"That's easy enough. We just leave that part to the 'boys. They fix it up pretty quick. Just you leave that to the boys, that's all.''* From the following authentic and official statement, founded on affidavits, and issued by order of the Republican State Committee of Alabama, it is evident that at the recent scandalous travesty upon an election in Alabama (August 2, 1880), the Democrats adopted both plans, with some added deviltry of their own, in order to secure a pretended majority for their ticket of one hundred thousand votes, the official returns of which have been withheld (possibly to be altered) for fear of alarming the North. From the official statement referred to. the following is taken: How the thing was done in Montgomery county-At McGehee's Switch 672 Republican votes cast, and only 132 returned counted! "At McGehee's Switch, in Montgomery county, the Republicans polled 672 votes by actual count, the Republican voters receiving their tickets from one man, giving him their names and going straight from him to the polling place, holding their ticket in view to enable him to see that they deposited the same ticket they had received. These precautions were adopted in order that the number of Republican votes polled there on that day might be fixed and ascertained beyond all doubt, because at the election in that precinct for member of Congress, two years before, their votes had been returned as cast for the Democratic candidate. It is instructive to interject here, parenthetically, that B. E. McGehee, one of the Democratic inspectors at the former election, and who is at present under indictment in the United States Circuit Court for stuffing the ballot box on that occasion, was one of the persons chosen as a guardian of the people's ballots at this box at this election. "After the election had progressed, without one threatening incident, to its close, at 5 o'clock, the Republican inspector, a colored man, demanded that the votes should be immediately counted, as the law directed, but could not persuade the other inspectors to join him in the count; first one excuse and then another being offered for the delay. About 6 o'clock a military company from Montgomery, the Grays,' under command of Colonel Jones, commanding the 2d Alabama Militia, appeared upon the grounds, supported by an armed posse of about thirty citizens from Montgomery. The cause of the delay then became apparent. The wretches who were housed inside, contemplating the villainy they were about to perpetrate, became afraid of the indignation and wrath of the large number of colored men who were quietly waiting on the ground to hear the result of the election announced, and had sent a report to the city that they were threated by the colored men and that there was danger of a collision. The Governor of the State had thereupon issued his mandate, and mustered his bayonets and dispatched them with all speed to the assistance of his threatened compatriots. The soldiers took up their station and the count proceeded. "The details of the farce enacted here have been before published. After counting 116 Republican and 59 Democratic votes, the candle was accidentally extinguished, the ballot-box disappeared from the table, reappeared, the candle was relighted, the box discovered to be full of tickets, where it had before been only partially full by reason of the diminution caused by those already counted, and large numbers of Republican ballots were scattered all over the room, where before there had been none. The colored inspector, inexperienced though he was, could not mistake the meaning of all this, and timid as he was inexperienced, he yet raised his voice in protest. This was the point to which it had been desired to bring him. The other inspectors and the clerks pretended to be indignant at an imputation on their integrity,' and resented the same with language of such force, accompanied by demonstrations of such character, that the guilty individual made haste to join his friends outside. After being somewhat reassured by them, he attempted to again enter the polling-place and resume his duties as inspector, but was met by the statement that as he had voluntarily abandoned his post he could not resume it. The inspectors then proceeded to the count and made a return giving the Republicans 132 votes and the Democrats 540 votes. "There are two singular circumstances in connection with the election at this point which should be marked down. The first is that of the first 175 votes taken from the box while the Republican inspector was there, 116 were Republican votes, while of the 500 votes taken from the box after the Republican inspector had abandoned his duty, only 16 were Republican votes. The second is, how 132 colored men were enabled to terrorize 540 