The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-08

case from the county OF Rockbridge should
be made known 10 the public to show un-
der the twelfth count in the LynchDurg
indictment what measures were resorted
to "to count into Office delegates who were
rejected by fhe people,"
The aggregate vote cast in November,
1881, for delegates TO represent the county
OF Rockbrdge in the General Assembly
was about 1850. The Democratic candi-
dates. w. i. i. Leech and Robert n. Dun
lap, received over the Readiuster-Mnhone
candidates, James A. Frazier and John Ii:
Lady, from IS to 81 votes. The abstract OF
votes returned by the commissioners VINO
formed the board OF canvassers Tor Inc
county-a majority OF whom were Coali-
the fact that after the en-
tire vote cast at Natural-Bridge and camp
belrs-Miil precincts was rejected (wnicn
was thrown out "because OF in1Ornhan-
ties y 1t required 81 votes to be overcome
to elect Frazier over Leech aud % votes 10
be overcome 20 elect Lady over Dunlap'
IJpon these facts the Readiuster COM
missioners OF RocEbridge determined
that Leecb and Dunlap had re-
ceiyed the highest number OF votes, ana
the clerk OF Rockbridge, in pursuance OF
their determination, made out certificates
Of election for Leech and Dunlap. CeIti-
fed abstracts OF the votes given were for
warded TO the Secretary OF the Common
wealth, and the State Board OF Canvassers,
Il majority OF whom were Roadiusters, on
the fourth Monday in November. 1881,
canvasscd the result OF the election in
Rockbridge. determined that Leech and
Dunlap had been duly elected, and the
Secretary OF the Commonwealth transmit
ted to them certificates OF their election.
Frazier and Lady contested the election.
and dispositions in the case were taken,
which, in the language OF X. Il. Farr'
chairman of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, were every v0uminous."
The law requires (Sce V. c.. page 100
that these dispositions shall be sealed and
sent to the clerk OF the house in which the
seat is contested. p. II. McCaull was
clerk at the time. The law further pro-
vides that "wben the petition OF the party
cOntesting is referred TO committee the
said clerk shall refer the said dispositions
with the petition" The first day OF the
session was taken up mainly in pcrfecting
the organization OF the House, in receiving
the message OF the Governor. In adopting
rules for the government OF the House,
&C., but Mr.. FAIR found an opportunity in
the midst Of all this work to present the
petition OF Messrs. Frazier and Lady. and
moved that "Me papers" in the case be
printed and referred to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. How did Mr..
Farr know that there were any papers in
the case, and why should he move that
they be referred TO the committee when the
law made it the duty OF the clerk 10 refer
them sealed to the committee! This mo-
ton was made, too. before the Speaker
appointed the committee. which was
done on the second day. Mr.. Farr was
made chairman OF the committee, and upon
the adjournment Of the House. with un-
precedented alacrity and representative
zeal, gave notice that the committee would
meet i'm an upper chamber OF the Capitol
that afternoon. "The yoluminous record"
OF notice OF contest, dispositions
relating 10 the vote at sixteen precincts.
and other matter, was printed and in the
hands OF the clerk OF the committee.
but only thirteen copies-one for each
member OF the committee, and none
for other members OF the House, for
whom copies were requested. The pub
lie printer merits favorable notice for
his promptness in printing this volu-
minous record in so short time and hav-
ing thirteen copies ready for use. The whole
case, however, was rushed through the
House with like DrOmptness. in pursuance
OF caucus dictation and sealed pledges, |
suppose. and Lcech and Dunlap were eject
ed and Frazier and Lady Were seated. 1t
is little significant that some kind friend
selected for Leech and Dunlap seats or
Al. - Il r. lao. l.ll Of
the House OF Delegates, they being the
only Democrats on that side, when, for
want of seats on that side, eight or ten Re-
adiusters had to be seated on the Demo
cratic side OF the hall. 1t is also signili-
cant that Leech and Dunlap were placed
on the standing committees for Schools and
Colleges, Roads and Internal Navigation,
Finance. and Federal Relations. They
were, however, soon relieved from their
seats in the House and from their positions
on the committees 10y Messrs. Frazier and
Lady. Colonel Frank Ruflin says that
Boss Malone held caucus in the Wing
building on the 18th OF November, 1881.
Is it not in order to inquire If the caucus
did not feel the need OF two such men rs
Frazier and Lady, aud arrange for their
speedy admission and suitable assignment
to seats in the hail and positions on the
committees d:
The coDsummated and proposed legisla-
ton OF the last General Assembly with re-
card TO the schools and colleges, railroads
and finance, would have slckened Leech
and Dunlap al ndusedm, but Frazier and
Lady. in the eternal fitness Of things, were
the very men who were suited for this
III hot n cot thnOo
in position had 10 be done and done
quickly.
The Journal Of the House OF Delegates
shows that on Thursday the Sth OF De-
cember the Committee on Privileges and
Elections was appointed, and that on Tues
day the 18th SUNDAY Intervening Mr..
Farr submitted the majority report from
the committee in favor Of Frazier and
Lady, which, on his motion, was passed by
and ordered to be printed. On Wednesday
the 14th, the earliest practicable moment
after the majority OF the committee
had reported, the minority OF the COM
mttee submitted Il report in favor OF Leech
and Dunlsp, and motion was made to
postpone and print. which motion uGs
disagreed t0--yeas 40, nays As, the negative
votes being altogether COalitionists. This
motion was, after much discussion, recon-
sidered and decided in the affirmative.
These reports are lengthy, and cover
eleven pages OF the journal, whilst the
printed record OF dispositions, de-, embrace
over 100 pages. A great deal OF time was
required to read and consider them, the
case involving the interests OF one Of the
largest constituencies in Virginia and many
questions under the election laws OF the
State. 1t was exceedingly important that
the case should be deliberately considered,
discussed. aud voted upon. Yet Mr..
Thomas Cross, before the House had con-
scented to have the minority report printed,
offered resolution on Wednesday the 18th
OF December SHAT the vote be taken in
the contested-electlon case Tomorrow at 2
O'Clock, unless sooner reached, and that
Snpech1s La Initial % Gftnn,. .,,i,,,,AoL. 9,