National Republican., 1882-08-17
Alabama Erection Frauds.

Inc lOliOWlnB Is Il COPY bl u luCulOtlhl MhiSh
was presented to the Alabama legislature last year
Its author, General Jones NJ. Wihcrs, of Mobile,
is citizen of high character, and an Independent
i'm politics He served with distinction in the
confederate army, and has since tile end OF the
war been faithful to the terms OF Lees surrender,
We print 1t Us the best statement of the election
frauds and their results we remember to nave
seen;
To tho Senate aud House Of Rel re ientntives o: the
q, n,ral Assembly uf the state u A aDana:
By virtue Of the Cunsillu lunhl EuhfHhlce Ol lle
right of petition Your nem"tiHis s. oIt resect M is
II resident of Mobile, II native OF Madison county,
and continuously from his bir II Citizen OF thls
state; that ms n citizen of the State hais entitled
to exercise fully, freely, and safely all the rights
and privileges guaranteed to that portion OF the
people recognized by the constitution oi tne stHte
ami the laws made In pursuance thereof; that for
the proper exercise and enjoyment of the said
rights aud privileges II is the province OF me law
making branch of the State government
by the necessary aud proper legislation,
to give to the said electors, and to your
mcmOralist "a one of that number, II reasonable
assurance of the safe keeping, correct counting,
honest announcement of the result, and faithful
official return OF the said rcult of the ballots cast
by them, ana each OF them seNer4iiy ana coffee
lively; that without such reasonable assurance aS
af resaid the elective fHmchise can bu be esteemed
of too little worth to draw off from ther ordinary
avocntions to the uiInOynccs Of the hustihgs other
than the nSpiran,s for Office aud place, and their
paid or cXpey slant agents or assistants, unless II
seville public sentiment, Is, through cunningly
devised methods, 80 brought to bear OH the ttmid,
quiet. pcAcel, wing, and unaspirg portion OF tie
electors to force them To cuiicedlment of Their
Indifference rCpugnance, and IT, the alicctation
of an interest ana zeal in obcyiug the behcSts
which they have not the manly courage to resist.
Your mcmoralist further respectfully repre-.
seuts to your honorable body tht ether from
defect in the eec,ion laws OF the STA G. or from
defect in tine sO-culled registration law, or from
want OF other necessary aud proper safeguards
and penal sections. elections in tlIi, county, and,
rs he is informed aud believes, and 80 states,
elections throughout the state have ceased to e
considered by the electors ms lurui.hing true aud
faithful eXpositous Of their will as eyinenced by
the ballots actually cast or deposited by them.
Not only so, but your memGalist resretiully
makes known to your honorable b"dy mat LON
the declarations and dgpO ,itiOnS OF known
and reputable citizens and electors conviction
beyond question of doubt has been forced upon
him that fraudulent tampernss with the ballots
cast have on divers occasions been made the
means Of changing the results of elections as
| rightly and lightfuliy decided by the clcc.Urs.
| And your lncmorialist further represents that
such practices have, as is asserted aud believed,
become so hahitial as 10 have seriously impaired,
| if not wholly destroyed, confidence III lhe posi-
blity of any election, which Is Of su!hcicnt I'M
porlunce to excite the interest OF contest, Oeing
held and conducted nnd officially declared win
| that integrity which does or can give apprecable
| worth or value 10 the exercise OF the elective
| franchise. -
| seuts to your honorable body TINT sucn fraldu-
lent practices can have OtHCr corrollary than
bribery and perjury, and that when these crimes
are justified, excused or shieldcd fIom punish
meut there can but prevail n vitiated and yiciou.
public opinion, wholly incompatible with that
reverence for law, and If those felt and ncknowl-
edged moral OBLIGATIONS which are the safeguards
and life of the civilization Of tlir. !in"i'y'
mgmurNllSt Is anNluuSIN intent III Keep
ing within the StriceSt defined limit leritimately
circumsCrbng the secured right of petition, and
therefore circums; Getty nbstains from ohciou:
suggestions of possible remedies for the evils com
planned of, or for guarding against those which
| may he apprehended from radical change o.
the election laws and methods now maintained
| Your memogalist is earnestly sulicitous to be sc
cured in those rights and privileges for the bet
| ter security aud maintenance of whicl
| Washington and Madison, Samuel ant
John Adams, Frunklin, and Hamilton united IL
causing IL to be incorporated into the Consttu
tion, that "the United States shall guarantee tt
every state in this Union republican form o
government" and your memoriG,ist. deeming 4
more beiittng that he should first make appeal Il
those Immediately invested with the power ant
authority to give him the proper relief whcl
there is an invasion Of his rights and privilege
by any departure from or iniraction of the spri
of representative democracy, as Intended to be sc
established and perpetuNted by the fathers doe
now, therefore, respectfully present this com
plant; and earnestly appeals iO your honorable
body for such relief and security in the premises
as to your wisdom may seem just and eXpedient
And, as i'll duty bound, your petitioner will eve
| pray &c,