Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-02-17
THE BuLLD0zsRS.

THE BULLDOZsRS.
yelv Crusade Enauguratcd Against
Republicans in the south.
Washington Telegram to the Chicago Tribune.l
The following dispatches have been
received in this city by Hon. Horatio
Bisbee, Jl.:
MADISON, Fla, Feb s. 1881
To the Hon. H. Bisbea, Jr., SD Eighth ssseo \.
W., Washington d. c.:
Savage was attacked in our presence in the
room taking testimony. The assailant wac
killed The Sheriff came, locked the room.
and returned with posse OF militia Cur
were pointed at Eagan's head with threats Il
kill him. The Sheriff protected bin, but he is
in danger. Many of the witnesses are de
lnoralized and have gone home. | think l
must return and take evidence in Jacksonville
Answer. H. JESIsiNss Jr.
JACKSONVILLE. Fla, Feb. Q, 1881.
H. Bisbee, Jr., NJ. c.:
We think Patterson was killed by Savage At
Madison Yesterday, upon the hearing III your
case Eagan is hiding, and in danger. Jen-
kins is safe. Two companies arc with Gov
Boxham at Madison. Great excitement
Trouble feared. VIII advise you further.
w. w. HICKS.
A. A. KNIGHT,
WILLIAM IEDIrIrH,
Committed.
The explanation of the above dis
patches is as follows Col. Bishee was !.
candidate for reelection to Congress
last November. His Democratic com-
petitor was Jesse j. Finley. Finley was
declared elected by the Democratic Off
Gals by a majority of about 600. Col.
Bisbee alleges that this apparent major
ity is fraudulent, and that he was fairly
and legally elected. Within the re-
quired period subsequent to the election
Col. Bisbee notified his opponent that
he would contest the seat of the latter
in the Forty-seventh Congress. Col.
Bisbee employed as his attorney
Gen. II. Jenkins, a prominent LAWYER
ssssiding atJacksonville.
Gen. jenkins served throughout the
war with distinction as an officer of a
Massachusetts, regiment, and was mus
tered out of the service as a Brigadier
General by brevet. He has been citi-
zen Of Florida during the last sixteen
years, hut, of course, is still " carpet
Dagger" and, therefore, in the chaste
language OF Mr. Aiken, of South Caro-
lima, is "legalized political burglar"
Mr.. Eagan, also, has been a reputable
citizen of Florida during the last six
teen years, but he, too, labors under the
disability incurred by "a previous resi-
dence in New York, aud is, therefore, in
the same words of the calm, non-partisan
Col. Hooker, an "alien and stranger
10 the soil and institutions of Florida
Both Gen. jenkins and Mr. Eagan are
represented to be brave and discreet
men. Madison, at which place Gen.
jenkins telegram is dated, is the
county seat of Madison county,
Fla. In fair election the county
returns q Republican majority of
$50 to 500, The Democratic Elec-
tons Committee of the present House of
Representatives allowed Mr.. Bishee
majority in this county in 1873 Of 272,
beside 1872 votes which were not count
ed. After the election, last November,
the returns were tleetored so as to
show a Democratic majority OF
about so in Madison county. Gen.
Jenkins, in his capacity of attorney, ar
rived at Madison to take testimony in
support Of Col. Bisbee's election con-
test. He was accompanied by Mr.. Eagan.
who is notary public. The reception
which awaited these gentlei en- is out
lined in the dispatch first quoted. A
few further facts about the political con-
dition of Madison county have been OBJ
tanned from a perfectly trustworthy
source. So open and fragrant were tile
violations of the Election laws last No.
vember that proceedings were begun
against a number of offenders.
Twenty or thirty persons were in
dicted. A colored citizen named Cros-
by, who answered subpoena of the
United States District Court, and testi-
fed In some of the cases, returned to his
home, where he now lies suffering from
a gun-shot wound in the shoulder, in
ficted by Democratic would-be assassins,
who, In this case, only wounded when
they meant to kill.
A United States Marshal who recently
went with posse of thirteen men to ar
rest some of the persons indicted, on his
return reported that his journey was
like military expedition through an
enemy's country. His men were COM
PEELED to carry and cook their own ra-
tons, and to camp in the woods every
night. Not night passed that the
party ives not fired upon by "bush-
whackers from some safe place of con-
cealment. The Marshal succeeded Il,
dA1CctiHk lOhI Va AllC lllQtttEtl lclID@
Gratis. The remainder Of them loudly
swear that they viii never submit 70 ar
rest.
Representative Bisbee called upon the
Attorney General to see what could
be done. Gen. Deyens, upon hearing
the facts, Immediately sent dispatch
to United States District Judge Settle
requesting him to go to Madison and
take the testimony desired by Col. Bis
bee. Judge Settle was informed that
the United States Marshal will also lie
sent to the same placeand be empowered
to use sach force as may be necessary to
protect the Judge in taking the testi-
mony and the witnesses In giving it.
Col. Bisbee fears that, unless immediate
measures are taken to reassure his wit
nesses and convince them that they will
be protected, they cannot be prevailed
upon 70 testify in his caSe. Col. Bisbee
Is inclined to believe that in sew
eral cher districts in the South
ern States, where Republicans have
served notices Of contest, the same
ta.ctics If intimidation AMI violence
toward witnesses viii be resorted to that
nave Eeen put in force with snch effect
IN his own district. He expresses the
fear that no promise OF protection
offered, except it be by committee Of
the Hnuse Of Representatives, will SO far
| reassure Republican witnesses In many
localities that they viii feel safe in Civ
| ing tier testimony, which it is abso-
iuteiy necessary Republican contestants
shall have in order to secure the ends of
justice. There we been symptoms of
difficulty IN Louisiana, Alabama and
South Carolina similar to those Which
now prevail in Florida, and there are
some reasons to fear that the. Democrats
arc determined to preserve, by the in
timidation OF witnesses, the fruits Of the
victories they won By fraud and the n
timidation of voters.
sassz