The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-23
xrhx fsasccEen Did Yt.

sgocrial dispatch to the Washington F0si.j
cu,csGo. December iS.-T he Daily Ne'os
to-day publishes the following 1s'egfaE'tc
Letter from Hon. +. F. Pil'sbury, prom,.
nent Democrat Of Maine, and senatorial
aspirant: 90 IT,.
parens Republican majority Tor memoirs OF
the Legislature was occasioned Dy Whoiesa's
and systematic bribery, bui'dozngt any
Srand There was a popular majority for
Gnvernor in opposition 10 the Republicans.
Tn many districts giving Fusion majority
for Governor the Republicans succeeded Id
getting a majority Of the memaers 81 the
1,aoisia,Ire BIZ trickery and other frauds.
The Governor and Council have not, how
ever hased their action upon these frauds 10
anv instance, not having Jurisdiction: but
,hey haze strictly followed the Constitution
and thrown ont such returns as were iata'iy
defective. whether Republican or Demo-
cratic. Ia some counties more Democratic
than Republican returns have been thus re-
iccted. Republicans have been in the babt
Tor rears OF secreiIy returning detective Re
nuhlicap returns to the county officers for
correction, but took advantage OF de1ec's
in Democratic returns. During twenty
three years Of Republican rule they have
never lost an officer by means OF sucn de-
fects. while Democrats have lost more
or less nearly every year. ms bas
served TO make Democratic town ON
GERS more careful and Repuohcans
more careless. The present Governor ana
Council have held the Republicans to the
strict letter OF the Constitution ana tue
laws. and the result Is an anti-Republican
Taainritv in both branches OF the Legisla-
ture. they have in no case travelled out
eide Of precedents established by the Re.
nubljcans themselves; and in most OF the
cnses their action was based on opinions
given by Judges OF the Supreme Court.
For instance, the judges gave an opinion
In 1875 that the Governor and Council
could not count votes returned Tor WIZ
liam II. Smith and w. Fl. Smith for the
some office as having been given Tor one
and the same person. Applying the rule
this wear changes the result in large
number OF legislative seats. In 1877 the
iudres gave an opinion that returns could
not he counted when the signature OF OFF,
GERS were written By other hands than
their own. Several cases OF this charac-
ter were found this year. 10 the same
opinion the judges decided that returns
could not be counted where the to"n
clerk had failed to attest them. IDis
rnle changes several cases also. The
was fatally defective In not complying
with the Constitution in giving the names
Of persons voted for with The number OF
votes against each name. Some 100 votes 70,
were returned a. scattering" Ihis
changes the result OF three Senate seats, and
leave. five vacancies In the House. In the
cities OF Lewiston, saco, Bath, and Rock
land the returns were signed by minority
OF the Aldermen. The law requires The
whole number OF ballots to be given
in the returns, and there are album
dant Republican precedents 1or reject
ing them where they tali ID tnat re-
sncct. So. too, Where. there are material
differences between the whole number OF
ballots and votes. Several changes have re.
suited from these defects. In all doubtful
cases the Governor and Council consulted
eminent counsel before coming to concltl'
sion, and in every instance the action o.
the Board was unanimous
L. +. PnLSBuRY.