Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-11
RANDOLPH
stIlI Contends that he and not Casey
Young was Elected to Congress in
November. IS56-The Figures
on which he Rests his
Claims
He has no Rope OF Convincing Casey
bat sun he Thinks it Right that he
should Get his Case before the
People through the
Appeal.

EDITORS APPEAI-On the twenty sixth OF
November, 1876, you published an editorial
from which the following Is taken:
Attorney General Luke +. Wrigat has
made an enviable reputation by iphexibly,
ably and efficiently prosecuting evll-doers and
yioators OF the law. If he will turn his at
tention to the returns Of the late elections he
will see papable evidences Of fraud. Ia 1877,
the total vote IN Shelby county was Il, 327; IN
1874 it was Ii, 6S4, bat in 1876 the total vote
beng 1858 over the vote of 1872 and 1914
over that Of 1874. The evidence OF fraud
consists in this: That while Casey Young re-
ceIves 339 votes less than in 1874 Randolph,
while running behind his ticket, receives 2252
votes more than were cast for Lewis. In the
city vote, Young loses 3l2 votes while Ran
doiph gains on the vote Of 1874 1919. Ran
dolph gains on Lewis vote IN the first ward,
50; in the second ward, s.; IN the third
ward, rs; in the fourth ward, So; IN the fifth
ward, 1877; in the sixth ward, 70; in the
eighth ward, IA; IN the tenth ward, 260.
This unyarying increase of the Radical vote,
without corresponding loss IN the
Democratic vote, indicates that the ne
gro repeaters performed their work in
every ward IN the city. The gain of nearly
two hundred Radical votes in the first ward
is an absurdity. Randolph is weaker than
Lewis, yet while running behind his ticket
he gains on IIewIss vote in this city-l2l9,
and 2252 In the county. The natural inquiry
Is, where did this increased vote come from
1t did not originate from any increase OF
population or gain Of Democrats to Ran
dolph, but by frauds, importation OF voters,
and repeating. If the grand jury will lnstl-
tute a rlgid examination into the returns of
the late election, it will find many bogus
names upon the poll-books In each ward, and
a system of repeating and general fraud
which will at once explain Randophs 1858
increased vote in Shelby county, and his mar
velous increase ed vote of 1909 votes in this
city. A rigid investigation by the grand jury
will develop the most shameful Frauds
Very recently you reproduced portion OF
the article and commented on it in the same
spirit.
As you have never refused me the privilege
of reply when personally interested, | hope
you will allow this place in your columns.
| shall endeaVor to conhne myself to simple
statement of facts.
Ia the first place, then, with Democratic
judges and clerks OF election, and Democratic
deputy-sherIffs holding it, with Democratic
challengers al every polling place, and a po-
lice force ever ready to do its duty promptly
and efficiently, with Democratic attorney
general, or rather two of them, Democratic
judges anol Democratic grand juries, there
has been No rigid investigation, nor any in
vestigation at all so far as am informed, of
the frauds you complain of. | do not know
that single indictment was returned, with
one exception, and a HOtle prOSequi was en-
tered as to that, because the Encouragement
was satisfied there was no real guilt.
Now, If the frauds existed, as you say they
did, what reason had the attorney general
and the grand juries for not presenting them?
Why were not those perpetrating them
pointed out and arrested? Why were not
the "bogus names upon the poll. books in each
ward found and if nothing else could be
done, given to the publicP Did any one de-
kaoE
Ia every ward III the city? If so, will you
just mention the number, their names and tell
what was done with them? If my increased
vote did originate from " importation of
voters and repeating, could not some dill
gent public officer or some public spirited CID
izen just catch one Of the fellows imported or
one of tine repeaters!
Oh, Messrs. Editors, your statements are
too thin The United States marshal and
his depnties had no difficulty IN arresting
thirty or forty persons committing or attempt
ing to commit frauds on the ballot-box, and
most O them were afterward convicted IN the
United States circuit court But unfortunate
ly for you, all or nearly all those fraudulent
fellows committed or were trying to commit
frauds to help the Democratic ticket.
You know very well your generalities
amount to nothing. And you know further
how easy it is to make sweeping charges at
fecting everybody generally, and nobody in
IdIJlCGIdt. NOIuG uOHu " pdTClGuldtS, anu
let the country know how much of substan
tial fact you have to base what you have said
ons or else, have the candor to admit you
have no proof to sustain you.
Allow me now to call you to facts. You
admit | gained on Judge Lewis's vote in
1874, in the city, 1919; aud IN the county
2252, and that Colonel Young lost IN the city
on his vote of 1874, 3l2 votes. But you say
l ran behind my ticket, and | was weaker
than Judge Lewis. Now, Mr.. Hayes received
in the city, 1907 votes, and l received 1898,
Or II votes less than Mr.. Hayes. Mr.. Tilden
received 1868 votes in the city, and Colonel
Young 5646 votes, or II votes less than Mr.
Tilden. Now, who ran furthest behind his
ticket, Colonel Young or l?
Again, you say the inquiry is, where did
my increased vote come from? And that it
did not originate from any increase of popu-
lation or gain of Democrats to me, ''but by
frauds, importation Of voters and repeating"
propose to show how the facts are.
According to your statement, the returns
show an entire vote in the city of 8643. !
make, by adding the sheriff's VOTE only 1916 |
the combined vote of Mr.. Hayes and Mr.. |
Tilden in the city, In November, 1876, was
10, go, or 1927 IN excess of the recent entire |
vote, as you state it. | believe it is generally
that the recent election in the city |
was fair. Let us see how these 1927 votes |
are to be accounted for. | will make my COM
parsons on the vote for Colonel Young and |
myself in 1876, and the vote for sheriff In |
1878, which are as follows:
CITY