Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-08-01

For example, in Santee there was an
honest election, as shown by the records,
but Lee had 476 out of 499 votes, and,
therefore, the box was thrown out, be-
cause the box was sent to the Counting
Board without a written certificate au'
thorizing them to deliver it. In another
precinct the box was stuffed with Demo-
cratic tissue ballots. Discovering their
presence, the Democratic managers re-
stored them to the box and drew out
enough honest Republican votes to make
up for the excess. Afterward the whole
box was excluded. In other precincts in
this county the same methods were used.
In one of them thirty-one tissue ballots
for Richardson were found folded in an
honest ballot. The frauds committed
were in the interest of the Democrats,
but they served as pretexts for throwing
out boxes, or the boxes were rejected on
the technical ground already mentioned,
although the managers were generally all
Democrats. At Browns Ferry 296 votes
were cast, and COZ were found in the
box. All the managers were Democrats,
and they at first proposed to count the
tissue ballots, which were found in the
boxes in packages. The managers then
proposed to burn the box, but it was pre-
served and rejected by the county can
yassers. The box was sent to this city,
and is in the custody Of the committee
on elections. The report gives Lee a
majority of 2,3l0 in this county.
The Sumpter county canvassers give
Richards on III majority, but the report
gives Lee 1877 majority. AT one pre-
cinct the stairway leading to the box was
crowded by white men who prevented
colored Republicans from going up.
Knives were used upon those who tried
to reach the box, and they were told
this was no damned Republican poll"
In another precinct Mr.. Richardson adj
mits that Lee received 400 votes, while
he received only nine, but the canvassers
ignored the whole vote. In Maysville
22l fraudulent ballots were discovered,
in bundles so large that they could not
have been put in through the hole in the
lid. They were all Democratic ballots,
and the managers were all Democrats.
but to reduce this fraudulent surplus l47
honest Republican votes were taken out
At Concord Precinct there was singular
condition Of things. No one disputes
the fact that not one Republican voted
there. Republicans refused to vote be-
cause they believed that the box had
been stuffed. When the box was op.
ened fl fraudulent Democratic ballots
were found. This showed that the fraud
had been planned beforehand by the
Democrats. AT Rafting Creek Precinct
there were three Democratic managers.
One broke his arm and the other two ap-
pointed colored Republican in his place.
There was fair election, and Lee got
six-sevcn,hs Of the votes. Then the box
was thrown out because the colored man
had not been appointed by the county
commissioners. At another precinct
Democratic manager swears that the
election was fairly held. Lee got 4O7
and Richardson %. The box was thrown
out because the mana gers adjourned 20
minutes for dinner.
In Williamsburg county there were
some interesting cases. At Midway Pre-
cinct the managers, all Democrats, closed
the polls too early, and therefore the box
and Lees majority were thrown out. At
most Of the precincts in this county Lees
maj critics were overcome by inserting
packages OF Democratic tissue ballots and
then drawing out Republican votes to
reduce the fraudulent excess.
At Florence, in Horny county, Demo-
Gratis were allowed to vote freely, but
Republicans were DISTRACTED. Republic
cans to the number of 20S swear that
they were prevented from voting. When
the polls closed 400 of them were stand
ing in line, but just before that time Gu
Democrats came up in a body and the
Republicans were pushed back by the
county officers, so that those just arrived
could vote. These 60 had already voted
at another precinct. Mr.. Richardson put
in the certificate Of a clerk of court as to
the correctness of schedule of the votes
at this precinct, and the clerk swears he
made NO certificate. At Darlington near
ly 200 Republicans went away with
out voting. Two wagon-loads Of guns
had been taken to the polling. place on
the previous night, having been brought
on train at midnight. The Democrats,
many Of them in red shirts, crowded the
way to the box and refused to allow col
ored men to vote unless they voted the