National Republican., 1876-08-11
TACTICS OF THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRACY

The graphic letter of our Norfolk corre-
spondent, printed elsewhere, will well re-
pay perusal. The author of 1t is man of
probity and intelligence, who has long
been resident of Norfolk, and who is also
entirely and personally familiar with the
facts he states. The letter in question
presents but faint outline of one of the
most infamous and successful efforts to de-
fraud whole Congressional district of its
rightiul representation in the interest of
the Democratic party that has ever come
within our knowledge-rich as the his
tory OF that party has been in treason, per-
idy and all uncleanliness The effort to
get up amended returns" referred to by
our correspondent, originated in this way;
At the time of this election an amendment
to the constitution was also submitted to
the voters, and because the ballots on the
constitutional question were folded in those
for Colonel Platt, at two precincts in
Nansemond county, the partisan commits
sioners of that county struck from Mr..
Platt's poll two hundred and six lawful
votes, which had been duly returned for
him by all the judges, and attested for him
by all the clerks, and this, too, in the face
of the fact that the method here adopted, of
folding the tickets together, was in Uogue
throughout the State. Goode was success
full in getting up amended returns in
various other counties of the district, aud
when Platt and Goode appeared before the
State board of canvassers, consisting of the
Governor, Secretary of the Commonwealth,
Attorney General, Treasurer and Auditor,
all Democrats, both claiming the certificate
of election, and both delivering arguments,
Goode closed his speech of an hour with
he following words:
''The only question now for this board to de-
termine is, whether or not the amended alb
stracts are the proper documents to be ex-
amined."
After short pause Goode began again,
as follows:
"But, if 1.-TWO ominous conjunctions1 the
board shall overrule this point and decide that
no amended returns can be received at all,
then l maintain that no legal return what
ever has been received from Prince George,
and If that be true the certificate of election
cannot be awarded to my competitor"
1t should be borne in mind that the
county of Prince George gave Mr. Platt
large majority, and the amended returns
having been thrown overheard by the
board of State canvassers, it became neces-
sary to save Goode by some other equally
contemplate iRstrumentality. The reply
of Mr.. Plstt and his counsel to this last
dodge of Goode, of which they had no no
tif1cation, and of which they were not
aware, is best told by Mr.. Jno. Lyon, of
counsel, is bis printed argument before the
Election Committee of the House of Rep
resentatives, viz:
"Instantly," says Mr. Lyons, ''Mr. Platt
and his counsel sprang to their feet and de-
manded that the Secretary of the Common
wealth should produce and exhibit the origi-
nal return from the county of Prince George.
This was done. 1t is printed on page IL of
Record, marked copy IL Mr.. Platt and
his counsel then demanded that the fault of
the return should be pointed out. They were
informed that said return was defective in
this That the commissioners had not certified
their determination, and that the clerk had
not attested the certificate of the commission
ers, and that the four words-'Teste: Robert
Gillian, Clerk'-were absent from the left
manu- corner OF the paper INSTANTLY again,
Mr.. Platt produced from his pocket and gave
to his counsel an official copy of said abstract
of votes,' certified by the clerk under the seal
of the court, which he had short time before
obtained without reference to the pending i'm
broglio. This is the paper now exhibited to
and identified by Gov. Kemper, witness, in his
answer to question s, page Il. Mr.. Platt's
counsel handed this paper to the Governor,
who handed it to the Secretary of State, and
insisted that-being certified in the manner re-
quired by law-it was legal evidence every
where and under all circumstances in the State
of Virginia, and that 1t proved beyond ques-
tion that the omission of the four words-sTeste
Robert Gillian, Clerk'-from the left-hand