The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-11-29


Chambless 1472 votes. In their certificate;
appended to the table Of returns, they give
the names Of opposing candidates as Van
h. Manning and ]. R. Chalmers. There is
a Greenbacker named Chambless in the
county, and the certificate and tally sheet
table disagree. As the duties Of the Secre-
tary of State are ministerial only, he report
ed the table as he found it. We have no
doubt the vote reported for Chambless was
intended for Chalmers. But a large part
Of the vote We believe to have been bought
with the HubbelI fund and unworthy to be
counted. IF Manning had no better ground
to stand on. than clerical mistake, and the
voice of this district had been freely and
fairly expressed, neither do we wish, nor
believe that he would avail himself of a
manifest blunder to retain q Seat in Con-
gress.
Columbus Iudex.
We were led to believe that the votes of
Tate county, which Chalmers claims, were
cast for Chambless. 1t is contended now
that all these votes were really cast for Chal-
mers, The Secretary of State was govern
ed by the certificate of the returning officer
on the tally sheets Should this prove to
be true there is no doubt of course, OF Chal-
mer's election. Having been elected he
should be given his seat
Boonville Pleader (Dem.
| If the above be true, there is no doubt
but a great fraud has been committed, and
somebody will have to answer for it. A
severe imputation is put upon the Secreta-
~ of State, and his course has been freely
criticised. If the election commissioners
| have sent an amended report certifying that
| 1472 votes were cast for Chalmers and not
for Chambless, then it ia manifest that Chal-
mers is elected and if the Governor has
the right to revoke a certificate, it is clear
| ly his duty to give Chalmers the certificate
of election. "Let justice be done, though
the heavens fall"
The Democratic party cannot afford to
obtain a seat in Congress by such means,
but in the hour of victory should be not
only just but maguanimous. In our
opinion Col. Manning should resign and
no. hold certificate obtained by counting
for another person l472 votes cast for his
opponent.
Columbus Dispatch (Dem.
Doubtless there are but few Democrats
outside the district where the feeling against
Chalmers is very strong, who will not regret
this clerical error. The ballots in the boxes
are said to be for j. r. Chalmers. If this
| be true Chalmers should by all means be
seated. The will of the people should be
respected regardless of the misspelled words
on The raturns
If the votes in the boxes are for J. r. Chal-
mers and the mistake is that the returning
clerks, the first duty of the next Congress
should be to seat J. R. Chalmers
Brandon Republican,
| We believe in square DEAL" and if Mr..
| Chalmers did receive the 1872 votes he
ought to have them by all means We have
no sympathy with Chalmers-no more than
We have with Mahone-but right 10 right
and it don't always take might to make it.
! If the tally-sheet was made out "Cham-
bless" then Mr.. Myers has only done his
duty in issuing certificate of election to
Mr.. Manning, and it only remains for the
next Congress to rectify the matter.
Chickasaw Messenger.
| Impressed as we are with the correctness
of these views, we feel impelled to enter our
solemn protest against the action of the Sec
rotary OF State in counting out a Ia Madi-
soh Wells, Gen. Chalmers, and awarding
the certificate of election to Col. Manning
not that We have any sympathy with Chal-
mers' cause, but because we would have
| the Democratic party and its representa-
tives to deal justly and honorably with all
men.
Aberdeen Weekly
The truth is, the votes should be counted
for Chalmers and he have his certificate
The great Democratic party cannot afford
to perpetrate even technical fraud in this
hour of honorable victory. The Secretary
OF State no doubt acted under a strict con-
struction of his legal duties in the premises,
and if this decision has put the matter in
such entang cement that the State authorities
cannot straighten it out, then we hope to
see the 4Sth Congress seat Gen. Chalmers
among its very first acts
Koscusko Messenger.
If the facts are as We have them from the
published reports of the affair, we are clear
ly of opinion that the majority of votes cast
in the Second District were for Chalmers,
and he ought to have his seat. We wish it
were otherwise, etc.
Fayette Chronicle
From some of the leading men and Jour
nails of the State come strong protests
against this plain thwarting of a peoples
wishes as publicly proclaimed through the
ballot, if the vote of Tate county is as it is
claimed. This vote should have been can
vassed, and if it was cast for J. R. Chal-
mers, then he should have received the GER
tifcate.
Desoto Times
The news of the election contest in this
Congressional District, was surprise to a |
great many people. The expressions of dis
trust and condemnation of these proceedings
can be heard from every citizen.
Panolian.l
The Commissioners of Election of Tate
county, on learning of the apparent dis |
crepancy in their returns, have made an
amended report to the Secretary of State to
the effect shat j. r. Chambless, as written
in the tally-sheet, was a clerical error, and |
should have been written ]. r. Chalmers.
This should settle the matter, but the Sec |
rotary of State says the law is, "having |
made their canvass and declared the result. |
and transmitted a statement of it TO the
Secretary of State, their connection with |
the returns ended, etc. It now remains to |
be seen whether or not Col. Manning will |
claim an Office to which he was not elected. |
We hope he will not.
Mississippi Central.
This decision was based upon the fact
that the tally-sheet from Tate county gave
1872 votes to j. r. ChGmbIess, though the
certificate of the Commissioners OF Election
gave them to ]. r. Chalmers. There is no
doubt that Gen. Chalmers is entitled to the
l472 votes, and that the tally-sheet sent to
the Secretary Of State contained a clerical
error. This being the case, and of which /
there is but little doubt, it would be shame
and blight upon COL Manning and the
Democratic party in this State for him to
accept an Office under such circumstances.
We feel that we but re-echo the sentiments
OF the whole party in this section, when We
say they condemn such a mode OF securing
the Office. 1t would drive the best men
from the party, and Gen. Chalmers would
only have to announce his name for Gov
ernor of this State at the next election to
be elected by New York majority.