New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-14
SOUTH CAROLINA BOURBONS.
THEIR TACTICS IN THE ELECTION CASES.

sAssINATION-IIS VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF IHE TRIBUNEl
COLUMBIA, 5. C., April 10.-A very inadequate
idea seems 10 prevail at the North of the intense
feeling that has been excited here and throughout
the State by the prosecution of the election cases
by the Government. Even the columns OF The
Charleston Aelrs and Courier fail to convey any
proper impression of the situation, fierce and Vi
Imperative rs they are The latest form which this
feeling has assumed is anonymous letter which
has recently been sent to ex-Chef Justice A. j..
Willard who is associated with Samuel Melton in
the prosecution OF these cases. This is it:
COLUMBIA, s. C.
Er-Chief Justice A. J. WILLARD.
DEAR SIR: | am your friend, who for years have
stood by you through thick and thin aud always adj
mired your great learning and fairness upon the
bench A just lawyer, high-minJed gentleman.
patriotic citizen. who. by decision when Justice
of the Supreme Court. saved the State from Cham
ruin the State by turning 1t over to worse enemies
than they. Forgetting your honorable past you are
pursuing a course which will place many citizens of
South Carolina in the Albany Penteniarv, and
that Will bring quick retriJuton on yOur head
/ know Of my own personal know edge that
your life IS now in imminent danger. A
secret band has been formed formed to to- murder aer
by this knowledge will not tell Won but shall
tell you this want to save your life, and take
this way of apprisng you of your peril II should
disclose my identity you would know that what
say is true. If YOU will come out in card IN The
Necs and Courier Register and admit that there Is
no foundation for the cases against our prosecuted
people. and sign your own name and advise the
Disrict-Attoney to mol pros. all the cases, yon Will
thereby save your lie and save South Carolina.
Democrat who deprecates boodshed ana IS
still Your FRIEND.
That an accurate conception might be reached of
the end the Government has in view and tie means
it is TO adopt in attaining it, THE TRIBUNE's
correspondent called upon Judge Willard, with
whom the following interview was held:
at has been represented by the press of the State
that the offences charged as having been committed
against the United States election laws at the re-
cent election are fictitious and part of a scheme
having in view merely political objects. Is this
truef"
90 presume this inquiry is directed to matters
with which ! am officially connected, and that
would limit it TO an inquiry to the charges Of
offences against the laws relating to Congressional
elections Ny reply is that a Government never
had better reason for investigating alleged viola
tons of the law. To substantate these charges is
the province OF trial. and that har not taken place
as yet. The press of the State declares the inno-
ccnce of all the parties charged without the means
of knowing the truth OF such affirmation. The
officers prosecuting in behalf of the Government
have more exact knowledge on the subject, but
should, ] think. defer 10 the proper tribunals the
annuDciatioD of the guilt innocence of the per-
sons implicated. can only cay that the evidence
on which arrests are proceeding is of the most
vncing character and fully usties the action that
has been taken
II you wish to form judgment of the probabil-
tiles OF guilt and innocence the single fact will
suffice that the Congressional elections carried
by the votes of from fourth 10 third OF the legal
voters against the jealous efforts of the remaining
threc-fourths, or least two-hrds. Those entitled
10 opinion on the subject represent that moi more
than one-iOurth OF the voting strength supported
the ca dIdaes that were declared elected but for
safety shall place 1t at one-third Such being the
fact il Is obvious that the laws must have been set
a defiance TO obian such n result
AS Tor the motive Of the prosecutions. can say
that il is to enable the great of the voters If
his State To exercise cncc ualy their elective fran
chise. OF course important political results will fol-
low the establishment of honest elections, but what
the Government is concerned with is the freedom OF
the right to vote ana the honesty OF the count"
Was not the result to which you have alluded |
Of the multiplicity tickets and ballot
boxes at the recent election and OF the confusion
,ulting thereirom when there 50 large of
llterate yotersi"
THAT did undoubtedly affect tho result of the |
election Of state officers but not the Congressional
elections. The voting for members of Congress took
place at poll distinct from that at which the State
officers were voted for, single bcX beng used for
he ballots for members of Congress, aud the voting
II that box Icing under tie charge Of distinct
Ioard OF Managers, sitting and aching by them
elves. There were only two ways in which the
votes Of the majority could be overcome. One was
~ preventing them from voting. and tho other was
~ a false return OF the votes. We have reason To
,elicye tEat both OF these plans were adopted ac-
OrdIng 30 the character Of the pcr-Ons available as
managers of elections The evidence on which the
rosecuuon Is proceeding points 70 both of these
ca-ons ~ employed at different polling Places
" Then Won would Imply that a concerted attempt
% set al defiance the election laws of tie United
tatrs was made at the last electiOnf Would not
his he equivalent to REBELLION against the Govern
Ient p
"Where rebellion is not evidenced BY armed re-
lstance TO the Government II can only be shown to
xI-t DY evidence OF conc rtrd resistance TO the ad
IInIstTatIon OF JUS ice. Until tine results at the APP
reaching trials are disclosed IL will be- prcmatu fe
characterize the resistance that Is opposed to tho
AVIS OF the United States rebellion. AT all events
must that the people of South Carolina are !
OF chargclblc with standing in that attitude
jwaTis the United States, rs the great majority !
Ie the victims and not the InstlgatOTs of tho
'slstance 10 the Government The Government of |
DC state Is IN the hands of minority that seeks
Y Iawlessnrss to perpotuate its authority The |
use is like that of the Government of California, ,
hich was displaced by the Vigilance Committee in I
~ early days of that state you may remember"
" am informed that your lie has been threat
ned is that the casep
" such Is tho fact. but attach importance TO
, rs the leaders of the movement have just reason
fear the consequences OF blOodsbed in arousIng q
lc country 10 a CONSCIOUSNESS Of the actual condI-
OH of this State"
1t may be added that the prosecution finds tho
'eatest difficulty IN controlling ITS witnesses. q
hey are bribed ntImidatcd, and th reatened with q
OsecutiOn for perjury III the State courts 30 that
me of them can be depended upon. In view of :
ese facts the chances OF obtaining conviction /,
EN- very slight. I
LOUISIANA ELECTION FRAUD CASES