The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1878-05-04
Text of McLin's Confession.
RICHARD.


Board of Canvassers of the State
Florida, 1 feel impciled by a sense
duty to myself and justice to 9th
ers to make the following state
ment: At the time the canvass
was made l was not at any time
conscious of acting otherwise than
in u right and proper manner. l
inferred upon the canvass with a
determination that it was my privi-
lege and duty, in "A political case,
to give the benefit of every doubt
in favor of the Republican party.
[ felt that when question could
be decided either way, without do
ing violence to the public sense of
Justice, it was fairly allowable in
politics that l should always lean
to my own party, and give my de-
cislon in It's favor even at the haz-
ard of straining the point.
"At no time did | feel that l oc-
cupied the position Of judge,
charged with a duty strictly and
nicely weighing and balancing all
the evidence presented Looking
back now TO that time, | feel that
there was a combination of in
thence that must have operated
most fearfuily in binding my
Judgment and swayiDg my action.
1 had been for many years, and
was at the time of canvass, a
very active partisan, aud sincerity
thought that our state and nation
would suffer terrible injustice ii
the Democratic party were to OBJ
tain the Presidency. and that a
policy of hatred TO the negro and
those who mad been the friends of
the negro would control ut " ssh
lngtOn.
1T was the common and unani-
nous talk also that the very exist
ence of tie men who in the South
had upheld the Republican party
depended upon the eleciion oi
Hayes. Hayes wonld sustain them
throughout the South, while Tiiton
would crush them. l was shown
numerous of telegrams addressed
the Gov. Stearns ana others from
trusted leaders of the Republicans
in the North, insisting that the
salvation of the country depended
Oh the vote Of Florida beng cast
for Hayes. ifan
Those kilograms came from
those to whom l had been accus-
toned to refer. Tue chairman Of
the National Committee, aud the
MIN who was the nearest personal
friend of Hayes, had conducted
the canvass. These kilograms also
gave the assurance of the forth
coming of money and troops, il
necessary, to secure the victory for
Hayes.
Following these kilograms,
trusted Northern Republican lead
ers, friends of Hayes arrived in
Florida as rapidly as railroads could
bring them
Il was surrounded by these men,
who We're ardent Republicans, and
especially by the friends of Hayes.
One gentleman particularly, Gov
Noyes of Ohio, was understood to
represent and speak with the au-
thority of warm personal friend,
commissioned with power to act
in his behalf. These mel referred
to general destruction of the coun-
try should Ti.ton he elected, the
intense anxiety Of the Republicans
of the Northern and full sympathy
with us. o
Il cannot say how far my action
may have been influenced by the
excitement that prevail, nor how
far my partisan zeal may have led
me into error; neither can / say
how far my course was influenced
by the promise made by Noyes,
that if Hayes became President l
should be rewarded. f
Here follow excuses for the con-
fession of the irregularities of the
Florida canvass. Then McLin con-
tinues:
eff the returning board had
acted in accordance with the de-
cision OF tie Supreme Court of the
State, defining the powers of the