The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-03-15

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giving Democratic majorities wer
withheld from the canvassers altogeth
er.
After the returns had been delivere,
to the Board they remained in it's ex
elusive possession, and while ther
they were opened with its consent
and the original papers distracted ant
false ones substituted in their stead
When the returns were opened th'
Board, with an appearance of fairness
permitted persons representing boil
parties to be present; but when tn,
decision was made as to what should
be counted, secret sessions were held
from which every Democrat was ex
cluded, although the law constituting
the Board required that it should be
composed of representatives of both
political parties. In counting the vote
it exercised powers not conferred by
statute, and in most fiagrant disregard
of truth and Justice. The members ol
the Board changed the poll-b books SO
that Republican officers appeared to
be chosen when their opponents had
been elected. They forged the names
of officers to certificates of election
they threw out votes of precincts upon
affidavits which they knew had been
fraudulently obtained. Indeed, they
themselves ordered false affidavits to
be made hundreds of miles from
places at which they purported to
have been taken, in order that the de-
cision might appear justified, which
they had in advance determined to
make. They arbitrarily threw out
votes where there was no preliminary
statement from the Commissioners of
Election, to give them Jurisdiction.
They corruptly, in order to elect fa-
vorites, and to correct the mistakes of
certain Republicans in voting for
Electors, added to the lists votes
which had never been cast. While
considering the case the members OF
tho Board endeayored to enter into ne.
gotions with both the Republican and
Democratic National Committees to
sell their decision. A half million
dollars was the price asked. Not OBJ
tanning it, they tried TO bargain with
leading Democrats of Louisiana to
elect the State ticket of their party. J.
Madison Wells, with the approval Of
Thomas G. Anderson, offered to elect
the Nichols state ticket for 100000,
cash in hand. The money was not
paid. Negotiations were then renew
ed, ii ever broken of, with the leaders
Of the Republican party. The result
was declared in it's favor. The chief
conspirator, j. Madison Wells, admit
ted he had been paid by that organi-
cation for his decision.
In Florida the same frauds charac-
terized the returns and the action OF
the Returning Board. Votes were
thrown out with the same disregard
of justice. Besides, in that State it
refused to regard the orders of Courts
of competent jurisdiction, and pro-
cceded in most defiant contempt of ju-
dicial authority. In this manner more
than one thousand Tilden votes were
thrown out in Florida, and more than
ten thousand in Louisiana. The votes
in those States, in consequence of the
conspiracy, which in fact had been
cast for Tilden, were given to Hayes.
The only excuse Tor this outrageous
reversal of the Judgment Of the people
is that intimidation had been practised
by whites against voters where the
votes were thrown out. Whether
this intimidation compelled some per-
sons to vote against their will or pre-
vented some from attending the polls,
it afforded in either case no justifica-
ton for the deliberate rejection of bal
lots by the Returning Board. But the
statute of Louisiana only authorized
proof Of intimidation in cases where
charges Of violence were made in
writing by Commissioners of Election
on the day when the election vas held
These charges were 10 be inclOsed to
the Board in the envelopes containing
the returns. In few cases only were
charges made as required. In the rest
the evidence was received without
proper foundation having been laid.
The evidence received consisted in the
main of afiidavits written out by clerks
and employees of the Returning Boar d
without ever having been seen by
he persons purporting to certify them.
There was, therefore, no adequate
proof of intimidation. 1t may be re-
marked here that the temptation to
Kellogg and his Returning Board was
very great to manufacture cases of in
for 1T was only in them
that the Democratic majority could be
overthrOwn and the conspiracy be
successful.
We should not fail to call the atten-
tion OF the people to the dangerous ef-
feet of the doctrine of intimidation in
politics. 1t disqualifies from voting
not only the parties to the act of in
but all those who have
voted at the same precincts with them.
Two persons may conclude to make
case OF and thereby cause
a parish casting thousands of votes to
be rejected. 1t makes elections
farce. 1t takes power from the peo-
pie to vest it in Returning Boards. 1t
enables the latter to impose the sever
est Of political penalties, disfranchise-
ment, without giving to the persons
punished AL opportunity Of hearing
or trial. A Republic de. ervesstO lose
its liberties if it tolerates such out
RACES for an hour. By this disregard