party manages in the metropolitan dis
trict has plunged them, for, as they ailege,
VIC hope lruthlully for once, either of the
contemplated methods OF disposidg of the
affair must inevitably result in Il loss to the
party Of the friends Of one or the other con-
teStants. We propose hereafter TO show,
by incoutrOVeTtible facts and Fl EurcS, that
this case, while similar in many important
particulars to tina. Of Brady vs.. GIYlc, fur
exceeds It'll such thing bc poSsiblc-in
other devices that were rcsOrtcd tn, in or
der TO compass the defeat OF the Republi-
cans who are so generously invited TO be-
come residcnts-nOt citizens of Virginia,
not only by Fi!z. Lee in gushing utter
ances at the North, but by Legislative and
Congressional committees, 10 whose DELHI
eIations Republican Stat" icgi>ltt"rs and
CcngrCssmcn are act invited
In the light If such events rs those to
which we have advcrtci how Rrpu!li
Cal, Cam Longer bc Hoodwinked by prc;cu-
tious displays Of "lriI.ing the bloody
chasm passes cur comprehension. After
all the waInine- and facts that have been
given the North 10y the loyal men of the
South, the Republicans have permitted the
Democracy 10 make stride in their efforts
al obtaining possession 0G the Government.
and Thereby uLduing the results of four
years oi war, by securing the House of
Representatives. IfanytLing were needed
TO open the eyes Of the loyal men of the
country, after the uttcrances of Ben Hill
and Tuckcr-et IL 0ntHc GCHuS-it would
seem that the systematic efforts that are as
regularly rcsortcd to in Virginia, Missis-
sippi ard other States Of the South, as
elections are held therein. 10 rob Republi-
cans of their rights as citizens, would fur
niSh all the food for reelection that was
desirable for thinking men. No amount
OF scnsclCsS and unreascning "gush" can
atone Tor such acts as those to which we
have adverted. No abuse or misrcprescn-
tation of those whose duty it is to expose
such evidences Of political and personal
villainy can detract from the truthfulness
of the allegations We have made, for so far
as the frauds in Virginia arc concerned we
have the documentary evidence, with the
imprint Of their own superintendent of
public printing on it. TO verify our state
ments, while the record of Mississippi has
been pretty thoroughly ventilated within a
brief period, by Mr.. Morton, in the Senate.