The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-16
The Conspiracy.

The conspiracy to cheat Hon. John Paul
out of his seat in Congress will be foiled. We
learn that kilograms were sent out from Har-
viously. to several of the counties to throw
out enough of the precincts in Albemarle,
Goochland and Augusta, on purely technical
grounds, to give O'Ferrall a majority in the
district. With this prima facie presentation
of the case, if the plot succeeds, it is pro-
posed to go before Congress and demand the
seat for Col. O'Ferrall. Porters precinct,
In Albemarle, which gave Paul about 101 ma
jority, we understand, was thrown out by the
county canvassers, upon the ground that the
clerk notwithstanding the judges certified that
the poll was precisely that which they made up
and that there had been no tampering with it
A similar proposition was made as to Bolivar
precinct in Augusta county, which gave Paul
a majority of 81, but in this the party de-
manding it was defeated. Several precincts
in Goochland county have been, or are to be
subjected to the same ordeal. There is no
charge of frauds committed or intended, but
simply because the officers of the law omitted
to perform their duty. it is proposed to cheat
the people out of their rights, and Capt.
Paul out of bis seat IN Congress. We have
never known an election where similar tech.
nical informalities have not existed, but this
s the first time in this portion of the State,
when deliberate attempt has been made to
reverse the verdict of the people by availing
of such immaterial and nOnessential irrepu-
larities. There are other precincts in this
county, which gave majority against Capt.
Paul, where even graver informalities were
noted, but when it was evident that the polls
as returned to the clerk were precisely the
same as when the count was presented.
the Liberals raised no serious objections
not knowing at the time the returns
we're being canvassed that systematic at
tempt was to be made to perpetrate an out
rage upon the people of the district, as is now
made apparent in the action at Porter's pre-.
cinct, In Albemarle, that proposed in Gooch-
land, and that suggested as to Bolivar precinct
in this county. .t..,4,..
We submit to the honest people of the coun-
ty, the district and the State, whether such
methods to accomplish partizan ends are to
be countenanced or tolerated. 1t has come to
this, that the partizan leaders of the Bourbon
faction, think that their opponents have no
rights which they are bound to respect. 1t is
an expression of the motives and methods
which governed when they had supreme
power, and is an illustration of what the Re-
publicans and Readjusters have had to en-
counter in the contests through which they
have gone. One thing, however, may be as
sured, and that is that the people of Virginia
who have achieved the triumph rendered on
the Th. intend to see that they realize the
fruits, and will contest every inch of the
ground where their rights and manhood are
involved. The people of this portion of the
State, at least, are not accustomed to such de.
vices to defeat the verdict they have given.
and we do not believe the fair-min ded men of
either party will tamely submit No such
glazing outrage as that att empted to be per-
petrated. Weare sure that we do not APPEAL
in vain to their sense of justice and fairness.
when We ask them to put the seal of their
condemnation upon the manGuvl es and plots Of
the partizan marplOts who are seeking to
strike down cardinal principle of Hepnbl. |
can government, and convert the elective mn
chinery into an instrument of heinous wrong. |
TO defeat the popular will.