Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-03-14

and Democratic National Committees
to sell their decision. A half million
of dollars was the price asked. Not
obtaining it, they tried TO bargain with
leading Democrats OF Louisiana to elect
the State ticket of theirparty. j. Mad
ison Wells, with the approval Of Thos.
b. Anderson, offered to elect the Mich
oils, State ticket for 5000, 600 cash in
hand. The money was not paid. Ne
gotiations were then renewed, IL ever
broken Off with the leaders Of the Re-
publican party. The result was dc
cared in lis favor. The chief conspira.
tor, j. Madison Wells, admitted that
he was paid by that Organization 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 il refused to re-
gard the orders Of Courts Of competent
jurisdiction, and proceeded in the most
defiant contempt Of Judicial authority.
In this manner more than 1000 'rilden
votes were thrown out in Florida and
more than 10000 in Louisiana. The
votes of those States, in consequence
Of the conspiracy, which, in fact, had
been cast for Tilden, were given TO
Hayes. The only excuse for this out
rageous reversal OF the judgment of the
people is that intimidation had been
practised by the whites against the
blacks where the votes were thrown
out. Whether the intimidation com
PEELED some persons TO vote against
their will, or prevented some from at
tending the polls, 1t afforded in either
case no jurisdiction for the deliberate
rejection Of ballots 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 the commits.
sioners Of election on the day when the
election was held. These charges
were to be enclosed TO the board in the
envelope continuing the returns. In a
few eases only were the charges made
as required In the rest evidence was
received without proper foundation
having been laid. The evidence re-
ceived consisted in the main of aflida.
Wits written out by clerks and employees
OF the Returning Board, without ever
having been seen by the persons pur-
porting to verify them or the officers
purporting TO certify TO this there
was, therefore, no adequate proof OF
intimidation.
1t may be remarked here that the
temptation TO Kellogg and his Return.
ing Board was very great to manuiac-
ture cases of intimidation, for il was
only on them that the Democratic
majority could be overlhrown and the
conspiracy be successful. We should
not fail to call the attention Of the peo-
pie TO the dangerous effect of the doc
trino OF intimidation in politics. 1t
disqualiiies from voting not only the
parties TO the act OF intimidation, but
all those who have voted at the same
precincts with them
Two persons may conclude to make
n case OF intimidation and thereby cause
parish casting thousands of votes TO
be rejected. 1t makes elections u farce.
1t takes the power from the people TO
rest il in Returning Boards Ii enables
the latter to impose the severest OF po. |
itical penalties, disiranchsemont, with
out giving TO the persons so punished |
an opportunity Of hearing or trial. A
Republic deserves 10 lose It's liberties |
ifit toerates such outragcs for an hour
By this disregard Of law, disobedience
of Courts and contempt of the rights of
the voters, by their frauds and corrup-
tions and usurpations, by their bribcr-
les and perjuries and iorgeries did the
consplrators obtain the certificates of
election for the Republican candidates
in the Southern States named. From
the day that the certificates were is
sued 10 the Hayes electors IN Louisiana
and Florida the country has been filled
with an unprecedented excitement.
The people have done little else than
engage IN discussion as to the iraudu-
l,r, Conduct of the Retnrning Boards
IT, ~ cnndi,i,n of ofIairs businossLos
been generally suspended, failures have
hscn ,r.ouent and nros,ro,,on has
sa;,,d n,nn nenrlv ev,,,v in,arest or tho
Ia"I When this exci,am.n, was n,
;,s height Congress- assembled One
ncns dnIies was 10 count the el,c,orol
vote of the States. including Florida
md ,onisinna With n view of tarili.
ta,iny the count and providing for the
nrncetul performance of its duty by
ronyress' a bill was passed creating
,he Electoral Commission. By Tint
voie The Commission was TO ascertain
tao irue and lawful vote of every State.
I'm this labor il was to exercise as 10
III, hearing of evidence and exam,na.
lion oi' nnt,ers such mower as Congress-
ar either House of Congress possessed.
In the belief that evidence would be
hnrd and thai n settlement of the dis.
uuIrd oneslion Of iacts would be fairly
rea,.h,d ,he congress and tho ncnpie
a,r.n,,.d ,be commission How thai
nons,lsnc, has been disnunoin,ed and
how a d,rision has been made based
nvon n rr,usnl 10 consider the unlo,.
,,na,c ones,,on of the disnuic ia we'll
tn',sn ] ~ ,ho ,onn,rv When Tho ccr