Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-11-09

small township, thirty-eight respectable
individuals have made affidavit that they
voted the entire wing ticket but, only
t,centy four votes are returned by the
proper officer! In another instance, rs
Irishmen were permitted 10 vote in a body
not one of whom, it was vol known at
the time, had ever been naturazed; but
in this instance justice has not been slow,
as this proceeding vitiated the entire vote
of the township and thereby lost the ad-
ministration its whole ticket. These
events incontesti6ly prove pervading
system of fraud throughout the country,
that ought 10 alarm, and arouse all honest
men. Elections are to be carried for the
administration-not by the votes Of Free
men, but by stealth, by worse than highway
robbery, the robbery Of the ballot COX.
The circumstance alluded TO in the fol.
lowing article from the Vermonter, we
were charitably disposed at the time 10
consider juvenile indiscro,ion, and there.
fore let it pass. But taken in connection
with subsequent events, we cannot but
regard it as indicative Of the most flagitious
intentions
ga system of villany, practced no doubt very
generally by the Tories Democrats of this State
heretofore, was discovered in Burlington at The late
election. Just after proclamation had been
made that the ballot bores Uere open, and before
a vote had been lawfully deposited in them, one
Of the Magistrates Glanced to look into The one
intended TO receive votes for town representative,
and about thirty votes for the Tory candidate were
found snugly laid in
"On former occasions the number Of votes had
been found TO vary considerably from the check list,
and suspicion had been awakened that The canvasses
had been unfairly conducted. Suspicion exists no
more. But for the scrutiny oil the magistrate, Mr..
Lyman might have been declared elected. Yer.
monter.
In reply to this the Sentinel of Monday
says
Ii is only necessary TO say that the above precious
morceou is from the Vergennes Vermonfer OF
w tuHtsu"ys MS VIII Ue SUIllCleUt W COHNlnCc
any acquainted with the character of that paper,
that there is word of truth from the beg inning
to The end of the paragraph. a more arocious
ialsehood never disgraced even II Wing paper
Sentinel Of Monday.
If any thing could exceed the atrocity OF
the act alluded to, it is this brazen and
reckless denial of the Sentinel The state.
ment of the Vermon,er is literally true,
except in one particular-poln of time.
The boxes we're deposited as usual in the
town room, on the morning of election.
About an hour before the poll opened, some
individuals happening in, had the curiosity
to examine the boxes, when, 10 some
twenty or thirty votes for the Van Buren,
candidate were found snugly deposited in
one corner Of the representative box. The
ballos were those printed at the Sentinel
office, the same as those used by the Van
Buren, party that day, and which at that
time were only in confidential hands. This
circumstance 2recludes the possibility that
they were put there by any other than the
friends of Mr. Lyman and if any man now
doubts the motive, he must exercise more
charity than we can at present command.
Under the circumstances, however, It is
but Justice to say, that, whoever may have
been guilty Of the foolish act, we absolve
the presiding officer from any supposed
connivance in the matter. No one who
knows him entertains suspicion. But
the facts are just as we have stated. and
can be substantiated with proof.