The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-07-10

,liel0d during my adulnlStI0tOns ~Vav~Ao~
,ccssioned my nomination tor tho presidency
" the Democracy Of the Union, in the hope
Int aimihr processes would 30 applied to tho
Irederal government. From the reeponsibili.
i,s OF such an undertaking, appalling ~ It
ls.med 70 me, did not feel ut Liberty 70
,hrink. In tho canvass which ensued the
l)emocralic party represented reform in tho
Of the Federal government and
, restoration OF our complex political system
NJ the purc ideas Of its founders. Upon these
issues the people Of the United States, ~
majority OF more than quarter OF million,
chose majority Of the electors to cast their
votes for the Democratic candidates for Presi.
dent and Vice. President. Il u my right and
nr;vileuo here to say that was nominated
ani elected to the presidency, absolutely lres
from any engagement in respect to tho OK
e,c;ae Of its powers or the disposal OF IT.
mtronaee. Through tho whole period Of my
relstion TO the presidency ! did everything IN
INV MOVIE. to elevate, and nothing to lower,
.ao,s n standards in the competition d parties.
" What neiarious means tho basis lOr . false
connt vas laid in several Of tho States !
need not recite. These ere now matters q
history about which whatsoever diversity Of
,minion may have existed in either Of tho
creat parties Of tho country ct tho time ot
their cousummation has aimee practically do.
annearad. I refused to ransom from The 10.
tnrnine boards Al Southern States tho doou.
mentaIy evidence, BY tho suppression ot
which and By tho substitution o. itandolent
and forged Papers, prstext was made lor tne
rerpetration Of hlse count. Tho conslitu'
tonal duty Of the two houses ot Congress to
count the electoral votes - cast, and to give
effect to the viii of tho people. - expressed
by their su6tages, W. never iuldlled. An
clestoral comnission, tor tho existence q
which have no responsibility, was formed
and to II the two houses OF Con&rose sbdicated
their duty to make The count BY law enact.
ing tina. tho count Of tho commission should
stand a. final unless overruled BY the concur.
rent action Of tho two houses. 10 false
count wac not overruled, owing to the com.
plicity Of Republican Senate with the Re-
publican majority Of the oommissi0n. Con.
trolled by ito Republican majority Of to I,
the electoral commission counted out tho men
elected by the people, and counted in the men
not elected by the people. That subversion
Of the election created . new issue tor the DO.
cision III the people Of the United States,
trspscendins In importance oil questions Of
administration. Il involved tho vital prin.
ciple q selt.government through elections By
the people. Tho immense growth Of tho
means ofcorrupt influence over tho ballot.bDx,
which il 1t tho disposal ot tho party having
possession Of tho executive administration.
had already become present evil and great
danger, tending 70 make elections irresponsi.
bic to puUiic opinion, hampering tho power d
the people to change rulers, and enabling The
men holding tho machinery Of government "a
continue and perpet,ate their power. It wa
my opinion In 1876, that the opposition at.
tempting to change the administration, needed
to include 1t least two.thirds Of tho voters u
The opening Of the canvass, in order to retain
q majority Of the election. II, after such Ub
slacles had been overcome and majority o.
the people had voted to change the admins
t,at.ou ii their government, the men in Office
could st. procure Iaisc count founded upOr
fraud, perjury and torgeries. furnishing q pre-
taxi Of documentary evidence o. which Il
haDe thst hlse count, and Il such Q tnnsactaol
were not only successtal, but u, alter alloe
ments q ito benefits were made to 10 con
trivers, abettors and apoloGists. By tAe chic
beneficiary Of tho transactions, Il weeo CON
doned ~ tho people, . practical destruction
q elections By the people would have ben
accomplished.
|. The failure TO install tho candidates ehose'
By people, aoontingenoy consequent po'
10 ct o. omission ot mins, and beyond "a!
control-has thus let mo for tho last thre
yeazs and until nov, when The DemocEast
party, by 10 deleRates In national convention
! ossemhled, Ol,all choose now leader, tho 10
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