The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1877-02-09
INTIMIDATION IN M1sSLSSIPpL


Since the Senate committee CON- |
mcnced investigating the manner in
which the Presidential election was con-
Quoted in Mississippi, the people begin
TO see more clearly the reason why the |
"Tilden reformers," ever since that elec-
ton, have lied SO w1lfully and menda-
ciously, threatened and put on such
waF-like- airs, aud kept up SO great q
howl generally, charging frauds, ETC., in
regard to the electoral count in Florida,
South Carolina and Louisiana. There
was cause, we cay, for all this great
expenditure of money and breath on the
part OF Tilden and his servants, which
was not so apparent to the masses at
the first blush, which the. testimony ta-
ken before the Senate committee has de-
veloPed. The testimony shows sys-
tenn of rascality in Mississippi on the
part of the HsTilden Reformers" that
outdoes the intimidation, bulldozing,
ballot-stuffing and murders OF the Til
denites in any Of the other States, snd
the Democratic howls of frauds III Lou
isiana and Florida and South Carolina
were raised and continued in the hope
of drawing from public attention, and
consequent investigation, the Gre
! form" mode of carrying Presidential
elections in Mississippi. The electoral
vote of Mississippi (eight electorsl was
given to S. j. 1'ilder. We asserted then
that the vote of the State, on fair
count, without intimidation and fraud
on the part Of Democrats would be
given to Gov. Hayes, and the evidence
before the committee is overwhelming
that this assertion was true /; and despite
| intimidation, bulldozing and murder,
the State undoubtedly gave majority
for Hayes, and, as the evidence abund-
antly proves, this majority was filched
from him and the Republican party by
systematic robbing the ballot boxes
The testimony shows that Democratic
judges were furnished duplicate keys to
| the ballot-boxes, so that they might
take out Republican ballots and in their
| stead place Democratic ballots! The
testimony OF Congressman Lynch con-
corning the way in which the election in
Mississippi was carried by the Demo
Gratis, is abupdantly corroborated by the
sworn evidence of Democratic officer,
who was forced, however reluctantly, to
give his evidence. We call special at.
tehtion to it as more work OF the stRe-
formers" Here is the evidence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Investiga-
tion into the conduct Of the late cleo
ton III Mississippi was continued to-day
before the Senate committee on privi.
1eges and elections. j. I. Lecoster pres.
ident of the Hines county board of reg
istcrS, who refused to testify before the
committee yesterday, testified there was
conference Of the leading Democrats
of Hines county short time before the
election, at which it was proposed &c
furnish one of the Democratic Judges
of election at the polling places with a
duplicate key to the ballot-boXes. Wit
ness furnished about Is of these dup1i
cate keys to different men, all of whom
were white men, and he thinks Demo
Gratis. lie slipped small parcel into
the vest pocket of one OF the judges, re
marking as he did so "Here is some
thing which may be of use TO you
Did not tell them what use was to be
made of them, but supposed they were
all smart enough to find out how an6
for what to use them. In answer TO q
question from Senator Teller, witness
said: 81 suppose my idea was that i
there werc too many Republican vote
in ballot-box the key was to open The
box that the Republican votes might bt
taken out ard Democratic votes substi
tuted in their stead"
Witness admitted the Republican
judges Of election in Kinds county were
, generally ignorant negroes, and it wa
easy TO get them intoxicated. In ths
election he admitted duplicate keys Il
the ballot-boxes were furnished to onc
J of the Democratic judges in every poll
, ing precinct in the county.