Democrats, white and black, at that place, and put them in such deadly fright that they required a military company, uniformed and armed with bayonets, to assist them in collecting the votes of the freemen who voted there on that day." At Kendalls's Beat-The vote being 544 Republican to 65 Democratic, the majority is first reduced to 46 and then thrown out altogether. "At Kendalls's Beat, in Montgomery county, at which place a list of names of Republican voters was kept for the same purpose as at McGehee's, 544 Republican votes and 65 Democratic votes were deposited. At this place the Democratic inspectors, relying on the ignorance and timidity of the old colored man acting as the Republican inspector, who was also partially blind, proceeded, with slight efforts at concealment, to substitute Democratic for Republican ballots, but were not enabled to make as complete a revolution as in the other beat, because the old colored man developed an amount of intelligence and decision of character which prevented. The Republican majority of 475 was reduced, however, to 46, the only majority allowed anywhere in the whole country at this election, and even this majority was not allowed us by the Board of Supervisors who compared the returns and tabulated the same, but was thrown out because more votes were returned than appeared on the U-lists. The inspectors had got things mixed." At Robinson's Cross Roads-A vote of 580 Republican to 50 Democrats entirely suppressed and unreported. "At Robinson's Cross Roads, Montgomery county, a record of the Republican votes was kept by M. Dillard, one of the oldest and best citizens of that precinct, and it showed that 580 Republican votes were polled. The Democratic vote at the outside limits did not exceed 50. The only disturbance during the day occurred about 3 o'clock, and it was between colored men, one of whom was wounded by a pistol shot. The polls were kept open until 5 o'clock as by law required, and voting continued until the very close. The colored man who acted as inspector then proposed to proceed with the count, but was informed by the other inspectors that they did not propose to count, that the disturbance at the polls at 3 o'clock had invalidated the election. They then closed up the polling-place, carried off the box containing the ballots, and from that time to this no information has been received in any official quarter as to the votes at this box." At Porter's Beat-400 Republican to 50 Democratic votes cast-The 350 Republican majority counted and announced, but suppressed all the same. "The same thing occurred at Porter's Beat, where the vote was about 400 Republican to 50 Democratic, but at that precinct there was not one incident of a threatening character upon which to ground an excuse for not counting. Why they were not counted is not known. We only know that the inspectors, after receiving votes all day, have utterly failed to make any return whatever, and by their arbitrary and unlawful omission have disfranchised about five hundred voters. Why the monotony was varied at this beat, and the Republican majority only suppressed instead of being transposed, is perhaps accounted for by the fact that the Republicans remembering their experience in former elections, when they had been counted out, determined to remain at the polls en masse until their votes had been declared. This fact, aided by sundry remarks which were made during the day and night, that the Republicans only wanted a fair count and that they would have that, appears to have had a salutary effect on the minds of the inspectors, and they did not feel it safe to close the building and go away with the ballot-box, in the presence of the crowd outside, without giving it a pacifying assurance. The statement was accordingly made to them publicly that the votes as counted showed the Republicans to have 350 majority. Nevertheless, they were suppressed all the same." At Old Elam—446 Republican votes to 16 returns vitiated. The value of U. S. supervisors at electionsSome startling and convincing figures as to elections in Montgomery County, Ala., from 1876 to 1880. "To show in figures the glaring frauds committed in Montgomery, the capital county of Alabama-where the Republicans were this time more united than ever before, the county thoroughly canvassed, and no objectionable ticket, composed entirely of white men, Republicans, and Independents, in the field, which was unanimously nominated by a convention of colored men, while many business men, Democratic in politics, voted for the Republican nominees, because men not daring open opposition, abstained from voting, for better known for their fitness and integrity, and many, which sign of apathy they were arraigned in strong terms by the Democratic organ next day-we give herewith the