National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-28
Gen. Shelley, OF Alabama, Fourth Au-
IIinr

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: This distin-
guished Albanian is before the Senate for
confirmation as fourth auditor of the treasury.
He has record for the preservation of the
purity OF the ballot box In the state of Ala
bama which will be found very interesting
reading matter by the average American citi-
zen.
Gen, Shelley represented the fourth Alabama
congressional district for fractions of three
terms This district has majority of TO- 900 for
the party opposed to Democracy yet through
the educated manipulations OF Democrats aud
the Democratic transformation act, known
only of Alabama Democrats, he secured for
three terms the certificate of election from the
Democratic governor. l have not the time to
give the facts and figures. but respectfully di.
riot the United States senators TO the record in
the House Of Representatives, to the testimony
filed by Judges Smith and Craig In their con.
tests over sheley's seat, and to the unseating
OF Shelley after full, free, and fair investiga-
tion by the committee of tho House charged
with this duty. Alabama Republicans think
that in vindlcation OF the purity. Of the ballot
box, the United States Senate ought not to con-
firm Gen. Shelley as fourth auditor, thereby
teaching all men to acknowledge that only on
the will of the majority as expressed at the
ballot box can republican government be pre-
served and perpetuated
There are five counties In this district
Now 4 1852, Gen. shelley was declared elected
over Judge George II. Craig, the Republican
nominee and candidate, by the returning board
Of the FIVE counties. These returning boards,
under the Alabama. election law, are composed
OF the judge OF probate, clerk of the circuit
court, and sheriff. or any two of them, and the
combined votes OF these returning boards all
the members being Democrats, show that In
this election Gen. Shelley received 1859 votes
and that Judge Craig received i,43j votes, and
upon this aggregation OF the votes of the differ
ent counties the governor issued the certificate
of election to Gen, Shelley.
Judge Craig filed notice OF contest before the
House OF Representatives and AFTER long and
tedious investigation Mr.. l.. II. Davis, from tho
committee on elections, submitted the report
which shows that in this election George H.
Craig received 1901 votes, and Gen. Shelley
7,2l2, the majority for Craig being 3,i5g; and
the committee OF elections of the House of Rep
resentatives conclude their report with the fol.
Rcsoired, That Charles NJ. Shelley was not
elected representative to the forty.eighth
and is not entitled to seat in said Congress.
ResOirCd, That George II. Craig was elected
TO the torty.eighth Congress from the fourth
district OF Alabama, and Is entitled to seat In
This report was made on July 3, 1881, nearly
two years amer the election, and a few days
the House Of Representatives, and the Repub-
licans of Alabamatagain had representative
in the halls of Congress: This suppression
mild form OF expressing it6ot the Republican
Senate ofthe United States in the confirmation
Of Gen. Shelley. The eyes Of the silent Repub-
Leans OF Alabama are looking 70 the Repub'
lican senators for an expression of their opinion
by their action on this appointment of Presi-
dent Cleveland.
l have not thought proper to go back to the
contest Of Judge Smith and others over Gen.
Shelley's seat In Congress--it is all In the rec
ords of the lower house of Congress-go read,
investigate, and then say Il the country would
not be gratiiied by the defeat of our fourth
auditor for continuation. We know that the
Republicans of Alabama would rejoice and be
glad-nay, exceedingly happy. JUSTICE