Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-10
The Alabama " Fair Count"


Committee of Alabama is a document
which ought to engage the attention and
arose the apprehension ofcandid men of |
all parties. 1t is a plain, straightfor-
ward exposure of the gigantic aud villain |
Gus frauds practiced at the late election /
in that State, and it is such direct re-
cital of facts as admits of a plain and |
positive denial, if any denial were pos
siblo. Every charge is accompanied |
with abundant proof, and the whole is |
an exposure of series of the mos
audacious frauds ever practiced in an
enlightened governments. Passing |
lightly over the assassinations of prom
inent Republicans perpetrated but n
few years since, the address exposes
the Democratic reforms in the cleo
ton laws, by which such violent meas
ures might be dispensed with, and
more easy and expeditions, but not less
effective mode of accomplishing their
fraudulent purposes might be put into
execution. The election law enacted by
the Democratic Legislature of Alabama
not only utterly failed to provide safe
guards where safeguards were required,
but it created opportunities and offered
suggestions which the most dull-wtted
could not fail to comprehend, and
most vicious take advantage of.
1t destroyed all the checks upon dis
honest inspectors, gave them the am
plest opportunities TO cover up their
pernicious frauds, and made it possible
for certificates of election to be issued
upon fraudulent returns, with no reme-
dy except an appeal to the partisan
State courts. Easy and ingenious
methods were enacted to evade prose-
cution under the Federal election laws,
and the whole was supplemented by in
Vulnerable minor changes. necessary to
the smooth and easy working of their
scheme of fraud, in despoiling the negro
voters of their right of franchise. The
modes of fraud specified in the address
show a fertility of invention that would
do credit to the boldest intriguer. BY
peculiar provisions of the law, making
it next to impossible for Republican
county officers to procure bondsmen,
they were unable to take legal posses
sion of the Offices to which they had
| been elected and the consequence was
that in all the strongest Republican
counties the officers charged with the
duty of appointing Election Boards
were Democrats. Their own plant
tools were of course appointed to
these important stations, and the
wholesale frauds which have sig
nalized the late election are the
result. In Montgomery, Autauga,
| Lowndes, Wilcox and Madison
counties these frauds were conspicuous,
and amounted to an absolute reversal
of the popular choice. AT one precinct
the Republicans polled 672 votes by ac-
tual count, which would give them a
large majority, but the counting pro-
cess of the Board reduced these votes
to 1872, and raised the Democratic vote
of 80 to $40. At another where there
were 544 Republican votes to 60 Demo-
cratic, the Republican majority was re-
duced to 46; at still another, Repub-
lican majority of $50 was absolutely
suppressed. BY such frauds rs these,
Montgomery County, which has been
strongly Republican ever since the war,
was made to show Democratic major
ity of over 1000. In Lowndes County
some sample frauds are given, and they
aggregate fraudulent change of 1884
votes. In Green County, where there
was an actual Republican majority OF
over 1000, the Democratic candidate
]
ed by 27 majority. The committee say
it would be impossible to give a detailed
account of all the frauds pcrpetrated
throughout the State, but they believe
that to-day, Alabama is Republican by
10000 majority, if the votes which were
put into the ballot-boX had been fair,
ly counted. There was at the late cleo
ton manly struggle on the part of the
Republicans for fair, full and free
election, but the votes of nearly 100000
true and loyal men have been over.
thrown by the bold and shameless
frauds of few hundred conscienceles:
political managers. The facts which
) the committee have made public are
vouched for by true men who were upon
the ground and know whereof they
affirm. The only possible pretense o.
justification for these infamous doings
: which establish beyond all doubt thu
purpose of the Democratic party, o
Alabama, at least, to ignore, disregarC
and nullify the late Constitutions
amendments by DISTINGUISHING the en-
= tire colored population of the State, il
,, thus stated by the committee: "Th'
action of an entire community in en-
: gaging in, accepting or justifying frauds
of the character which have beer
: detailed, cannot be ascribed to deprav
! ity, because whole community canno
! be morally depraved. The truth is tha
the people are as much opposed to ne
! gro suffrage now as they ever were
: and while professedly accepting tn
! Constitutional amendment, do not re
/ gard it as an offense morally to TAX
I advantage of the timidity and ignor
|. ance of the negro to nullify his vote. |
/ is only upon this theory that participa
a tion of otherwise honorable men il
these frauds, or acceptance of the re
3 suits of the frauds by men of that char
= acter can be accounted for. Will
this view may lessen the turpitude Q
o the acts committed before their ow
n n consciences, it does not lessen the fea
o and distrust which the people of tn
! Nation should feel at the domination {
i, the country by people who can brin
d themselves to so feel and act. ."-W WI,
9 c0IaSin State Journal.
z Bay~If severe and minute honesty
q all the departments of Government ca
e commend the party in power, the RI
s publican party has fairly earned I'll
n confidence of the Taxpayers of I'll
# country. OF 1861, ,876, 369 collecte
= from all sources in the last three year!
n all but $40, 900 have been paid into I'll
y Treasury, and there is prospect tn;
avian that NAV ha yacnvarad Countin