National Republican., 1884-02-28
A RAZOR EDGE.
Gen. Chalmers Lifts the Scalp From His Friend
Mr.. Manning.
A Pcppery Document That VIII Prov,
Interesting Reading.

Hon. James R. Chalmeie will file to-day
his rejoiner to Manning's brief. 1t is written
in decidedly vigorous English, as the follow
ing extracts will show. After reciting that
Mannings brief attempts to mako three
points, viz: First, that Chalmers is dis
qualified from taking q scat in congress by
reason Of taking employment as an attorney
to assist the United States district attorney
in prosecuting violations Of the United States
election laws. Second, that he was elected
by federal patronage. Third, that Manning
was elected. The rejoiner says, among other
things:
"This whole question is thoroughly dis
cussed, and these distinctions as TO holding
another Office before and after being sworn
in as a member of congress are clearly stated
in "McCrary on Elections" See sections 236
to PA
"And the reason Of the rule, together with
the English authorities thereon, will be found
in tho case of Hammond VS.. HerrCk, above
cited
THAT tho employment accepted by the
contestant was not incompatible with tho
duties of member of congress was decided
| in Crowlcy's case where member of con-
gress, while acting as such, was employed to
assist the United States district attorney to
prosecute election cases in South Carolina.
(Sce "Lawrence's Opinions" vol. 3, page 355.)
Moreover, its duties have long since ceased
aud contestant has resigned all title to this
employment. Feeling the utter futility #
| the pretense that this contestant is legally
disqualified by this employment to assist the
United States district attorney, contestee's
brief insists that he is disqualified on moral
grounds, because it was 'unholy' to engage in
the prosecution of men charged with violat-
| ing election laws. AS the contestee set tho
example of accepting fees to aid
the United States district attorney
in these when he was en-
ployed to assist in prosecuting tho kuklux,
we think it unbecoming in brief in his
interest to suggest that man becomes 'un-
holy or corrupt by assisting the United
States district attorney to prosecute offenders
against the laws Of the United States.
ut is charged that the contestant in his
canvass promised the people on tho stump
| that he would prosecute those whom he
might think attempted to rob them Of repro
sentation,' and We fail to see why it should
| be considered 'unholy' in him to keep his
| pledge to the people. II contestant believed
that a number of men had conspred to steal
his horse he could prosecute the thieves with
impunity, and we know Of no rule of law or
morals that would prevent him from prose-
cutting ballot box suffers and election thieves
who he believed had cOnspired to steal his
certificate of election Contestee's brief in
vites comparison of the moral qualifications
of the parties to this contest, and we accept
the issue. 1t is clearly shown that Myers, the
secretary of state, concocted n scheme to steal
the certificate of election for the contestee,
| and that he wrote a letter to contostee's at
torney, showing how this could be done.
1t is shown with equal clearness that con-
| testee personally caused this scheme to be
communicated to one A. S. Buchanon, of DE
Soto county, and thus far aided and abetted
the scheme to steal the certificate Of election
for himself. With this record before us, it is
refreshing to read the illusions to the corrup-
tions Of Mormonism. the treason of Benedict
Arnold and the taint Of secession in John
| Young Brown.
| "And it is peculiarly refreshing to see these
| illusions to corruption in others in brief
signed by one who confesses in the record
that he offered to furnish money to buy of
| the supporters of Chalmers, and who was the
adviser as to how long the vote of Lafayette
county should be held uncounted. The
charge or insinuation that contestant went
| treacherously into n democratic caucus Is
willfully and malioiously false. Contestant
published in the Nicksburg Commercial his
dissatisfaction with the Lamar democracy of
| Mississippi more than u month before ho
went into the caucus alluded to, and he had
before that consulted freely with number
Of democrats as to his intentions of becoming
an independent candidate for congress. He
had then no cause of difference with the ma
tional democracy, and if he had been elected
as an independent democrat and asked to be
admitted into democratic caucus, would, no
doubt, have received the same admission ex-
tended to DR.. FELTON,, of Georgia; Mr.. Turner,
of kentucky, and others.
"After the action of that caucus, he then
and there announced to a democrat that he
bade farewell to the democratic party. But
all these charges Of bargain with the admin
istration, federal patronage, entering demo-
| cratic caucus, and consulting with Malone,
were made and answered before the people in
the last canvass, and after full hearing they
treated the charges of Mr.. Manning with
the contempt they deserved, and elected Mr..
Chalmers; and now congress is asked to re-
verse their judgment, and send question
back to be reconsdered by the people, which
they have already decided for themselves.
This would be federal interference with the
will and elections of the people in its worst
possible form. Because, 1t is suggested, but
not proved, that the executive dictated the
election of one man, congress is asked to vir-
tualy dictate tho election of the other.
"2. The second ground, that contestant was
elected by federal patronage and influence, is
utterly false, and is fully disproved by con-
testee's own witnesses, as will be seen from
the very pages Of the record to which he
refers.
''3. The third statement, that Manning was
elected, is too farcical to need serious reply
And tho proposition to purge tho polls in
Marshall county, by throwing out all the
votes for Chalmers and counting all those
for Manning, without any specific proof, oi
even any specific charge, Of illegal votes, oil
suppression of votes at any particular box
is simply proposition for this committee tt
repeat, as to Marshall county, the action Of
Secretary Myers rs to Tate county. But
we do not believe this committee are &c
much infatuated with this brilliant fraut
as TO make it precedent for their action
If all the votes in Marshall county bt
thrown out Chalmers is still elected. Tha
Manning was not elected, and that he had NJ
hope Of getting into congress, except on tina
fraudulent certificate, was shown, when, afte
asking the house 10 vindcate his right to 1t
and when the house was about to refuse, he
in fit Of desperation, asked TO be sworn IL
on it, and was rejected by an impartia
f speaker, amid the jeers of the house and tn
scorn of all honest men; a scene never to b
, forgotten, when the mask was torn from by
pocrisy and the chief actors impaled on tn
shaft of nations ridicule.
| -D-
Ash Wednesday.
Yesterday being Ash Wednesday the ser
vices in all tho Catholic and Episcopa
, churches were largely attended and the core