Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-05-01
The RFaad Laid Bare.
THE STOLEN PRESIDENCY.

IL oIt<l<.N tNt<plJAs.NOis
WASHINGTON, April 25.-The con-
LESSONS OF the men who were parties to
aud concerned IN the frauds by which
Florida was made to return the Hayes
electors as elected are as follows:
JUDGE M'LIN's CONFESSION.
As member OF the late State Board
ofCanvasscrs OF the State OF Florida, l
feel lmpcllcd, by sense Of duty to my
self and justice to others, to make the
following statement:
At the time the canvass was made L
was not at any time conscious Ofacting
otherwise than right aud proper. | en-
tered upon the canvass with the convic-
ton that 1t was my privilege and duty,
in a political sense, to give the benehI
ofeyery doubt in favor Of the Republic
can party. ] felt that when a question
could be decided either way without
doing violence to public sense OF JUS
tice, it was fairly allowable in politics
that should always lean to my own
party, and give my decision in its Ia
vor, even at the hazard Of straniug a
point. Atn0 time did feel that l &C.
cupied the position ola Judge, charged
with the duty oil strict and nice weigh
ing and balancing Of all the evidence
presented. Looking back now to that
time feel that there was a combination
OF influences that must have operated
most powerfully in binding my Judge
mcnt and swaying my action. mad
been for many years, and was at the
time OF the canvass, very active part
san. | sincerely thought that our state
aud the nation would suffer irrcparable
injury If the Democratic party where TO
obtain The Presidency, and the policy
OF hatred to The negro and those VINO
had been the friends Of the negro
should obtain control at Washington. II
vas the common and unanimous talk,
also, tlial the very existence oil the men
who in the S0alh had upheld The Re-
publican party depended upon the cleo
lion OF Mr.. Hayes. Mr. Hayes would
sustain them throughout the South.
while nj. TIlGcn would crush them. l
wss shown numerous kilograms address
ed TO Coy. StcarnS and others from the
trusted leaders OF the Republican par
ty in the North. insisting that the sal
walton OF the county depended upon
the vote Of Florida being cast Tor Hayes.
Those telcgrams came from those to
whom bad been accustomed 10 deier
tho Chairman Oi The National Com
miti,c. and tie man vie as tie nearest
personal friend Of Mg. Hayes had con-
Quoted the canvas. These tclcEiamr
also gave assurance Of the forthcoming
OF money, and troop, II nec' s-ary. ia
securing the victory Tor Mr.. Hayes.
Following these kilograms. trusted
Northern Republicans. party leaders.
and personal friends O.. Nj, Hayes, al
rived iu FLORIDA "a rapidly as the rai-
,roaG- could trns ihyln. MAS slr-
rounded Us i.osrmeo who we're ardent
Il uubl.cans. and especially by friend.
0r GOV. ilat,.. One gentleman par
tt.u!ar, Iio;. Not,o %. Dhio. was un
ler,iao3 ID r,p.c-1i. hH auI 5tca X
mu4iht authority o.. a "dTn personal
lr.crA. ecmm.5-t with po~,r to
arl .i lis tt.aE. Yue-c ui,A Ic,c.rer
t.t... general destruction 3D.. a., country
,!.s.d Air. Ih!," ac elected, the IN
tense anxiety ri the Republican patt'
or the North. ana their ,uli sympathy
with us. canuot say how 1877 my
action may have b,cn influenced BY the
intense excitement that prevailed around
me. or how Far my partisan zeal Hsi
have led ne into error; neither can
say how lar my course was Influenced
bv the promise made by Noyes that il
Mr.. HAYES became President | should
be rewarded. Ccr!ainly, these inhu-
cncos must have had a strong control
over ms judgment and action.
Reviewing my action at this distance
ofiimc, with all callnness, with my
ardog cooled and my PARTISAN zeal chill
ell BY the President. who has bascly
betrayed and merclcss,y destroyed the
Republican party OF the South. and
crushed the very men who did 50 much
for his election, l am persuaded that
the Florida canvass was not conducted
with that cool, calm judgment and
, honest. unbiased decision that should
nave characterized a proceeding invoiv'
ing such vast and important interests.
Instead Of this. [ now sec that the
whole proceedings went through upon
the highest wave Of political excite
ment: that partisan feeling, stimulated
to the utmost by the most powerful
agencies. usurped The place Of reason
and sound Judgment, and political ex-
pediency ruled The hour. \ large mum
Der of precuts were either contested by
the Democratic or Republican party.
Eulum!noGs testimony Was filed, and
the LAWYERS Of both sides argued. each
for their side Of tie issue, that il was
the dutr OF the board 10 throw cut and
not include i'm the count, or retain and
count precincts, on the ground OF He
gaity in the conduct Of the election or
fraud that vas charged TO exist The
Acknowledgement oil the state and a
member Of the board had decided thai
ihe board mas quasi Judicial power, and
had The right to exclude precincts from
the court If the returns were shown 10
be So irregular, false. OF fraudulent a.
TO prevent the board from asceriainm-
from them the true vote. With this
view of its dutics. the board entered
upon tie work o! the CANVASS. with the
conviction that they were invested with
large Discretionary powers. which we're
of q miypi character. pOlitigal and
judicial. the political largely predominant
Ing. Partisan zeal and strong political
ties had a powerful influence in the
exercise Of these powers, and the Re-
publicans having majority oflhe board,
the canvass was largely in their favor
the result proved. II the joard hat
ac.od IN accordGacc wih the decision Of
The SIP, enc toavi oftte Hate, defAi'ig
The porcrs and laiies Of the board IN
refereacc 10 Mro1ciRg ont precincts, since
readered. Merc is 10 question of the fact
a. II ~. y'rgy... ,~o,t{J bgye Lfsn entitled