The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-03-12
The Mississippi Pian-

New York Pres.
one of the most extraordinary of the
election contests is that Of General james r.
Chalmers against James y. Morgan in the
Second Congressional District Of Mississippi
This is case in which the contestant claims
that he received a msjority OF 900 oi the
votes actually cast, although the contestee
was counted in by 800 majority. Here are
the facts: There are two counties OF the
district which have large white majorities.
and here the elections sre always fair. In
these two counties having 5000 white ma
iority the majority for Morgan was only l.
COG: while in seven western counties which
have 2 500 negro msjority Morgan is count
ed in by G.400 msiority. Chalmers shows
first. that the Election Board Of the state,
comprised of the Governor Lieutenant Gov
ernor aud Secretary of State. TO appoint
three commissioners Of election for each
county r. fused TO appoint any one 10 repre-
sent tie Republicans except those who We're
recommended by the Democrats oi each
county. lie then shows that the COmmis-
sioner Of Ele;tion in each county appointed
no inspector of elections asked for by the
Republicans.
Ii WAS decided By the committee of elect
ors in The case Of Feaiherstone and Cate and
also OF rnreet and Clark, t,he present ses-
sion. that the appointment Of all the eject
i've officers on the recommendation of one
Marty was a fraud and vitiates the returns.
rhis ruling Of the committee Is sustained by
the decision Of Judge Blatchford, case
arising in New York city where the County
Democracy and Tammany were contending
against each other as to who should name
Tue Democratic supervisor. THe returns
be;ng vitiated no votes can be counted ex-
cepi those otherwise proved Taking the
votes proved by the testimony Of witnesses
examined. after allowing Morgan 1882 ma-
iority Ia the ten Democratic counties Chal-
mers has a majority Of 2.4oo. There are
ninety seven voting precincts in the district
and the proof shows fraud at sixty-three Of
these. The debates over examination Of
witnesses prevented further testimony being
taken.
In addition TO these systematic frauds at
every box the official testimony also shows
/ that negroes were beaten befors Tie election
( at one precinct in T4ilahatchie County aud
at one precinct in another county. The
voters were fired into on the day of election.
Al one precinct in La Fayette County guns
were fired into the room where the votes
were being counted. In De Soto County,
the home Of Morgan, a military company
was organized for the campaign, with the
postmaster as captain OF the company. On
the night before the election at Hernando,
where Morgan resides, the houses oil leading
Republicans were fired into. This company
was sent to protect the officials in their
| fraudulent count. At this box only forty
/ eight white men and two hundred negroes
voted. and ye; large majority was counted
for Morgan. In Ia Fayette County another
species Of fraud was practised. The names
Of Republican voters were erased from the
registration books TO prevent their voting.
! Four hundred were thus scratched of at
/ Oxford alone. The United States supervi-
sor. white man, was walked over and be
was not allowed TO vote. although he aud
the four hundred negroes were all present
demanding The right 10 vote. These facts
are sufficient 70 justify Congress IN seating
General Chalmers, and TIE Pres has no
doubt this act Of Justice viii meet the APP
proyal ofeyery one opposed to the Mississip-
/ vi plan.