The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-23

tions nor knew what they were until the,
we're read In your presence this mOrnin
II would be presumption In me To attemp
an argument before a tribunal ike this 81
such case as this. having had no previous
opportunity 10 consider IL which might pu
me In condition better than the judges
themselves. You have heard A. much O
this case and know as much about II as
do.
Nv idea OF the duty which counselor
owes 10 court or TO any other tribunal
judicial or quasi judicial, Il that he should
never open his mouth except for the pur.
pose OF assisting the judges In coming 70
correct conclusion; and II he il not IL sit
nation to do that, he ought 10 keep his
silence.
BESIDES that, | am, | suppose, the very
ast man In this whole nation who should be
called upon 10 speak here and now. Every
body has suffered more or less by events
ana proceedings OF the recent past, some
by wear and tear OF conscience and some by
deep sense Of oppression and wrong.
But perhaps |. more than most others, have
felt the conscientiousness that have lost
the dignity ~ an American citizen. / In
common with the rest, am degraded and
Inundated. This nation has got her great
biz foot In trap. IL IL vain TO struggle for
her extrication.
am 80 fallen from the proud estate Of a
free clsizen, you have so AFFECTED me, that
| am iii for nothing on earth but 70 repre-
sent the poor, defrauded, broken hearted
Democracy. And because | suffer more,
they think me more good for nothing than
the rest and conclude 10 send me out on this
iorlorn hope, judging, no doubt truly, that
Il matters nothing what becomes OF me. !
ought 70 90 gladly III any thing which can
do or say might have the effect OF mitigai-
inc the horrible calamity with which the
the country T. threatened: q President de-
irving his title from shameless swindle.
not merely Of fraud, but a fraud detected
and exposed. know not how | would feel
Il called upon 10 suffer death for my coun
try. am not the STUFF that martyrs are
made Of. but II my life could redeem this
nation from the infamy with which she i
clothed oughtto 20 10 the grave as freely as
ever wen. 10 my bed. see, however. no
practical good that ] can do, and IL Is weak
mess to complain.
We have certain objections 10 the count
Ing 81 this Hayes vote from South Carolina
which look 10 me insuperahle, but can not
hope that they will wear that appearance in
other mems eyes. Perhaps the feeling
which in common with millions Of others
entertain on this subject prevents us from
seeing this thing In It's true light. But YOU
are wise; you are calm. You can look all
through this awful business with a learned
spirit; no passionate hatred OF this great
fraud can cloud your mental vision or shake
the even balance OF your judgment. You
DO not think IL any wrong that a nation
should be cheated by false election returns.
ON the contrary. II IL rather a blessing
which Heaven has sent us In this strange
disguise. When the omnipOtent lie shall
be throned and sceptered and crowned you
think we ought all Of US to fall down and
worship i as the hope Of our political sal
yation. You will teach US and perhaps we
VIII learn lpernaps notl that under such a
rule we are better OF than Ii truth had pre-
vailed and justice been triumphant.
Give then your cool consideration 10 these
objections. and try them by the standard OF
the law. mean the law as IL was before
the Organization az this commission. adj
NIL That since then 3 great revolution has
taken place IN the law. II Is not now what
y used 70 Pc. All our notions of public
rgntsnu public wrong have suffered com
pleie boniecersemenf.
The question submitted 10 YOU Is wheth-
ei lhe persons who gave these votes were
'uniy appOinted.' Duly OF course means
according 70 law. What law. The Con~ii-
tuition Of the United states. the acts 81 Con-
Tres and the authorized acts ~ her Lexis
.a1lre-incse taken All together constitute
'ne "a" q The care before you.
~ these laws the right. duty aud power
=, sppolniing electors II given 10 the people
~ scum carolina; that Il 10 say. the clti-
XIV ~ me state qualified 10 vote al general
eecilons. Who are theyy by the Consti-
sul"n of the state in order 10 qualify them
solefs ihey must be registered. The
iegislry "a native citizen T. n sine Qnd non
w hls right or voting a. much a. the natllr.
alziiion Of foreigner.
NuW' me Legislature never passed any
~ ior NE registration Of voters, and no
hasks,ra''on OF them was ever made. No
uount mas been or can be entertained that
,ne object and purpose OF this omission was
nAluulent and dshontst: for the Legisla-
NY NJ. r. wen A. The executive department OF
. .nAt Government has been IN the hands OF
y. nost rrdemptionless rogues on the face
Y me earth. But whatever may have been
~ motive, nobody can doubt that the le-
s IL. 10y. of This omission Is " MAKE the
election illegal.
" nhtls hardly The worst II. The election
NJ, useli' emancipated from all law and all au-
s aa, was no better than riot, mob,
.eu,rhi saturnalia, In which the soldiers OF
W. Tilted States army cut the principal rs
NV a. the decentest figure. We offer TO
~, ph,ose.the oier will go upon record, and
\; sne IN y VIII stand forever--that every poll
4 'uarest0n County. where they rushed
,n.o the ballot-box 1000 majority, was In
possession OF the soldiers.
'ciumeht whose elections are con-
Moned by military force can not be republi-
. ean IN form or substance. For this / cite
w w authority Of Luther W.. Borden, IL per-
. .a The old-time law has yet any infiu-
NV. WIZ. 10 you not see the hideous depth 81
rauona degradation into which you will
runge Us u you sanctify this mode Of max
~ President! Brush up your historical
memory ard think Of II for moment. The
~, ,nan whom you elect In this way il as purely
w ,ne creature Of the military power rs
,.al'gula or Domitian, for whom the pre-
"nan guards controlled the hastings and
counted the votes.
mi then we can not get behind the re-
s1ufns, forsooth! Not wei You will not
~ ~ VI We can not yet behind them. No.
Inat y the law, Of course. We may strug-
X Ior Justice, we may cry for mercy; we
LAY ~ down on our knees and beg and
NJ, mvo Tor some little recognition OF our
.gntsas American citizens; but we might
N Al