In a recent article by Kenneth Bridges, the controversial 1870 congressional race in Arkansas is detailed, highlighting the corruption and violence that plagued the era of Reconstruction in the state. The race pitted Thomas Boles, a Unionist judge, against John Edwards, a former Union Army general and advocate for reform. Edwards ultimately won the election, but Boles contested the results, accusing Edwards of stealing the election. After a lengthy investigation, Congress determined that the election had indeed been stolen, and Boles was sworn in as the rightful winner in 1872.
Despite the bitter political rivalry between Boles and Edwards, neither sought re-election in 1872, and the Democrat Thomas Gunter emerged victorious in the third district seat. Boles later served as a United States Marshal and made an unsuccessful bid for governor. Edwards, on the other hand, left Arkansas and set up a law firm in Washington, D.C., where he practiced until his death in 1894.
The article sheds light on a dark chapter in Arkansas politics, where bribery, corruption, and violence marred the electoral process. Despite the turmoil, the people of Arkansas turned away from the corruption, sidelining Republicans from state politics for decades to come.
Source
Photo credit arkadelphian.com
The Corruption and Political Scandal of Arkansas’s Stolen Election in 1870
Next article![]( "Mississippi’s Deer Hunting Season Kicks Off This Saturday")