following official report of the last four elections held in Montgomery County, Alabama, which elections as the only safeguards against fraud:" shows the necessity of United States supervisors at "At Old Elam' the list of votes as kept showed that 446 Republican votes had been polled to 16 Democratic. The count proceeded at this place until 200 Republican votes and 5 Democratic votes had been counted. At this juncture the candle expired, and it appeared that no other light could be procured. It was accordingly proposed to Charles Pope, the colored inspector, who had been selected for the position because of his ignorance and stupidity, that all the votes be placed together and sent to town in lieu of a return, which proposition Pope accepted. This proceeding vitiated everything, because, under the law, the inspectors are required to make the count immediately, and it is upon their return, and not by a count of the With and without United States Supervotes, that the Board of Supervisors declare the result. To make the thing safe, however, and to make the injury resulting from their action irreparable, the votes as cast and all the loose papers and trash in the supervisors; in the August elections there were none. room, with several hundred ballots of both parties, which had not been voted, were dumped indiscriminately in a bag, and sent to the Sheriff's office as the return from Elam." At Union Academy and Dooley's Republican majorities changed by addition to Democratic vote-More votes than voters. "At Union Academy and Dooley's, where the Republican votes exceed the Democratic, the latter have been returned as having majorities. The features of the count in those beats do not differ materially from those related as to the other beats, except that the inspectors, instead of transposing the Republican and Democratic votes, as was done elsewhere, appear to have attempted to extend the Democratic vote beyond the Republican vote without diminishing the latter. They did not bear in mind the late census returns, however, and have returned more votes from their precincts than those returns show there are male citizens over twentyone years of age." The city of Montgomery-Republican majority of 1400 in 1876 and 1878 becomes a Democratic majority of 900 in 1880– Evidences of fraud. "In the city of Montgomery, where it was not supposed any attempt would be made to falsify the count, the precautions to ascertain our vote were not taken, as in the country precincts, and the Republican majority of 1,400 in 1876, and about the same number in 1878, was this time transposed into a Democratic majority of about 900. There are still some indicia extant. The intelligent white Republicans who had been offered by the Republicans as inspectors at the city boxes, had been rejected for colored men who could neither read nor write, or who, it was supposed, would be pliant in the hands of their associates. Democrats became aware before election day that a mistake had been made as to one of these appointees, who was a smart and resolute colored man. On the morning of election the latter presented himself at the voting place to assume his duties half an hour before the time fixed by law for opening the polls. He was refused entrance into the room on the pretext that he arrived The Beat No. visors. In the November elections there were United States Name. Presn't, Senator, Congress Gover'nr Nov. Aug. Nov. Aug. 1876. 1878. 1880. 1878. Barnes' * 206 130 252 * 228 149 oo § 370 324 620 349 688 796 377 409 907 727 204 737 902 422 315 843 100 242 328 44 71 382 82 370 117 133 106 249 337 * * * * 468 114 200 265 300 93 Ꭶ S * 63 S § 95 104 222 461 91 112 320 173 6264 2381 2672 4632 4059 2081 2219 4835 *New Beats organized after 1876. above to be a true and correct copy of the official returns of the last four elections held in this county, as appears from the official records on file in that office. (Signed) "CHARLES W. BUCKLEY, "Judge of the Probate Court" Frauds in other counties-Wilcox county -Some "specimen bricks" of how the Democrats secured a majority of 2,000 in this county. "The features presented by the election in other counties of the State are pretty much the same as those occurring in Montgomery, with here and there some peculiarity of fraud, which renders it worthy of mention separately. Before the election of the leading Republicans of Wilcox county, fearing that they could not get a fair count in the eastern end of the county, concluded to advise the Republicans in several precincts not to vote, and then the Democratic steal would be made more palpable. Republicans posted themselves near the polls and took down the name of every colored man who voted. At Snow Hill seven colored men voted. The Democrats gave themselves in their official return at this precinct 