The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-18
d.nouncing the abuse Of law and public

denouncinE the abuse OF law anu P"'''N
authority"
Robbins. the sitting member, was
Democratic representative from Alabama
and he was unscatcd and his opponent
Aldrich, q Republican, was seated. we
DO not see how any one can read the
record Of the case and condemn the House
for unsoating Robbins. If the eleclo"
Is TO depend upon the number oil votes
cast, then Robbins was not elected. AZ
the position is TO be taken that the negro
vote is not TO be regarded. not"ithstahu-
ing that the law Of the land proNides
that he may vote, then, OF course, 1t is
possible 10 declare Robbins elected. But
We must first say that the vote OF the
lawfully qualified voters is 10 be disre-
garded before we can award the seat 10
Robbins. II is most pitiable that a great
body OF our people should not only ex-
cuse but Justify such proceedings In our
elections as resulted IN the officers Of the
State of Alabama declaring that Robbins
was the lawfully elected representative
I'm Congress. For instance, the record OF
the case showed that at one election pre-
cinct the officers Of the election took the
following oath:
you DO solemnly swear that you will
hold this election according TO law to
the best of your knowledge. 50 help us
over the fence
Now, no one will claim that the voters
who voted at this precinct should be
made TO lose their votes because the
election officers were practically unsworn'
by no means. But when such an oath
as this is administered TO the election
officers an intention to make farce OF
the election is disclosed, and the people
managing IT had just as well have de-
clarod In terms that they had no idea OF
conducting it under the sanction OF the
law. but that they were going to do with
it as they liked.
such procedure is not OF course, hold
ing elections; it is putting men into ONCE
according to the humors aud whims oil
the particular clique that happens to
be in charge Of the election machinery
Some OF the testimony in this case
would be most diyorting II ii were not OF
the saddest and most pathetic tendency
For instance. witness was tesuiylhg
about some of the men recorded as nav
inc voted when the following took place.
a. DO Won know silas Jackson?
4. 1 old know him once.
, a. Wen. what is the matter with him.
4 Ho was moved to the cemetery Tour
years ago. pt....
ID. DO YOU know man living in RIVER
nresiuct bv the name of Rufus klsss!
used TO know man living there
hi, that name. but he is dead. lie was
, colored man. and died last year, IN
January ! think. in the early part oil
%. Do YOU know James wilkins, in
that prccinct2
a. Yes, sir. there used TO live man
there by that name.
q What became Of him?
4. THE last time that ! saw him he was
swinging TO a limb of a tree. lie was
Iynchod. That was some time in 1873.
Yet all Of these men were recorded as
voting for Robbins.
WAS not this committee. even though a
Republican committee, justified In eX-
pressing their establishment that intelli-
cent and reputable men should be IN
duced 10 give their approval to such pro-
ceedines as that? How is 1t possible LOT
self-respecting men to sanction such
trickery. never mind what the alierh"-
tive may be? For ourselves we confess
our utter inability 20 understand 1t. we
should as soon think Of stealing ourselves
as of approving of any such frauds upon
th. OUTRAGE.