The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-11
TISSUE BALLOrERs ON TRTAL.
The Amazing view Taken by South Carolina
Democrats Of the Frauds

The Amazing view Taken by South Carolina
Democrats Of the Frauds.
CHARLESTON April s-Thc United States
Circuit Court convened here yesterday. Judge
Bond presided. and the political trials aris-
Ing from the last state election arc on. In
these cascs very much depends upon the jurics.
when the Ku.Klux cuses were tricd the iurics
were fixed for conviction. and SO notorious was
this fact that it WIS justified upon the ground
that only such cascs were presented to them ns
in the judgment of the United States District
Attorney required conviction. Thus the right
OF trial by Jury became practically abolished.
and the fate Of hundreds was determined by ono
sole nrbiter-n bitter partisan. who usurped the
functions Of Judge and Jury.
The iuries which have been selected for this
term Of the court certuinly are not bipartisan.
They have been selected from the bittcrest Re-
publcans throughout the state, md such Is the
unanimity Of that complexion that it could not
have been an accident. Some few Democrats
have been drawn, but the test oath will readily
be applied and winnow them out The test
oath has been ordered to be enforced. especially
in these cases.
Tho application OF tho tost oath Is curious
spectacle. The oath Is to the eff 'ct that the de-
ponent mover aided or abclted In any way in the
late civil war: and II the dcponent declines to
take IT, he may be rejected by the Government.
MS unworthy TO be a juror-in the words Of tho
common law. "notlan upright and honorable
ctizen." This oath. in this instance. is de-
mnnded by the United States y .riet Attorney
who was u gallant snbaltern OF the Confederate
army. II Is ordered by the Jung" who devoted
his well-bclovel son 81 tho Confederate navy 1t
is announced by the Clerk, another Confederate
soldier. and Administered by the Marshal, who
was captain in the Confederate army. II thoy
themselves wcre to come to Tho hook. they would
stand rejected by the process they are Applying
to others.
This community Is very much divided upon
the question OF conviction. Some mon. il is
true. hold to the doctrine that " the allegation
are true. no convictions shout result. former
Rcpuhnn Judge. in arguing the question,
sud. Tissue ballots were moro IN accord with
civilized IDEAS and the national IRA tice than
leudcn bullets that il WIS a choice between the
two; one or the other OF them was nee, ssary TO
preserve tho CIVILIZATION Though they may
not express themselves SO fOrc,bly. there are
many Democrats who feel ike the Judge. They
Justify themselves upon the ground that tho Re-
publicnns would do the satGo thing: that the
question OF quit Is political question. improp-
crly brought into "A court OF Justice and, under
such revolutionary circumstances ~ the nppli-
cation Of the test oath, neccsslatos counter rev.
O.utionary tUctics.
ARE very many good mend Dmocrats-who de-
sire to see u practical purincnuOn Of the ballot.
aud who would not hesitate To do their duty rs
lurymcn T. the proof warrants conviction.
They would require the strictett proof. and. II q
conviction followed. would doubtless reeom-
mend the conyics 10 mercy Ia the strongest
terms Many of the accused are men of tho
best private moral characters, who had no more
conception Of their crimin0lity, during the eX-
element OF tho election. than does giddy
dancer who keeps pace TO the music after II
o'clock on Saturday night know she Is violating
one OF the ten commandments.
Very few OF the accused are profess .onal poll
tcians. They generally nre uubiir-spirited
young men who are active in their daily ayoca-
tons. and who undertook AZ amateurs 20 do what
they regarded ~ public necessity. They have
and II their action tended TO the success Of the
election, they certainly have given their COM
muniies better representatives, than the Kepuo-
Leans would have done.
These reflections however arc in the estimR-
ton OF very many ground Tor pardon, and
not for Withholding conviction. u the proof ~
sufficient Those gentlemen feel that the nsccs-
sity for revolutionary action in elections has
passed. and that II II time that all unialrness
should cease. They know that In the elections.
inside OF the Democratic pnrtv. thoSc improper
practices have resulted IN schisms and cuntro-
Versirs which are not likely soon to De healed ::
and That to-day Onr-halt Of the community Is
arrayed AGAINST the o.her determined that
| hereafter there must b. no more ttmpering
! with the purity of the ballot
The accused will be defended hy eX-Judge
| Magrath and Mr. Mitchell a. leading counsel
| with almost every lawyer ms an ssistant. Pub
| lie subscriptions have been taken III many
sSuh,tts TO ass y IN n ne SApens,ss 81
| positions 10y the election have been assessed to
p9y their pro rata portion.
raj counties indicate that the leading QUESTION
Will be the tissue ballots The attempt will
! be made to show that these ballots were 80 gem
| oral in the State that they must have issued
| from some central aud CONTROL NJ source which
suggested them, and then had them put in cir
| cuiation throughout the state
| Whom the Investigating Committee was here
| they examined. among others, Mr. William J..
! naggctt. the foreman oi Job printing Office.
! In his testimony this gentleman - chained all
! the credit of the Tissue ballots" He said hc
! originated them, and sent them ont upon his
! own responsibility after printing them in his
/ own office. Mr.. DaEgctt VIII probably he Put
upon his trial. but his Vcrsl of the tissue hAl-
! Dog, will not o." acceptable tn IN" Government.
| who look for higher game 10 nj that place IN
! their ind lctnrut.
l.. W. VI. Ma.key who is tho Assistant United
! States District Attorney to judge Northtop. IL
/ the leading spirlt OF tho prosecution. He has
| been diligeut in season aud out working uu
| the cases. IT, Was n cundidate for Congress
! against Mr.. OConuor. the present d mo ratio
/ member from this Congress ional district. H.
! iondly imngi mes that he may be- able in these
| TRIMS 20 overcome the large majority 81 Mr.
! O'Conuor. and prove IL 10 the satisfaction Of a
| Demo 'raiic Congr' IS. Mr.. MAckey is the last
OF the stalwart Repuhlican- N the state, aud Ii
! Is making his last desperate stand.