Year: 1876

"


The shot-gu Democracy of Petersburg,
Va, are in flutter of excitement over the
failure of their nefarious plans for carrying
the election in the interests of Hinton. In
an article on this subject yesterday we
stated that ballot-box stuffing by the
Democracy occurred In that city at every
election. A full report of the election
there last week fully confirms our state
ment 1t appears from the official count
by the Democratic judges Of election that
there were cast 4, 443 ballots; of these it was
announced that 1881 were Democratic
and 2,112 Republican, thus producing a
Democratic majority of s19. 1t happened,
however, as it always happens in Peters
burg, that the bsllot-box had been stuffed,
and 174 more votes were found in the
boxes than corresponded with the tally of
the clerks; hence in conformity with the
law an individual of the Democratic per-
suasion was blind folded and proceeded to
draw the necessary 174 from the boxes; 81
in the First ward, 90 in the Third, 40 in
the Fourth, and 80 in the Sixth. The
bogus ballots were about three fourths of
an inch in size, and were Inclosed in the
regular Democratic tickets, which were
about half the size of the Republican
tickets. In drawing, therefore, it was
quite easy to distinguish between the two,
even by blind man, and as Democratic
consequence the 174 were drawn from the
bona .fde ballots cast by Republicans, thus
making difference of 348 as against the
Republican candidates, which would have
given them, had not the ''stuffiug'' process
been resorted to. a clear majority Of 129 in
stead of the 219 now claimed by the Ku-
Klux Democracy. The presence of the
military on election day prevented the
murder and intimidation Of Republicans,
and as result Of peaceful election the
Democratic majority was cut down some
thing over TOO, and although they have
fraudulently obtained majority of 219 In
Petersburg, where the Republican party
was clearly entitled 10 129 majority, they
now propose to resort to the same sort Of
diabolism as that by which Colonel Plat
was deprived of his seat last winter. That
good order and peace prevailed in that dis
reputable city on the 7th we showed yes
terdsy from the pen of Democratic writer,
and in confirmation of this the Petersburg
Indez-Appeal, virulent Democratic sheet,
says: "The officer in command of the
military detail wisely withheld his little
command from any participation in the
contest, and Judge Hughes, with equal
good taste, abstained from exercising his
authority" Notwithstanding this re-
luctant admission of the non-interference
by the troops, the same paper on the same
day, the 9Th, contains the following in
flammatory appeal to violence and outrage


"The canvassing board of the State, of
which the Governor Of Virginia is the official
head, can and should refuse to issue certif-
cate of election to Jorgensen, even If It should
be made to appear that he had an ostensible
majority. He can have no majority except
by the grace of unconstitutional and violent
interference with the laws of Virginia
regulating elections, by the actual mimi
dation Of voters and violent prevention of
an honest count of the ballots. Governor
to exert the utmost official powers with
which he is clothed 10 Withstand the sue
cess of any such conspiracy against the rights
of the people of Virginia. II, however, this
hope Of relief should fail, the House itself
should reject a member who comes up bearing
bogus credentials, sealed with the device Of
the bayonet and owing their origin to the
drunken excesses Of negro marshals. We
have no reason TO apprehend Capt. Hinton's
defeat, but If he shall appear to have been
beaten It rests with the officials Of Virginia
and the majority of the House Of Represents
tives to see that his opponent derives no ad-
vantage from the fraud and wrong. This we
say as q mere Indication of measures that
ought to be exhausted before the district is
forced to submit to the disgrace of Jorgensen's
representation. There are yet other remedies
which may I'm last resort be adopted"


This Is the kind Of advice rendered by
an organ of the party that affects to fear
the commission OF fraud by the returning
officers in Louisiana, 80 ath Carolina and
Florida. "The Canvsssing Board can and
should refuse to issue certificate to DR..
"Jorgensen, the Republican candidate,
"even If Ii should be made to sppear that
che has an ostensible majority" and eff
this hope of, relief fails, the House itself
"should reject him" Never, perhaps, in
the history Of parties was the ,dninsps of
Democracy more clearly apparent than In
this exhibition of vindictive hatred; never
was the rule OF ruin policy more palpsbly
disclosed. Thanks 70 the presence Of the
military, NO Republican was unfortunate
enough to have his throat cut on election
day in Petersburg, and the day was one
of unusual quiet, as the Iadez admits in
the same number Of the paper from which
we have clipped the incendiary language;
witness the following: Peace, good order