The New York herald., 1878-11-23
The Late Election in Certain Of the
Southern States.
DETAILS OF OUTRAGES REPORTED
Interference with Federal Authorities in
Enforcing the Law.
UNNECESSARY FRAUDS PRACTISED.
Violence and Intimidation
No Longer in Vogue.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, Nov %, 1873.
THE ELECTION IRREGULARITIES IN CERTAIN
SOUTHERN STATES.
The course Of the South Carolina. Louisiana and
Virginia authorities in regard to frauds charged in
the recent elections and arrests made by the federal
authorities is watched here with good deal of curos
lty and with the conviction among fair minded demo-
Gratis that the Southern men making very grave
bunder, which delights the hearts of the 'stalwar
republicans and grieves all who desire to end
put to sectional issues.
IN VIRGINIA
What happening is this In one Of the counties
of the Norfolk district. in Virginia, several arrests
have been made by federal officers under the federal
Election laws, the persons arrested being charged
with unlawful interference with voters with fraud
nent tampering with the ballot boxes. The evidence
which the arrests made is here believed to be
sufficient to convict; but this, Of course, cannot be
known until trial is had and it would be proper to
await the result of the trials. if it not that
the local authorities at once arrested the
complainants-in for perjury.
in Others for other offences-and stuck
them into JAIL with threat of State Prison. That IS
to say. John Smith enters complaint with the fed
eral District Attorney against Richard Jones charg
ing that Jones has obstructed the polling place. used
violence to voters. stuffed the ballot box with frad
lent tickets prevented an honest count. The fed
rr4l officers arrest Richard Jones on this charge.
whereupon the local authorities at arrest John
smith. the complainant, for perjury other
.harge, and stick him into jail. This course it is
serted here. has bdtn pursued in number Of in
stances in the Second Virginia district and it is
! proceeding excelently calculated to deter peo-
pie from making complaints. 1t is scandalous
intimidation Of witnesses, and wherever it is prac
tsed the public at distance is justified in believing
that the election offences charged were really com
mited, and that the local authorities who demo-
cratic, simply engaged in covering up these
crimes by soaring of the witnesses and making the
act Of complaining or giving evidence dangerous.
Not VIOLENCE, BUT FRAUD.
So far Virginia concerned but little violence is
charged and that probably of hsrmless-kind-wh
would in the North be called common election
rows" But in Mr.. Goodies district and in some
other places it is charged that the democrats
npulsted the election boxes used the little thin ballots
made Of onion skin paper. abstrscted republican
votes and substituted democratic and did SO syste-
atically and to great extent In precinct it is
related most of the voters were negroes. When the
box was opened these stood around in a crowd to
hear the result. whereupon. after examination of
the ballots the democrats cried out to the blacks =
GOOD for you'll You all voted the democratic
ticket
The negroes denied this in some amazement but
their opponents triumphanty showed them the bal
lots which, sure enough, solidly democratic
and the blacks went home dsgusted. but not know
ing exactly how to help themselves. This story is
told by who had looked into it and persuaded
xc were it not the conduct Of the Virginia local
authorities in arrestng and intimdating complain
ants but that amounts and may justly be regarded
confession or guilt.
THE LOUISIANA TROUBLES.
AS to Louisiana but little is known here. There
vague and evidently exaggerated accounts Of
violence and fraud. but it is known that Governor
Nchos has gone in person to the parishes. only two
or three in number. in which fraud disorder Is
said to have been practsed and with the determine
ton TO search ont wrong and punish wrongdoers 1t
is well for the Northern public to await the result
of his efforts. There is evidence that he has not
done his duty. and the fact that the State went
strongly democratic should count for nothing. 1t
could not help but do So when the republicans
utterly disorganzed among themselves and unable to
"organize' the negro vote, while decent white
repelled from the republicans ranks
Dy the f8Ct tDat wells, AnUersOn, Luucl1ug
and the whole odious Returning Board gang xere as
the federal officers in the State the leaders Of the re-
publican party Had the President placed in the fed
era Offices in Louisiana of stainless repute and
OF influence in their State it is known here that
the white voters would have been divided and the
State would have been easily carried for the republ
can party by considerable majority. There is some
reason TO believe that the President and his Cabinet
sec this now, and that in submitting to the
dictation of the 'stalwart republicans and taking
care of the Returning Board they not only violated
their civil service rules and professions. bat lost
Louisiana to the republican party.
SOUTH cARoIISA
As to South Carolina, when its whole miserable
story is known cannot help but ask, as an
amazed Northern democrat did here the other day
''what sort of State is South Carolina anyhow ~
In the place 1t is well TO understand that there
was very little violence intimidation. A good
many of the stories which the republicans are spread
Ing on this head in the North are either false or
grossly exaggerated. intimidation is a somewhat
vague offence and depends good deal on the char
scter of the intmdstcd Two years ago sena-
bor Morton brought out the details OF what he fiat
sered himself uncomnonly fine case Of
intimidation in Mississippi white republican
testified that being candidate for Office
The democrats marched through the town
where no lived and past his house
by torchhght. bearing coffn marked with his name
In illuminated letters, and groanng and threatening
they passed his door. Afterward the coffin. con-
spicuously labelled. set up against his house.
where he found IL the next morning. The story pro-
duccd profound impression upon all who listened,
until Senator Herman. seeing that the witness
burly man. who looked though he could take care
OF himself suddenly asked him -
And were You really iniimidatedf'
The man grinncd and said frankly, mo; not bit.
knew was not going TO be hurt"
FRAUD. nAREfAcEp FRAUD.
What the South Carolina democrats did in the two
low country districts from which complaints come
was rand. barefaccd premeditated and stupid fraud
fraud that had not necessity for it's excuse for
they could have won without II. The republican
party in the state was utterly disorganized all its
leaders who had any force influence had. like
mi left the nj a