South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-11-30
The Contest Tor 0overnor.

The Contest for Governor.
On Mondsy Of la.t week, while
sh'se were yet many COUNTIES in this
State from which no Official returns
had been received, General Con
sent tho following telegram to the
republican State committee. and also
TO the Wheeling Register:
'McDowell county gives me one
hundred and seventy -four majority.
Hon. John Cooper telegraphs from
Bramwell tEst my majority in Wyo.
ming 10 Coe hundred and y.two.
Omcial returns now chow We have
carried the State. and ] shall use oil
proper measures before all suitable
tribunals, TO enforce the will Of the
trople - expressed OF the polls, aud
to protect THEN interests and rights.
N. Corr
This was followed the next day by
The letter below from Judge Fleming
TO the Wheeling Register:
The Intelligencer Of yesterday pub
'ishes . communication over the name
OF Gen. Golf, In which no says that
Mcdowell &C unity gives me ia ma.
jority. Hon. John Cooper tole-
RIsphs from Bramwell that nv ms.
jority in Mercer 10 1872
Upon the above information, which,
comes in the case Of Mcdowell from
" source not named, and In the case
OF wyoming from one John Cooper,
who 10 doubtless Q party friend of
Zen. Con. and does not appear TO bs
IN Wyoming county and which in.
formation In either caee does not
purport to he official, Gen. Golf pro
'cseds to claim without any qu.lifica.
lion whatever. that we have carried
the State : and still further, upon
The Aforesaid information, and in the
lace Of the indispu:able fact that q
summary OF the official returns from
all counties OF the State has no, been
received or promu ted by any Off =
cial suthority-not excepting the
temi.o6acial authority Of his own
State committes-Gcn. Golf. never.
thelesss, proceeds TO assert In defiant
language that he proposes, even upon
this unofficial and incomplete evil
dence OF the result, 10 take measures
TO contest Lis claim to the election
before all suitable Tribunals
Ills does not appear 10 me to be
the attitude. or the language, or
The spirit Of . candidate who sin.
cereiy desires 10 arrive at tho truth,
= a. the first consideration, or who lie
Wiling cheerfully TO abide the result
upon the face ofthe returns there
10 conclusive evidence of his defeat.
understand Gen. Geff to declare
that be has already made up hi.
mind, at this point, 20 matter what
The official returns uay show On their
face. that he will contest the election
80 far ns / am personally concern
cd, l have sincerely desired that the
returns OF the commissioners OF the
s>verai counties might settle ano
conclude this contest. ! do no
want the election il there Is any r, a
sonable doubt that 1 VAS homes silly G.
lected. l would not admit my cleo
zion il knew it 10 be dishonest,
obtained, and l have been willinf
that the poll.books should decide IL
But on the other hand, ] do no,
intend to.be bulldt Esd into a confess
sion Of defeat; or frightened b,
threats or defiance nor will | sub
init until the last extremity, TO hay,
the people tricktd, or deceive d, or il
any way deprived OF their choice. a.
expressed at the polIs-on the 9th o
November, And since Gen. Golf ha
thrown out n challenge 10 the demo
cratic party, al. this. stage, 10 contes
Nth him The result Of said election
feel II my duty, as the representa-
tive OF that party at The lac cleo
ton, TO accept his challenge. An,
In view Of The attitude which be ss
sumes, ss well as of thel surprisin,
and inexplicable returns OF thelvot,
puFpor.in2 TO have been cast for hin
In some OF the counties, and the con
"quent suspicion which these ~
turns have raised In the minds O
hundreds of conscientious citizen,
TO say nothing OF other evidences o
fraud, / could not, IN justice to Oh
people Of West Virginia. refuse 4
accept the challenge which Gen. Got
has so de6sntly made. And I ,nov
say TO. him that whatever tho furthe
developments OF the election may ro
real-even though they show "A fsi
majority in my favor, a. have ev
cry reason TO believe they will do
yet am not only ready 10 folio,
him into all suitable. tribunals /
have the issue investigated, but
shall insist that this course shall b
taken 10 the end that the whole mat
Ger be thoroughly silted and honestl
determined. And / further assur
Gen. Con. that, once beguT, vi
not be ready to quit the contest unit
II bAs been siited 10 the very bottom
and tho rights Of the people cIearl
established.
A Is. FLEMING.
Since these two letters we're writ
ten, the situation has changed but III
tie. GoH still claim1 bis election
aud the Wheeling Register Gays tbs
u be has q majority on the face {
TIE returns, he will rot take bis sea