599 votes. But according to the census returns of last June, there are only 132 whites living in the precinct over twenty-one years of age. Add to the white the seven colored votes, and we have a total of 139 votes polled at this precinct, 460 less than the official return. At Allenton precinct two colored men voted. The Democrats gave themselves 347 votes. The last census shows but 62 whites in the precinct over twenty-one years of age. Total, 64 votes, 283 less than the official return. It was the same at Pine Apple. In Bonham's precinct the returns gave the Republicans 22 votes and the Democrats 476, making a total vote of 498, or 142 more males twenty-one years of age than reside in the precinct, according to the census. By such frauds as these, this strong Republican county, for the first time since the war, is made to return a Democratic majority of over 2,000." Sample frauds in Lowndes county - How its Republican majority of 3,000 is changed into a pretended Democratic majority of 2,000!-Official figures-Net fraud in each of 13 voting “beats." "Lowndes county, which has a legitimate Republican majority of 3,000, and which has always cast its vote for the Republicans, was this time stolen from them by a Democratic majority of 2,000. At all the polls list of Republican voters were kept by intelligent men, each voter giving his name as he passed up to vote, and an examination of those lists shows that the Republicans never voted more solidly. We give herewith some official figures, as instances of the shameless frauds committed in that county: Coffey, Democrat, 3,506; McDuffie, Republican, 1,800; Owen, Independent, 503. BENTON BEAT returned 125 votes for Coffey, 70 for McDuffie. McDuffie has obtained the names of 166 men who voted for him there. Net fraud in Benton Beat, 96 votes. CHURCH HILL BEAT returned Coffey 190 votes, McDuffie 13. McDuffie has the names of 177 men who voted for him. Net fraud in this beat, 164 votes. COLLERINE BEAT returned Coffey 251 votes, McDuffie 24. McDuffie got here 230 votes, and the Republicans of the beat stand ready to swear to it. Net fraud in this beat, 206 votes. GRIDIRONVILLE-McDuffie's voters registered their names publicly, giving 442 votes. The returns gave him 102; the remainder to Coffey. Net fraud, 340 votes in this precinct. At this beat there were white men who voted for McDuffie and not for the balance of the ticket, and yet the Republican ticket got the same vote for all the candidates on it according to the returns. HOPEWELL BEAT-McDuffie has the names of 136 persons who voted for him, and yet the returns give only 80 votes for McDuffie, but 98 for Coffey. Net fraud in this beal, 56 votes. BROOK'S BEAT-The returns give Coffey 236 votes, while there were not 25 Democratic votes in the whole beat, and Coffey did not get, colored votes and all, over 50 votes. Net fraud in this beat, 186 votes. PRAIRIE HILL BEAT-There are but four white men living here, and one of them voted for McDuffie; the returns give Coffey 89, and McDuffie only 77 votes. McDuffie has the names of 186 men who voted there for him. Net fraud in this beat, 86 votes. LETOHATCHIR BEAT-One hundred and eighty-seven men voted for McDuffie; the returns give Coffey 212 votes, McDuffie 80. Net fraud in this beat, 107 votes. STEEP CREEK BEAT-McDuffie's voters registered 190 names, all of whom cast their ballots for him; but the returns show 146 votes for Coffey, and only 96 for McDuffie. Net fraud in this beat, 91 votes. PINTALE BEAT-McDuffie had 316 votes, while they gave Coffey 23. Net fraud in this beat, 20 votes. returns give him 244 votes, and Coffey 272 votes. LOWNDESBORO' BEAT-McDuffie got 440 votes; the Net At previous elections the fraud in this beat, 196 votes. Democrats did not get over 75 votes at this box, and a less number of colored votes were polled for them there at this time than ever before. ST. CLAIR-McDuffie received 176 votes, but the reNet turns gave him only 46 votes, and Coffey 166. fraud in this beat, 131 votes. WHITEHALL PRECINCT-McDuffie has the names of 276 persons who voted for him; still the returns give him only 71 votes, but 220 for Coffey. Net fraud in this beat, 255 votes. ing, the blacks outnumber the whites enormously. In that county, which is entirely devoted to plant Green county-The Sheriff's office broken into-A Republican majority of 2,000 changed to a Democratic majority of 27 ! In Green County the Republican candidate for Probate Judge was elected by over 2,000 majority; but, besides the same frauds committed as enumerated above, the office of the Sheriff was broken into, and a box with 420 Republican majority stolen, and then the Democratic candidate was declared elected by 27 majority. Republican majorities deliberately destroyed everywhere-Nullification of the Constitutional