Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-01-31

/, 1871.
Supervisor of Registration that there
had been such intimidation of colored
men upon cQlored men that there was
no such freedom or fairness IN the
election. 1t was supported by the
oath of the Commissioner of Election.
1t was supplemented by the oath OF
moro than a hundred Republicans and
Democrats; and yet the Returning
Board did not dcign TO notice IT, o,
no; because that effected the vote of
the Republican party.
Now, Mr. Speaker
MIR. Nash. VIII the gentleman allow
me to ask him question
Mr.. Spencer. Mr. Speaker, it is a
very remarkable thing to me that
these gentlemen, who in 1874 confess
red and admitted in report TO this
House that the Democratic party
clearly and honestly carried the State
of Louisiana, should now come here
and in fit Of virtuous indignation say
that the State of Louisiana is essen
TALLY and necessarily Republican. Did
not the gentleman from Ohio, Mr.
Foster did not the present candidate
for Vice President, Mr.. Wheeler did
not both of them recognize and report
the fact that the Democrats had car
ried the State in lS742 And yet, sir,
they talk about intimidation, intimida-
ton when the vote in 1876 is several
thousand larger than ever known be-
fore.
They talk about the colored people
in these Parishes of East Feliciana,
Baton Rouge, and Morehouse being
intimidated There were United States
soldiers there. They were the only
Parishes where they were at the polls
Yet the result was that the colored
men voted solidily the Democratic
ticket,
As for that Returning Board, the re.
cord made by the Republican party
against the very individual men who
constitute it is a full answer to every
thing that they may say upon upon
that subject now.
The Speaker. The time Of the gen.
tleman from Louisiana has expired
Mr. Holman. | will extend his time
few minutes longer.
Mr. Spencer / do not know that |
could better illustrate the character of
that Returning Board than by reading
letter which has been addressed to it
by gentleman from the Parish Of
De Soto; and will send it to the desk
and ask the Clerk to road it,
Several Members. o, No; let ii be
printed.
Mr. Spencer | ask to have it print.
cd, then, as part of my remarks
Mr.. Conger. No; let be read.
The Clerk read as follows:
DE SoTo PARISH, LOUISIANA,
December IL, 1876.
Hon. j. Madison Wells, President Louis.
lana Returning Board!
| have learned that your honorable
body has returned me as elected to the
Lower House Of the Legislature from
the Parish OF Dc Soto. Permit me TO
return my thanks for the honor con.
ierred, but at the same time permit me
to say that | am unwilling to accept
the position. | am Republican from
the firm conviction that the principles
of that party are best for the whole
country.
1t is also true that | was the regular
nominee of the party in the Parish of
De Soto for the Legislature, and did
moro than any member of the party
in that Parish to organize il and ad. |
vance its interests but, sir, knowing
as | do that was fairly defeated at
the polls, no intimidation or fraud
having been practiced by the opposite
party at any precinct in the Parish, so
far as | have been able to ascertain
after thorough investigation, my self.
respect will not permit me TO accept
the position. ! hope you will pardon
me for taking step that, at first
glance, may be thought calculated TO
cast some discredit upon the party
with which ! have allied myself, but /
am a planter not q politician all my
interests are here, but, sir, | cannot be-
lieve the good of the State or Of tho
National Republican party can be pro.
NOTED by returning as elected a cand.
date so clearly defeated as myself
[Applausc and laughter.
In fact | am convinced that very
much of the disturbance that has pre-
vailed throughout the State for several
weeks past is justly attributable to tho
TACT that in many Parishes men not
elected by the people have becn re.
turned elected and maintained in office
by the power of the Government. |
must believe that you and your asso.
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