Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1880-02-11
THE FLORIDA ELECTION FRAUDS.


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Az the attention Of the public has been
for some time very closely drawn to the
gigantic fraud attempted by the Demo-
crats and Greenbackers in Maine, it may
also be Of service to the cause of honest
elections to rehearse the particulars Of
the notorious Democratic frauds in the
last congressional election in the Second
district OF Florida, as they were recently
presented in the contest before the elec-
tion committee of the house Of represen-
tatiyes, and published in the New York
Times:
At the election in the Second congres-
sional district Of Florida in November,
1873, the opposing candidates were II.
Bisbee, Jr., Repubican, and Noble A.
Hull, Democrat. The state canvaaning
board declared the election Of Hull, and
the governor gave him certificate. The
Supreme Court of Floridn decided that
the canvass was illegal and void, and in
structed the board to make another, in
cluding the returns from Madison colln-
ty, which had been rejected. The canvass
was made. and Mr.. Bisbee was declared
elected by POI majority, but the
governor would give him no certificate,
on the ground that he could not revoke
Hull's certificate, although the attorney
general advised him that it was his duty
to do SO. Mr.. Bisbee thereupon began
. contest for the seat, on the grounds
that bona fide returns were re-
iected during the first canvass;
that under the instructions Of the
Supreme Court the board declared him
elected; that he had an actual majority
of 600 in the district; that from one
precinct in Madison county no return Of
his majority Of 81 was made to the
proper officers; that 181 votes cast for
him at q special poll in the same county,
though returned by the inspector, were
not included in the county return; that
ITO Democratic ballots were fraudulently
substituted for the same number cast for
him: that in one district in Orange
county the ballots bore distinguishing
marks, put on by the inspectors; that in
Brevard county 200 fictitious votes in
favor of Hull were added to the returns,
and that in that county no registration
books were used, and no ballot boxes
furnished, and the first registration was
not made by authorized officers. There
il no question about any counties except
Alachua, Madison and Brevard.
Judge Clampitt made q strong argu-
ment for Mr.. Bisbee before the house
committee, allowing majority Of 687 for
his client. In Brevard county, the county
board returned $40 votes for Hull, but he
claims only 116. The remainder were
added by the county board, and the fraud
was 20 glaring that the state board unani-
mously rejected the entire return. All
the precinct certificates except one had
been changed. e. g. Gsulding, deputy
sheriff Of Brevard county, voluntarily
testified that before the election Hull in
formed him that defeat would ruin him,
laid out the plan for his election, and
spoke Of the reward Gaulding was to re-
| oeive. Afterward, Gaulding received q
letter from Hull directing him to take
the returns of Brevard by Q certain route,
and wait at certain place for messen.
ger, who would tell him what to do with
them. For this service Ganlding was "a
receive 81, 900 and good place. This
WlGu609 8A0O tcotAucu W OtucI v1OAnsAOnr
of law, and his story 10 in every particu-
lar confirmed by J. Fl. Allen, promi-
nent Democratic lawyer. By the testl-
mony Of Allen, q strong Democrat, and q
warm friend Of Hull, it appears that
in one precinct beer-bottle WA
used ballot box, in another cigar box,
in another q tea box, and that at Bass
vile the votes were not put in q box, but
were strung on string. By other great
irregularities, which are described, the
way was prepared 90 that it would be
impossible to prove . fraud from the
records Of election and registration. In
one district Of Marion county 134 voter1
swore that they voted for Biabee, and
the returns gave him only Al. Demo
cratic votes to the number Of 98 were
substituted for Republican votes by the
officers Of election, and Hull admitted
| the fraud by claiming only II, and prov
ing only I. In Madison county 900
voters were waiting in line when the poll1
closed. They elected officers and voted
at q special poll. In one district in
Alachua county - supporter of Bisbee
were deprived Of their votes bocanse
their names were not on the lists,
although they offered TO swear that they
had registered and to prove residence
according to law.