The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-03-08

Wnen Che returns were opened the Board
with an appearance of fairness, permit
ted persons representing both parties to
be present, but when a decision was
made as to what should be counted, Sc.
cret sessions were held from which every
Democrat was excluded.
Astounding Frauds Of Louisiana Returning Board
Reviewed.
Although the law constituting the
Board required that it should be compos-
ed OF representatives of both political
parties, in counting the votes, it exercis.
ed powers not conferred by the statute.
and in most flagrant disregard of truth
and justice. The members of the Board
changed poll so that Republican
officers appeared to be chosen when their
opponents had in fact been elected. They
forged the names of officers TO certificates
of election. They threw out votes of pre-
CinCts 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 decision might
appear justified which they had in ad-
vance determined to make. They arbi-
trarily threw out votes where there was
no preliminary statement from COM
missioners of election to give them juris-
die ion.
Attempted Sale of Louisiana.
They corruptly, in order to elect favor
ties and correct mistakes of certain Re-
publicans in voting for electors, added to
lists votes which had never been cast.
While considering the case, the members
of the Board endeavored to enter into
negotiations with both Republican and
Democratic Committees to sell their de.
Gision. A half million dollars was the
price asked Not obtaining it, they tried
to bargain with the leading Democrats of
Louisiana to elect State ticket of their
party. j. Madison Wells, with the ap-
proval of Thomas G. Anderson, offered
to elect the Nichols state ticket for $780,
600 cash in hand. The money was not
paid. Negotiations were then renewed
with the leaders of the Republican ticket.
The result was declared in its favor. The
chief conspirator, J, Madison Wells, ad-
mittel he had been paid by that organiza.
tion for his decision.
Florida Frauds.
In Florida the same frauds character
lied returns, and by the action of the Re-
turning Boards, votes were thrown out
with the same disregard of Justice. Be.
sides, in that State, it refused TO recog-
nize orders of courts of competent iuris-
diction, and proceeded with a most def
ant contempt of judicial authority. In
this manner, more than one thousand
votes were thrown'out inFlorida, and more
than ten thousand in Louisiana. The
votes of those States, in consequence of
the conspiracy, which, it fact, had been
cast for Tilden, were given to Hayes, The
only excuse for this outrage upon the
American people is that intimidation had
been practiced by whites against the
blacks where the votes were thrown out.
Whether this intimidation had compelled
some persons to vote against their will or
prevent some justification for the delib-
crate rejection of ballots by Returning
Boarda, but the statute of Louisiana only
authorized proof of intimidation, in cases
where charges of violence " ere made in
writing by commissioners of elections on
the day when the election was held, these
charges to be enclosed to the board in
envelopes containing returns. In few
cases only were charges made as required.
In the rest, evidence was received with
out proper foundation having been laid.
The evidence received consisted in the
main of affidavits written out by clerks
and employees of the Returning Board !
without ever having been seen by per-
sons purporting to verify them, or by Of
fcers purporting to certify them. There
was therefore, no adequate proof of in
1t may be remarked here
that the combination of Kellogg and his |
Returning Board was very great in the
of cases of intimidation. for
it was only in them that the Democratic
majority could be overthrown, and the
be successful.
Dangers of the Intimidation Scheme.
We should not fail to call the attention
Of the people to the dangerous effect of
The doctrine of intimidation in politics.
Two persons may conclude to make a
case of intimidation, and thereby cause a
parish casting thousands of votes to be
rejected. 1t makes elections a farce. 1t
axes power from the people to rest in the
Returning Boards. 1t enables the latter
% impose the severest of political penal
les, disfranchisement, without giving to
persons punished an opportunity of hear
ngor trial. The public deserves to lose
ts liberties if it tolerates such outrage
or an hour. By this disregard of law,
of court, and contempt of
he rights of voters; by their frauds and
and usurpations by their
,riberies and perjuries and forgeries did
he conspirators obtain certificates of
lection for Republican candidates in the
States named.
From the day that certificates were is
ued to Hayes electors in Louisiana and
florida, the country has been filed with
n unprecedented excitement. The peo-
lie have done little or nothing but to en-
age in discussion as to the fraudulent
onduct of Returning Boards. In this
of affairs business has been
enerally suspended, failures have been
requent, and dullness has seized upon
very business interest in the land. When {
MS excitement was at its heighth, Con-
ress assembled. One of its duties was
, count the electoral votes of the States, g
Florida and Louisiana.
The Electoral Commission.
Iith view of facilitating the count and a
roviding for peaceful performance of f
lis duty by Congress, a bill was passed r
eating an electoral commission. By a
lat law the Commission was to ascertain &
le true and lawful vote of every State. D
! this labor it was to exercise as to the g
caring of evidence and examination of Ii
% papers, such power as Congress or e
ther house Of Congress possessed, in the fl
'lief that evidence would be heard and d
at settlement of the disputed ques- s
IN would be fairly reached. The Con- 81
ess and people accepted the Commits. n