The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-11-16
Protesting Against Augustus Vote

protesting Against Augusta vote.
On Monday last the Board of County Can
vassers met to complete the canvassing of the
vote cast on the 7th of November They had
nearly finished their work, when w E. Craig,
ESQ, chairman of the Readjuster Committee,
appeared and presented protest against the
certifying Of the returns for Augusta on the
ground of illegal registration. The case WAS
argued on behalf of the Democrats by Capt.
j IS. Bumgardner,M M. F. White and Ed. Echols,
with Mr.. Craig opposing them After consid-
Grafton, the Board adopted the resolutions
published below. An effort was then made
OF behalf of the Democrats to throw out the
vote of Bolivar, a precinct which gave Paul
81 majority, for the reason that the poll books
came In unsealcd. There was no claim what
ever, that the books had been tempered with.
or that the vote recorded WAS other than that
actually cast. The objection was purely tech
nical. The Board having previously canvasstd
the vote, declined to reopen the, question.
Mr.. Craig's protest, and the resolutions
adopted by the Board are printed below. To
both We invite the careful attention of our
readers. Let each one preserve copy of
them. They speak for themselves clearly and
distinctly. The attempt will be made to pei
vert and misrepresent them, and it is that our
friends may have it in their power to confront
any such Misrepresentation that we ask them
to preserve the paper itself.
The protest was as follows:
IT, IL, Hon RooSx7 of fn, nm N,
uassing the Election Returns for tile County Of
Aagusta:: 'r
WHEREAS 1t having been announced both
publicly and privately bs individuals, and pub
licly proclaimed by the local and State press,
that an attempt will be made to defeat the
popular voice of the people of the 7th Vr-
einia Congressional District as expressed at
the polls on the 7th day Of November last. by
a contest on the part of Col. Chas. T. Offer
rail- for the seat in the Congress OF the u s..
to which the Hon. John Paul was elected on
that day and whereas while we deprecate any
attempt from any source, especially when ii is
solely on partizan grounds, to defeat the pop
ular will of the citizens of this district, and
while such an attempt would not have been
made, or even contemplated, had The result
been differentyet since such an effort is threat
ened and being made by our political Oppo
nents and in order to protect ourselves against
any wrongs which may result therefrom, we
respectfully submit and protest that the vote
cast by the electors of Augusta county on
Nov 7th 1882, shall not be counted.
Before stating the grounds of our said pro-
test, we have to say that We had hoped that
after the election all political agitation would
cease, and that the people would have respite
from the worry and trouble of q holly con-
tested campaign. We desire it to be distinctly
understood that such protest would not be
made but for the fact that our political OPP
ponents have undertaken to avail themselves
Of every technicality in order to defeat the
popular will. We are content to abide the
decision of the people at the polls whatever
that decision may be; but when it is boldly
announced that partzanism is expected to
outweigh patriotism-that those whom the
people have chosen TO represent them shall BE-
deprived of their representative powers, and
those whom the people have repudiated shall
he invested with those powers-we can no
longer afford to remain silent, especially when
the law places within our reach such an eff
fective remedy. AS stated, we are dri, en- to
this measure; it is not OF our own selec.lon,
nor with any desire TO deprive the electors OF
Augusta county of any OF their rights or priv
ileges but solely for the purpose of meeting
technical objections by demand for the en-
forcement of the plain letter and intent of
the law
This protest does not apply to the vote OF
the city of StauntOn.
As matter of fact Augusta county is tii-
vided into six Townships or Districts, viz.
Beverly Manor, South River, North River,
Middle River Pastures and Riverheads. There
are six Registrars, and only sac, for Augusta