New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-02
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CHALMERS ARMED WITH PROOF.
THE TRICK TO ROB HIM OF HIS SEAT LIKELY TO
PROVE FUTILE "A STRONG REACTION SETTING
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUyE.l /

IN
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The act of the Mississippi
Secretary of State in resortng 10 flimsy techlca-
ity to declare Manning instead of Chalmers elected
to Congress from the lid District IL not likely to
benefit the former. II was announced that Gov
srnor Lowrey of Mississippi, had issued certificate
of election to Naming. upon certificate of the
Secretary of State that MANN ng had re-
ceved the highest number of votes
and was elected. 1t appears, however.
that the laws of Mississippi are peculiar, in that
they contain provision authorizing or requiring
the Governor to issue certificates OF election to Con-
gressmen-elect. The law does require that tho
Governor shall issue " commissions" " to State
ohicerselect upon the certificates Of the Secretary
of State, but is silent as to Representatives..
1t has been the custom, however, for the Cover
nor to issue commissions to oRepresentatiyeselect.
Governor Lowrey before the election expressed tho
opinion that unler the law he rad nothing 10
do with the issue of commissions" or other
evidences of election to Congressmen, and con-
suited Judges Of the Supreme Cour, of the State.
1t will be maintained by General Chalmers and his
friends before the Mississippi courts ami the House
of Representatives that Governor Lowrey's "com-
mission" TO Manning is not legal evidence OF his
title
They will raise another and still stronger techni-
cal objection to swearing in Manning and against
placing his name in the roll of tho
House. This Is that the sO-called "certifi-
cate" given by the Secretary of State III
Mannings case isnot certificate at all, but simply
private note signed by that officer and not bear
ing the great seal of the State the law requires
Persons who have examined the paper in question
since 1t filed in the Governors Office are ready 10
testify that it does not bear the SEAL The Secretary
of State has. however, issued certificate under the
proper SEAL showing that James r. Chalmers re-
ceyed the highest number OF votes and
that certificate General Chalmers has in his
possession lie also has copy of the
aiidavits of the clerk of Tate County who wrote
the tally sheet and the Endorsement thereon, 70
the effect that no intended to and believes he did
write " J. X. Chalmers" and not }. X. Cham
bless" the back OF said sheet, and that il he did
not it was clerical error.
This affidavit was filed with the Secretary Of
State. together with copy OF tile original tally
sheet properly indOrsed, November u, loS2,
fourteen days after me election General Chalmers
also has in bis possession the original tally sheet
kept by the GIeenback member OF the Tate County
Board of Canyassers and this shows that }. X.
Chalmers received 4j2 votes. The bogus canvass
by the Secretary of State gives the same number or
votes to J. Il. Chambless" aud none 10 Chal-
n ers General Chamefs. who is now heIe, says
that the monstrOns action Of the Governor and the
Secretary of state has pro luced strong reyulsI0n
Of public sentiment in his favor aud that e has re-
ceIyed "a hat full of letters irOm Democrats
IN all parts Of the state who were bitterly opposed
to him during the campaign. declaring their SYM
uathv with HIN and their determination TO
resent at the bullot-bOx the outrage which
has been perperated. General Chalmers
thlnks that the result of the recent
election affords very strong collateral evidence IL
any is needed. that Buchanan, and not Manning.
was elected to Congress in 1850, despite the bull
doing which deprived him OF many hundred votes
in Lafayette County. In 1850 by the Use OF cannon
and otner preventive measures Manning succeeded
in carry NJ Oxford in that county Senator Lamars
Inv hundred
election Chalmers carried the same town by q
handsome majority owing mainly to the efforts OF
thirty or forty young white men, who were his
friends and we're determined that there should be
n fair election aud honest count. The con
tested case of buchanan against Manning is stuD
pending in the House.