Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-12-06
Alarming state of Affairs.

In this mornings Courier & Enquirer is
a letter from Philadelphia Correspond
emf, giving some details Of the manner
in which the Pennsylvania election was
managed, charging a most extensive sys.
tenn Of fraud on The returning officers land
claiming the election Of Governor Rnner
and the whole Wing ticket by majority
of the fair and honest voters Of that state.
The following we extract as containing a
fact of great inportance:-lN. \. Euen-
ing Star.
Look at these facts. In the guberna-
torial contest of 1885, Ritner received
$4,000 votes in Pennsylvania, and Wolf
and Mughlenberg united 100000. In
the contest however, which has just termi-
mated, Ritner has received SO far as we
have heard, nearly $4,000 votes, being
about 5000 more than the united vote of
Wolf and Mughlenberg both, and nearly
100000! more than he received in 1885,
and YET he is not elected according to
the reiurns!!' Now, in the name Of com
mon sense and common candor, ask, is il
probable, is it possible, that those return:
are correct? The Globe may chucklt
with ghasty laugh over the result-tht
pensioneG organs OF reckless party may
shout over their pretended victory, but
tell you sir, it is all the result Of fraud
as false and hollow hearted as the apples
of Sodom; and very much mistake the
spirit and nerve ofPennsyvania, ifMartin
and the Globes clique of political gam
blers and desperadoes do not find the pre-
else morsel of the "spois Of victory
which they so exultiDgly anticipate from
this conquest, to be like those tabled
apples ofSodom, ashes in their mouths
They will find, sir, in the contest of 1910,
that they have clutched greedily at shad-
ows, and received
"A barren sceptre in their grasp"
There are several modes of committing
fraud on the ballot boxes, all of which, we
believe have been praclised by the Ad-
ministration party in recent elections.
LIST. Allowing persons to vote not au-
thorized by law, on account OF age or
want of citizenship.
Cd. Returning a greater number OF
votes than there are voters in the several
counties.
Sd. Falsifying returns, mutilating and
destroying poll lists, &c. &c. &c.
The recent development offacts in New
Jersey places the open fraud beyond doubt
or contradiction. Added to this, is the
statement above from Pennsylvania.
1t is bad enough, and contrary to the
spirit of our institution, 10 have an army
of office holders drawn to the polls like
mercenares to sustain the administration
it is hard enough to see the deposites of
the peoples money used for corrupt pur-
poses--it is a base mode of electioneering
by purchasingvotes, and bringing aliens to
the polls: but to falsity the returns, and
to destroy the poll books, are acts of High
Treason, which should subject the crimi-
nails to the same punishment awarded to
traitors. Men taken in arms against the
government are accused ofhigh treason
but frauds on elective franchise, which
prevent the people from having voice in
the government, or, in fact, having gov
eminent at all, is the highest act of trea-
son, and should be so considered and pun
ished. Precedent today is doctrine to-
morrow. If one party openly practice
such frauds, the other party may claim
the right to retaliate, and away at once
with the elective franchise or the purity of
the Ballot Box-Look toit in time.
The number Of illegal tory votes polled
at the recent elections in N. Jersey is es-
timated at 2,000-add to these 10000 in
| poonsvlvonio. bOO0 in Illinoiae 5000 in