amendments. It would be possible to give a detailed account of frauds which occurred throughout the State at this election which would occupy the entire space of a daily newspaper, but it would be a mere repetition of what has already been given. It is sufficient to say that in all cases where it was possible the Republican majorities have been deliberately counted for the Democracy, or they have been nullified and destroyed by the action of the very men who were appointed to receive, record, and preserve them. To-day Alabama is Republican by 20,000 majority, if the votes which are put in the ballot-boxes were honestly counted. The foregoing facts, which are vouched for as true by men who were on the ground in each case-in some cases vouched for by affidavits-when considered in connection with the provisions of the election law, and with the action of the officers under that law, establish beyond all doubt the purpose of the entire Democratic party, of Alabama at least, to ignore, disregard, and nullify the late constitutional amendments by disfranchising the entire colored population of the State. CHAPTER VII. History of Democratic Administrative "Looting." "We pledge ourselves anew to the constitutional doctrines and traditions of the Democratic party, as illustrated by the teachings and example of a long line of Democratic statesmen and patriots." *** Declaration 1, National Democratic Platform, 1880.-"Public money***for public purposes solely." ** Declaration 12, Ibid. PART I. "Retrenchment, Economy and Reform” of the Pecksniffian Democracy-From 1828. augurated President of the United States. Proclaiming the maxim that "to the victors belong the spoils," Jackson let slip the "Furies of the Guillotine" in a wholesale proscription of the old and tried officials of former Administrations. John Q. Adams, in the preceding four years, had made but twelve changes-all for cause. In the preceding 40 years, all his predecessors together had made only 132 changes-of these Jefferson had removed sixty-two; but Jackson, in the genuine spirit of a Democratic reformer, in one year removed, it was estimated, 1,500 officials-in one year nearly 12 times as many as by all his predecessors from the beginning of the Government. The officers removed were experienced, capable. and trusty. The character of those who filled their places-"Slamm, Bang & Co."-is attested by the "reform" which followed. PART III. "Retrenchment, Economy, and Reform," as a slogan, were early patented by the Pecksniffian Democracy. In 1828, in the House of Representatives, the partisans of Andrew Jackson, the founder of modern Democracy, raised the cry of "extravagance and fraud" against the existing National administration that of the younger Adams. After a protracted and acrimonious debate, an investigation was ordered by the House, but Mr. Hamilton, its chairman, in his report to the committee utterly fails to convict the younger Adams or his administration of either extravagance or corruption, or even to raise a presumption of either; and in history that administration stands unsurpassed by any which preceded it, or has followed it, for practical statesmanship of the highest order, for incorruptible integrity, for its success in the management of the affairs of the nation, and for exalted patriotism. Nevertheless, the Democracy clamored against it, as they now clamor against the Republicans. They denounced it for extravagance and fraud. They fabricated the infamous " bargain and corruption" libel against Adams and the chivalrous Henry Clay, charging as they now charge against Mr. Hayes and the Republicans, and with about equal truth, that the Democracy, by Adams and Clay in the House of 1824-25, A rage for speculation in the public lands had been cheated out of the Presidency distinguished the period. General Lewis charges which their authors subsequently Cass, Secretary of War, who pocketed illeconfessed were not "only false" in them-gally, as extra allowances, the sum of $68,000, selves, but were "impossible to be true," united with Martin Van Buren, Secretary of but which they clamorously urged in every vile form and literally lied Adams down. Thus it was that the Democracy originally succeeded to power and place-by lying and hypocrisy. PART II. Inauguration of Andrew Jackson, the Founder of Modern Democracy—“To the Victors belong the Spoils." On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson. pledged to retrenchment, economy and reform, was in Democratic "Reform "-Its Indian and Public Land GrabsSecretary Cass Pockets Illegally $68,000 as Extra AllowancesSpeculations of the Highest Officials under Jackson in Public Lands-Fourth Auditor Amos Kendall's $50,000 Fee. State, Benjamin F. Butler, of N. Y., Attorney General, and others, in a land Credit Mobilier for speculation