Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-05-08
From Washington,
Washington. May !, 1879.

armed force being present at election
to keep the peace is fOrcibly illustrat
ed by the testimony given in the in,
vestigation into the electors of 1878,
in South Carolina. James B. Camp.
bell, lawyer swears that he has been
a resident of South Carolina since
1896; that since Gen. Jacksons time
he has not affiliated with any but the
Democratic party; that the Democracy
reduced the voting precincts of South
Carolina and located the voting places
so as to prevent majority Of voters,
who are laboring men, poor, and with
out means of transportation from vot-
ing in st Andrews Parish, consisting
of James Island and the main terri
tory, the poll on the main was abolish
ed and that Oh the Island only retain
ed, with navigable stream to cross
and 40 bridge nor regularly kept ferry.
The time for keeping open the polls in
many precincts rendered it impossible
for all the voters to vote, and made it
quite easy for partisan managers to de-
feat the will of the largest part of
the voters.
There are already two distinct and
opposing politial ideas pervading the
Democracy throughout the State
Upon one idea rests the policy which
those who teach it call ''the aggres-
sire policy" It is typifed by for
chile intrusions into Republican meet
ings claiming to divide time, and by
the disgraceful precinct laws to de-
prive the laboring man of his vote
1t had its initial and historical illus
triation in the massacre at Hamburg,
the Glencoe of the 10Th Century,
the decus AIT dolor Of South Carolina,
as may suit the taste of those who
contemplate it. The glory of its pa
ternity is disputed and | do not ven
ture to decide.
These facts together with the vast
amount of tissue ballots east in the
South gave the Southern Democracy
control of the present House of Rep
rcsentatives, and is an illustra ton of
their devotion to secure honest cleo
tions.
Senator Conkling made the effort of
his life last Thursday in a speech
against the Army bill He showed
that the revenue Of the government
from all sources was S235, 000,0 a
year; that of this amount, the seceed-
ing States, including the tax on to
bacco, only paid ST., 900, yet
through the caucus system, the South
was fully determined to control the
destines of this great Republic, not
withstanding their late effort to de
stroy it. Let the loyal people remem
Der the fact, that the portion Of the
country contributing less than ono
sixteenth part of the revenue of tn,
Nation is determaincd to ''wlpe out al
vestiges of the war measures" enacted
by the Republican party for the pres
ervation Of the Government.
During the debate on The resolutio
to change the rule OF the Senate re
ferring the approval of the Prosidcni
of the Senate to remove the subbordi
mates of the Secretary of the Senate
and Sergeant at-rms, which has bee
in force for the last quarter of cen
fury, and was adopted by Democrat,
Senate. Senator Carpenter offered the
following amendment: That no Office
or employment by the removal o,
dismissal of person who served il
the force of the Union shall be filed
or supplied by any person who served
In the Confederate army at any time
during the war. This was voted
down, as the Southern Democracy.
through the caucus, rule the senatc, ,
and they are determined to have these
mostly filed by late confederate Sc :
diers. This reminds me of the asse:-
tion made by a Confederate Soldier.
who was seeking a position at tn,
capitol | have killed more dam,
Yankees than any nan in Virs inia >al J!
and I am entitled to the place. The
abrogation by the Democrats of rule
made by themselves, in order to give
place for their friends shows their t., r
hypocracy in their strenuous efforts
in behalf Of civil service reform dur
ing Gen. Grants administration.
President Hayes has rejoiced all
loyal hearts by his veto of the Army
bill with its election riders attached,
He plainly showes thlt it was not the
desire of honest elections thai
caused these riders to be attached
but the placing of the enforcement, Of
United States laws under State authori-
ty. in fact to carry out theidea of State
ri.rhts La onnnsitinn TO the Authority Of