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

free choice of the Republican party OF Ala
hama. and when the Legislature met there was
more trouble. The farcical tragedy of the rival
Legislatures, finally amalgamated by Attorney
General Williams's compromise, hinged upon
the question of Spencers election. 1t would
take too long to go into the particulars OF the
tricks and the crimes resorted to III this emcr-
rcncy. Men who were never elected were paid
to 90 to Montgomery and take seats IN Spen-
GERS courthouse Legislature just long enough
to give him quorum. Democratic members
were arrested under the Enforcement act and
detained until the Legislature could be organ
lied by Spencer's friends Perrin, who sug-
gcsted this scheme, was appointed United
States Commissioner by Spencer's inlin-
ence "for the purpose OF Issuing war
Grants to make arrests in the further
"ance of Spencers election" None of the men
thus arrested were ever indicted. One member
was put ont of the way by means OF poker
party where the cards were marked and the
whisky was drugged, and he nearly lost MS
life in consequence But most of the honora-
bIc gentlemen seem to have been bought as
opcnly as one might buy q drove of hogs.
When they found ont how trade was going
they used to have sudden attacks OF kind OF
"disease.n as the Spencer party called 1t,
which could only be cured by grecnbacks. The
Lowndes County delegation, after being pur-
chased in lump from contractor III s"ch
merchandise. was watched all night by Spencers
guards. At n critical moment 1t became heceS-
sary to seat a man named Miller in the SEN
ate, and it was prearranSed that TINS shouid
be done by grossly improper ruling
of the Acknowledgement. who should
then refuse to entertain any protest
or allow any debate. TO support the
Lieutenant Governor body of picked
"men,n including a judge of the Circuit Court
and ga rough from Georgia. took station III
the lobby; and when the expected signs OF
trouble appeared on the observation-disclosures
extraordinary conduct, that able officer made
significant demonstration as if for battle by
Complying the water from heavy pitcher
The most serious question connected with
the inquiry touches the source from which
Spencer paid his retainers. Many OF them he
paid with Offices. In 1871 he wrote TO the
Postmaster OF Mobile: 1--WE will in short
81 time break down the opposition" (meanine
simply the political influence OF his Republl-
can colleague, Senator Warne.). Grant Is
"already scared and will soon do what we
want" Grant did what they wanted. Nine
of the Spencer Senators and fourteen OF his
Representatives were accordingly rewarded
with Federal appointments, and seventeen
of his other followers are mentioned who
were provided for in the same way. The cash
paid for votes was the fruit, according to this
report, of defalcations in the Post-Omcc at
Mobile and the Offices of Internal Revenue at
Mobile and Montgomery. The collector at the
latter place was arrested for embezzcment
and died of yellow fever few weeks after
ward. IL is alleged that notes duplicating
spencer were in his possession when be died,
and that they subsequently, disappeared under
suspicious circumstances but these grave
charges must of course be rigidly investigated,
and we defer comment until Spencer has been
heard in his own defense. Meanwhile the public
will watch curously to see if he resumes his
place on the National Republican Congressional
Committee.