in public lands-for speculation in sales by the Government of which they were members. Amos Kendall, the Fourth Auditor, and subsequently Postmaster General, in like manner united with a Boston land company, for a fee of $50,000, for the wholesale robbery of certain Indians in Mississippi of their lands-all swindling enterprises in contemptuous violation of the law, R. 194, second session Twenty-fourth Congress.) of which they were the administrators. (H. The fraudulent character of this Democratic is described by the Globe, Jackson's organ, in | but pleads that to them his "appeals" were its issue of August 2, 1836. Its article is a "founded solely on the justice of the claim virtuous but characteristic attempt to cast the "the hardship of the condition of the edium of these speculations upon the oppo- claimants." Hence, lobbied in 1835 by Fornents of Democracy. It says: syth, Jackson's Secretary of State, approved "These [joint stock] companies will presently accu- by General Cass, his Secretary of War, and mulate large amount of specie, as they have heretofore justified in 1837 by the Democratic majority done of paper-will, by their agents, attend the land of the Wise committee, engineered through offices and public sales-will drive off the actual settlers from competition, by telling them that if they at- Congress in 1849, by another distinguished tempt to buy their places, for instance, at $5 per acre, Democratic reformer, Mr. Burt, of South Carthe real value, they will bid them up to 6, or 8, or $10;olina, and the principal paid by James K. but that if they permit it to pass into the hands of the Polk, the question of interest was only recompany (by not bidding) at the Government price of $1.25, they will allow them to have the selected spot at served and its liquidation by Polk only de$4.50. By the control thus obtained by combinations feated for want of time. Interest was subseamong speculators, all competition at the sales of pub- quently paid by Secretary of War Crawford, lic lands is prevented, and actual occupants, to save of Georgia, and the nation swindled out of their homes from the grasp of capital, against which they cannot contend, are content to give the field to over $200,000! Secretary Crawford, a noble the speculators—to permit them to buy their places at son of the South, pocketed as his attorney's the Government price, in consideration of reserving fees one-half of the whole swindle! the privilege of obtaining them at second hand at some advance, but at a price less than they would be compelled to give under a competition with the long purses at auction." In 1834, John Forsyth, of Georgia, succeeded Lewis McLane, of Delaware, as Secretary of State, in Jackson's Cabinet. In 1850 the payment of the notorious "Galphin swindle scandalized the nation. By the Democracy it was denounced as "infamous "-as "without a precedent' -as "a clear and unmitigated that In swindle!" Their memories were bad. 66 The PART V. The General Post Office under Adams self-sustaining and contributing $1,103,063 to the revenues of the nation-Under Jackson bankrupt amid the foulest corruption and fraud. Senators Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, and John In 1834, after a hard battle (from 1830), M. Clayton, of Delaware, forced an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads into the condition of the Post Office Department. It found the Department "insolvent,' a helpless prey to maladministration, corruption, robbery, and fraud. In the preceding administration, under John Q. Adams, the Department had been not only self-sustaining, but had contributed annually $1,103,063 to the revenues of the nation. But now, in a few brief years, under Democratic reform, it was bankrupt, a burden upon the Treasury. (S. R. 422, first session Twentythird Congress.) Mr. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, the Democratic chairman of the committee, was opposed to the investigation. Postmaster Barry refused to recognize its authority. He declared that he was responsible, not to the Senate, but to the President, and through him to the people. He refused to furnish the committee the information it requested, and it was forced to prosecute its labors under the greatest difficulties, among mutilated records and fabricated accounts in the greatest confusion. But even under such disadvantages it developed a condition of affairs utterly without a parallel in all our previous history. "Extra allowances" alone exhaust the whole postal revenues of States-"Oppressive monopolies" in postal contracts— Contractors share their plunder in wines and cash with the Postmaster General and his chief clerk, and lend their credit to this department. One of the greatest abuses of the Department was in its extra allowances, aggregating |