New-York tribune., 1886-01-21
SENATE AND PRESIDENT.
THE QUESTION OF COMBINATIONS.
.ux,ETY OF SOUTHERN REPUBLICANS - SOME
TYPICAL APPOINTMENTS.

TYPICAL APPOINTMENlS.
tppou STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
I,1,,sn,,po Miss. Jan. 11.-Soutbern Republi-
.,rs ore watching the course of the United States
Canoto IN regard to the Presidents appointments
...;,h a GREAT deal of interest. The offices in the
ccntb with few exceptions, now filled by Dem
ocrats The majority of the Republicans removed
we're Union soldiers who settled in the South at the
close of the war They were the first to go-on the
alleged ground of offensive partisanship. III Is
worthy of remark that much as has been said IN the
Democratic newspapers in the past Ill dsparage-
ment of the Republicans holding office in the South,
the Administration has not discovered anything
wrong in their official records. General Burke VINO
"rescned nas-Collector at Mobile, Ala, received
letter last week from the Treasury Department
stating that an investigation of his accounts for
the five years he was in office showed that the
Covernment owed him $67, and The TRIBUNE
corresppndent has met with number of such cases
in various parts of the South. The truth is, that
vhile there were perhaps some black sheep ID the
aock the late Federal officials in the South would
compare favOrably with those OF the state Govern
ments or wth their or with any other sim
liar class of officials elsewhere in the country. They
did not expect to retain office uGder an Admins
trstion which into power as the result OF the
snppression of Republican votes in the South; but
they do expect in common with the other members
of the party, that the United States Senate will,
whenever il has opportunity distinctly set the seal
of its dIsapprOval on such election methods. 1t is
for this purpose that the Republicans of this
section are now watching with such anxiety the
action of the Senate on nominations of men
notoriously and openly connected with these
election frauds.
For instance in place of q very reputable man
removed as postmaster at Natchez Miss, the Presi-
dent appointed Richard Holmes, for many years
chairman of the Democratic Committee of Adams
County That county has a Republican majority
of 1000 which, under the methods approved by
MrA AHomes, was turned into Democratic majority
of 354. 1t is matter of proof that Mr.. Holmes
at the last Congressional election declared that the
Republican majority of 1000 must be cut down to
at least 6OO though at previous election it had
been completely veItulned; and he directed the
abolition of precincts and the adoption of the usual
Mississippi methods to CARY out that purpose In
Meridian. Colonel j. J. Shannon, who was con-
yicted of criminal conspiracy in deprying colored
men of their right to vote has been appointed post
master insplace of W. NJ. Hancock. Mr.. Shelley,
who secured pretended election to Congress by
such methods in Alabama, and was turned out
even by q Democratic House. has been nominated
Fourth Auditor of the Treasury. Mr.. Richard
SON. who was leader in the Ellington riots, has
heen> appointed Collector at Beaufort S. c.
who was concerned also in the cipher conspiracy,
has been appointed United States Attorney for
South Carolina. john Goode, of tissue ballot frauds
IN Virginia was made Solicitor-General f. w.
Booker. who has been appointed Collector OF In
ternal Revenue il Alabama, and his deputy, were
both notorious ballot-boX suffers. Mr. Jordan,
appointed Receiver OF Public Moneys i'll Alabama,
is said to have been indicted for his election work.
and there are numerous other cases of the kind
which gre known 10 The TRIBUNE correspondent
Some of the appointments in the South have been
of men known as fair Democrats. such, for instance
as Marshall Allen IN Alabama and Postmaster Buck
In New Orleans. and against such men the Repub-
licans say nothing, although good men have been
removed to make places for them in violation OF the
Presidents Civil Service Reform professions. But
il is matter of great importance to the Southern
Republcans whether or not the linen concerned
in the election frauds to be rewarded by Federal
Offices If the Senate rejects them II VIII have
beneficial effect in deterrng others from engaging
IN such work. If they confirmed then a
premium will be continually placed on the manip-
ulation of the ballot-boxes.
A case that well illustrates these notorious ap-
pontments is that of William Groome, nominated
for nostmaster of this city. The Vicksburg post
Office is the best paying office IN the state IL man
connected with the outrageous frauds which have
turned q Republican majority of 1000 in tins
countv into one of 200 for the Democrats IS con-
frned postmaster here then the Republicans. of
whom there are many among the leading citizens,
will consider themselves practically abandoned.
Mr. Groome was appointed postmaster ut the 'ollcl-
tation of General CatchlngS' BonlDOh democrat,
who holds "a seat in Congress hy pretended
maiorItv of $500 in district that has majority
OF about -, 900 cOl0rcd voters. Mr. t,ro0ne Is one
of the proprictors OF The Commercial Hcrdtd which
is one OF the most intOcrant Democratic papers IN
the state, and he has ayowed his approval and
Joint responsibility for its utteTances. lew
attracts from ito columns will show the character
OF the man Mr. Cleveland has nominated for the
principal Federal Office in the state The t0mmTcdl
Herdid applauced and defended the ASSASSINATION oi
Print Matthews in Cop3h County although PfcSl-
dent Cleveland suspended Mr.. Meade, appointed
postmaster at 1azelhurst. because of his connection
with the murder This Is what Mr. GrooncS paper
said:
The shedding of human blood IS always to bo derored
TUT the killing Of Print Matthews" OF Colah County,
fa other day is not an event calculated 10 exotic any
regret outside OF his inediae family circle Ihe XIII
ing Matthews at any tire In the paSt dozen years
would have occasoned no surprise and rr:Tet II Is
possible that the fate which has at last ovcraken him
ina, serve as warning Ober, who like him. ARE IN
.s. 10 H"Te e viorncc ia sure soon or Iaer to N eet
the death he merits aud whether lie meets it OF the
hands " the public eYecuOner or those OF private IN
diVldnl Is matter cf small consequence
Of Mr.. Meade who as concerned in the political
murder Mr.. GroOme's paper spoke III these terms
at the time:
]. L. Meade esq, retres from the editorahip Of The
o bis profession the law. Mr. NJ. diI yeoman service
IN his part the during the last campaign and we
regret his retremel lt from journalism.
On December q, 1884, in referring to the sneals
who aIe sniveimg over the death of Matthews"
Mr.. Groomes paper said
Cur Coplah friends may rest assured VIC viii defend all
who refuse 10 submit TO gro leaders. IaSedd Of IL,
eiii.ras Of CODiah 6etg 0baSed, we think Mey did TIE
eotO,trya great ScrU!ce
In return Tor this defence Mr. Neadc's paper Ih'
Hdgleiarst Sigaai acknowledged the aid of Mr.
GIoOmc's paper follows:
lis sympathes were with us all through the canvass
and rs labOrs contributed largely to the great victory
achieved
The "great victory" was that secured by tho
assassination of Matthews. whOGe body was per
Sea-.ol ,,,;tI hullofa (lf another