The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-05-01
STARTLING REVELATIONS.
The tiai Fraud-Aariies
20 ID Revealing Ihe Facts The
Case OfFIOrldn.

for President as published here In the long
special from Washington: As memoer OF
the late State Board of Canvassers OF th.
state of Florida, feel impalled by sense I
duty To myself and justice to others 10
make the following statement: was
shown numerous telegrams addressed 70
GOV Stearns ard others from trusted lead
ers ofthe Republican party in the North
insisting that the salvation OF the country
depended upon the vote OF Florida bcing
east for HAYES. These kilograms came Or. IN
those TO whom | had been accustomed 70 de-
ter The Chairman of the National Com
IN ittee and the man who was the nearest
personal friend of Mr.. Hayes had conducted
the canvass. These telegl ans also gave
assurance OF the forthcoming OF money ana
troops If necessary In securing victory for
Mr. Hayes. Following these kilograms,
trusted Northern Republicans, party lead
ers and personal friends of Mr.. Hayes, mr.
rived in Florida, rapidly as the railroads
could bring them. l was surrounded oy
these men, who were ardent Republicans,
and especially by the friends ofToy. Hayes
One gentleman particularly-GoV. Mo- e.,
of Ohio-waS understood to represent ana
speak with authority, a warm, personal
friend commissioned with the power To act
in his behalf. These men referred 10 the
general destruction of the country should
Mr. Tilden BE- elected. The intense anxiety
OF IN Republic IN party of the North, and
their FOIL sym ..athy with us. ! cam It say
how far my action may have been inHu-
encrd by The intense excitement that pre-
vailed around me. or how far my pIris1n
zeal may have led me iato error. Neither
can | Say how FAR my course was Influenced
hv the promise made by NOyrs, that IL Mr..
HAYES became President | should be re-
warded. Certainty these Influences must
have had "a strong control over my iudg-
ment and action. Reviewing my ac ion at
this distance ct time with all calmnc-s
with my arGOr cooled and my partis AN zeal
chi led by the Prcsiden, who has bascly
betrayed and mrrcl"ssly destroyed the Re-
public m party of the South, and crushed The
very men who did 30 much for his election,
| am persuaded hat the f .Orida canvass was
not conduct,d with that COO, calm judgment
and honest, unbiased decision that should
have characterized proceeding involving
such vast and important interests. Instead
of this now see that the whole proceed
ing, went through upon the highest wave
of partisan excitement; that partisan feel
ing, stimulated to the utmost by the most
powerful agencies, usurpel the place Of rea-
son and sound judgment, and political eX-
pediency ruled the hour. A large number
of precincts were contested either by the
Democratic or Republican party. NOlum-
nous testimony was filed and lawyers @Ot
both sides argued each for their side OF the
issue that it was the duty Of the Board To
throw out and not include i'm the count or
retain and count precincts on the ground OF
IllegaliLy in the conduct of the election or
fraud that was charged to exist. the At
the Board had decided that the Board had |
judicial power and had the right to exclude |
precints from the count il the returns were /
shown to be so irrrgul tr, false or fraudulent /
a. to prevent the Board from ascertainng |
from them the true vote with the view 1f |
its duties the Board entered upon the work !
of the canvass, with the conviction that they |
were invested with large discretionary
powers which were of "A mixed character.
polite ii and Judicial. the political largely
,,tt1iT nat nlrffg ]
political ties had powerful Influence in
the exercise OF these powers, and the Re-
pubicans having the majority OF the board
the canvass was largely i'm their favor, as
the result proved. Iftke B0ard had acted iH
accordance Nth The decision n me Supreme
Court Of The State, detHiHg he poloer anil dq-
les Qf the Board IN reference IN The atr0tgBg
)lH 81 ne precincts, since rendered. there is no
question ~ me fact that Nr. TiideH ,o0lIa hare
leen 6Htttted 10 NE cote o EIOriia. excluding
he return from Baker county, which was
counted, and which | have since learned
rom the parties who made it, ioas q G1lsely
return, and including the true ,
eturn, which CORES pended with the Dre- !
inct returns of that county, would certain
Y have given the State TO Tildeu Archer |
'recInt No. :, Alachua county, was includ- u
81 in the count. The fraud committed In .
ms precinct was not shown to the hoard by ,
he Democratic lawyers alth ough contest =
vas made, aud much attention given % this s
reclncC; but | have recently learned from {
republican leaders Of that country that, al I .
