The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-03-21
TIE DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS.
A PROTEST AGAINST THE
DECLARATION OF THE ELEC-
TAON OF HAYES.
The Charges of Republican Com
SPiracy and COrlGiOnup SHbstan-
diaGed.
To the american People:

TO the american People:
We submit to the country the follow
ing review of the events which have re-
suited in the declaration that Rutherford
b. Hayes has been elected President of
United States. In the late political can
vass two facts stood out prominently
first, the Republican party, true to its
sectional nature, sought to unity the
North against the "soIid South;" and
while engaged in that effort it was striv-
ing 10 make good its probable losses in
the North by dividing the votes of the
South. This division it sought to effect
by an unconstitutional use Of the army
in South Carolina, Louisiana and Flori-
da. Second, the troops were sent TO
those States when there was neither inva-
sion nor domestic instruction to require
them. With the Legislatures easily to
be convened, the only demand for their
presence was made by the State Execu-
tive. The elections in these States,
therefore, were held in the shadow of the
military power. The bayonets glistened
at the polls La depositing their ballots
the citizens enjoyed only such liberty as
the army permitted. In the other
81 ties the elections geIe unusually peace
full.
Immediately afterwards the result
showed that 1876 Tilden electors had been
chosen. OF the whole popular vote they
received a majority Of more than quar-
ter Of a million, and of that of the eau
casian race, which controls every other
Christian and civilized government Of
the world, they received majority OF
more than one million. On the day sue
ceeding the election it was announced by
the Chairman of the Republican Nation
al Committee that 1874 Tilden and 1S5
Hayes electors had been chosen. Moth
ing hAl been learned of the election eX-
cepting the vote actually cast. 1t has
never since been disputed that by that
vote 4 majority of Tilden electors had
been appointed. Such an announcement,
therefore, could only haze been made in
pursuance ofan arrangement to change
the vote sho@a to have been given by
the people.
We charge that after the true result
had been proclaimed, a conspiracy was
formed by the Republican leaders to re-
verse the decision made at the polls. The
field chosen for the development Of the
conspiracy was the States of Florida and
Louisiana. The persons to act with the
original consyirators were the Governors
and members of the fetErrin" boards of
those States. The field was we'll chosen,
and the State officers selected we're suit
able persons fer the work to be done
For more than ten years those States
had been subjected to governments not
of their choice. Taxation and malad
ministration had robbed them of their
substance and well nigh destroyed their
spirit and hope The army of the Unit
ed States had been freely used to main-
tain those governments in their acts of
corruption and usurpation, 1t was be-
lieved that its services would aid in the
designed conspiracy. The names of the
officers depended upon are Marcellus l..
Stearns, Samuel B. McLinn and Clay
ton A. Cowgirl, of Florida; and VIM.
Pitt Kellogg, J. Madison Wells, Thos
B. Anderson, +. Casenave and j. B.
Kenner, Of Louisiana. These men were
not strngeFs to the American people.
They had before usurped authority.
The returning boards of those States
had made themselves bywords in the
land. The Governors were known to be
pretenderS. If there were two names
dishonored in general estimation they
were the names of VIM. Pitt Kellogg and
]. Madison Wells. To such men was
the work of concentrating the conspira
CIV confded They entered upon theiI
task with alacrity, advised and encoqr-
aged by leading /" visiting Republican
statesmen of the North. They took each
step with deliberation and apparent re
gard for law. Before the election il
Louisiana VIM. Pitt Kellogg and his
snbsrdinates assumed exclusive control
of the execution of the Registry law.
They refused registration to thousands
entitled to it and added thousands to the
lists who had no right to vote. On the
,lay OF election the polls were managed
by officials appointed by the Governor
These were in nearly every instance
members of the Republican party. I'm
tied States marshals swarmed at every
precinct when thought necessary under
pretense of preserving the peace, but IN
TACT to intimidate voters. BallGt-5oXe
! ware stuffed in the interest OF the Repup
Iican candidates Poll books were falsl
eed in some instances, and then returned
- the Canyassing Board, while in othe
case. returns giving Democratic MAORI
| lies we're withheld from tic canvasser
altogether.
After the returns had been dellVere'
TO the board they remained in It's exclu
siye possession, and while there the
we're opened with its consent ana IN
ORIGINAL papers distracted and false one
substituted in their stead. When tn
returns were opened the board, With al
annearance of fairness, permitted person
representing both parties to be Presen'
Int when the decision was made as L
| What should be counted, secret session
vera held froBa which every Demoera
was exciu,l led. although the law constltq
mo the board required that 1t should {
composed of representatives o. poIh p
Ilitical parties. In counting the votes
exercised powers not conferred by tn
4 statute. and In the most fragrant dIsF'
card Of truth and justice the members
the board changed poll books, so tbs
Republican officers appeared to be chose
where their opponents had, in fact, bee
elected. They forged the names of of
cars IN the certificates of election. The
threw out votes of precincts upon afid'
Wits which they knew had been fraud
Iantly obtained indeed, themselves
dare3 false afidavits to be made hui
; Jreds of miles fom the places at whl'
thew purpertsd to have been taken,
/ ordar that decision might appear JUS
fed which they had in advance dee'
J mined to make.