The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-18

" Tito county board Of 700 legal 'osea
duly cast and duly returned for Mn. Platt
The sole pretext for this rejection was
that either printed on the same ticket, OF
folded within it, were votes against the
| Constitutional Amendments. The whole
committee agree that these votes were le-
gal, and hence we shall not further allude
to them except as showing the total disre-
gard to justice and right manifested by
the petty officials, and as one of the facts
proving the conspiracy against the elective
franchise existing in Virginia.
| These votes excluded, it was hoped that
Mr.. GoOde was elected, but soon by mail
and telegraph came the news that they
were mistaken, and Mr.. Platt was still
ahead. Something must be done. A mes
senger was dispatched to Richmond to ap-
proach and interview the State Board of
Canvassers to see whether amended re-
turns from the several counties would not
be counted instead of those duly made as
required by law, and from the Attorney
General, the law officer of the Common
wealth, a favorable answer was received,
''that in all probability the State Board Of
CanVassers would feel it their duty to re-
ceive amended or supplemental returns"
4 The State Board of Canvassers
met, and, after long discussion, in spite
of the statement of the Attorney General,
the amended returns were rightfully re-
jected.
Then was committed by that board the
greatest outrage shown in this record
Prince George county had given Mr.. Platt
425 majority, and with it counted he was
elected by 294 majority; without it, after
throwing out the 2O6 votes in Nansemond,
which the committee all agree should be
counted for him, Mr.. Goode had 131 ma
jority. The returns were substantially in
form, and merely lacked the words, AT
test, Robert Gillian, Clerk" They were
duly signed by the Commissioners and duly
certified by Robert Gillian, clerk but be-
cause he did not virtually repeat the same
thing twice, because he did not both attest
and certify, the returns were informal, and
were rejected by the State Board.
We have no words to fully express our
opinion of this outrage, committed not by
ignorant men, but by the highest officers
in the State. Did not these men know
that mere attestation is matter of form
and not of substance ? The mere
rejection Of them is bad enough, but there
are circumstances which make it worse.
The statute of Virginia provides that in
by the Secretary Of the Commonwealth
from any county within twelve days after
any election, he shall dispatch messenger
to obtain such returns. This he failed to
do, pleading the pitiable excuse that it
was for him to determine whether returns
were in form. MI. Platt presented before
the board at the same time a return duly
fully certified and attested by Robert Gill
liam, clerk, and though there was no doubt
of its genuineness, this, too, was rejected.
Though the county-seat of Prince George
county is within three hours ride of Rich
mond, the board could not allow time to
get proper returns, although the evidence
was conclusive that it was mere clerical
omission, and the returns were rejected.
So spoke one of the Republican mem
bers of the House Committee OH Elections,
but Messrs. House (of Tennessee) ana
Thompson (of Massachusetts,, members
of that committee, concurred in the ma
jority report, and held that even if every
vote cast in the Navy-yard district were
thrown out, still Mr.. Platt and not Goode,
was entitled to the contested seat. Mr..
Thompson (Democratl spoke at length in
favor Of Platt and against Goode, con-
GLIDING thus:
Il say this deliberately, after the most
mature reflection, that if the sitting men,
Der [Goodel is allowed to hold his seat, it
will be one of the baldest outrages upon
contestant, and upon the legal voters of a
Congressional district, ever perpetrated in
or out of this House, and most earnestly
urge this House to consider the Importance
of a fair and impartial verdict in this
case.''
So much for John Goode, Jr., and san
honest ballot and fair COUNT So much
for his denial of the Record