,r the returns had been brought to Gaines
lille. the county seat. AIS votes were added V
, the returns by the nspector aud clerk of Il
tld precinct. In Leon county ~ small Re r
nphcan ballots 1cere stuffed i5!t0 me ballot D.
o6 az precinct No. 9. yet 1t was made TO ap
ear even 10 the satisfaction ola DemocrtIo
ielnber OF the Board that these were false G
allois The subsequent confession shows 81
lat they were stuffed into the box. | have p
ecu Joseph Bowers, one Of the Inspectors. a
ave the tickets similar to them a few DAYS r
eiore the election and cautioned him | i
gainst their use unless they were general >
used, and | afterward learned lie had =
wen them up. b
In Jefferson county, in Ger ain precincts. z
winch Mr.. ). Bell was Inspector, one p
lndred votes were surrcptitiously added O
the ballots ana counted: no charge was q
ade as 10 this fact before the Board.
Inc confession ofJ Bell since made to q
e discloses tho facr, had tie 20 votes D
added to Archer's return and %
e 20 votes stuffed in the box in Leon r.
'anty and the 100 votes surreptitlausIv o
lded IN Jefferson county, aggregating 3gi r.
ties been rejected, aud the Democratic
Iected precincts which were excluded for
regularity and illegality. contrary to the
cl>lon OF the Supreme Court had been re- \
med and counted, Mr.. Tilden would have
FRIED the State The c0psgEsiOa therefore d.
RFeststdbte ma Ar F1tdeH 1gds entitled IN 4
efestasds 0Ote IL FIOrida--nOt lr H1,,os m
~ H'thliS nus statement nv mot ives ~ ~
ubtlcss be- questioned by many bat tie e.
us VIII stand alone rs the truth without | Or
y mere motives 10 sustain them | am III
e, "'' II
OF
Whatever may be tho opinion of men in -,
5ard 10 my motives, | give them facts. 4
= I leave my motives to higher tribunal. hi
l9lShedI SAMUEL b. MCLIN. fo
lat ANOTHER LEADI REPUELIoAE rrs- fe
TIFIEs.
sEW foRk, April 23-The Sun rprnisbas
IolloWlng statement made bv q I
'nnis: - p
" AsHINGToN, April 2j.-I have resided Ca
alachua county Florida, since January,
10, and was elected to the State Assem-
: in 1876, at the same time OF the Iate
esldential election. | was at that time a
mDer OF the State Central Committee of ~
Republican party OF FlOril a. and also -
airmah OF the Republican Commission W.
OF Alachua county. l was also Presi- ~
II Of the Board of County Commission OF
OF Alachua county from 1873 to 1877. and 10
5 FAMILIAR with the manner of repistra- VA
= ana the manner OF voting, the location ~
the polls and all other election macbin- 70
f. As President Of said Board and vitb w
consent OF said Board. located All Doll- sh'
places, appointed all inspectors who
quoted the election, received aud coun-
oalIoJs, and made and certified TO tho
lrns. | appointed as Inspector of the
;her precinct box No. . Green r. Moore Fa
I'D Duke and Richard II. Black. Thorn,
ance went at my request to the Ar
r precinct the day previous to the eIec o.,
and was appointed by the inspector Ao
rk the election at box No. 2. and served
ueh l was at G insville on the dav or ,
erection, and on that night and dav fol- =
ing my residence was the headouarters -
ne Republican party, aud during the ~;
nt preceding the election all the intor- rs
ion was brought to me there. some aoo
after midnight of that night Inspector aOtl
result OF the election a. ~, " ne 5n c Uni