Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-11-03


tast. Many believe we are on the eve Of general
war.
eJ- II steamer Should have sailed from Liver
pool for Boston on the 18th ut., we may have the
news early this morning So look out for EN-
IRA, with ten days later.
The Pennsylvania EIection--SIagn iGeent
Hoax.
The returns OF the Pre- sidentIal election IN Penn
sylvania which were received here on Sunday night
last and published in all the newspapers Monday
morning, giving a large majority TO General Harr-
son, created great excitement in this city, and
sed many 10 doubt their ACCURACY, even among the
wing party themselves. We have received au-
thentie intelligence that nearly one half of those
returns were erroneous, and that one Of the princ
pal agents in this amusing hoax the credulity Of
the wings, was Thaddeus Stevens. OF Pennsy lvania
Let US state the facts of this lang liable affair.
A few days after the state election in Pennsylva-
MIA, Webb, of the "Courier & Enquirer" in CEN
junction with Chandler Of the U. S. Gazette, and
Morris Of the Inquirer, both of Philadelphia, en-
tered into an ABRAMS emont with VIM S. Burgess, the
agent in Philadelphia Of the Washington express,
by which Mr.. Burgess to proceed TO Pittsburgh,
the week before the recent presidential election
and there make arrangements to procure the returns
ladeIphia and New York in adrance Of the mail
This arrzns cement to be exclusively used by the
three papers in que stien-W ebb, of New York pay
ing two thirds OF the whole expense, which amount
cd to nearly $500.
In pursuance of this arrangement, Burgess went
to Pittsburgh the Saturday before the election,
and his way and while there made his arrange.
ments for relays Of horses, special local expresses
and othar prelimnares of the business On Sa
turday last Burgess had received from his sub-eX-
presses, the returns of Allegheny, Westmoreland,
Somerset, Butler, Franklin, Bedford, and Hunting
don started from that city at o'clock in the
ing With the aid of his relays OF horses he reached
Chambe RS burg, distance Of l56 miles, in IL hours
At Chambersburg he took the rail road for
Harrisburg On Sunday morning at o'clock,
he then took the for Philadelphia, having
the election in his pocket, full ttro days
in adrancc of the mail On his way from Har.
ri.burg to Philadelphia, he found Thaddeus Ste
vens, the great politician, in the cars. Stevens
fin !ing, suspecting that Burgess had been
west for election returns, tried on several occa-
sons to enter into conversation with him, and to
draw out his information. Burgess was guarded
and said little. Stevens then took out his gold pen
Gil case, began to make flourish, exhibiting slips
of paper with variety of returns, amounting to
q
ply steal impos sbility to have ascertained. With
the aid OF a few fints frsm Burgess, Stevens made
out a statement which was copied by several and
handed round the cars, at first supposed to be eti
mates, bat soon passed off for actual returns.
At Lancaster, the best joke took place Here an
express for the democratic papers from the southern
counties slept into the Stevens made parade
OF his returns, at which the express rider caught
with avidty, and actually copied them to give his
employers at Philadelphia the latest news.
At o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the cars reach
ed Philadelphia, and great excitement was produced
by the returns originally made up by Stevens. They
were circulated all over the city, and prodigious
was the rejoicing of the wings. The democratic
express delivered his returns to his employers
Burgess gave copies Of his returns to the two papers
there, and then took the for New York. for the
purpose Of bringing them on to Webb.
In the meantime, Stevens wrote letter to Horace
Greeley Of this city, agreat political calculator but
great blockhead too whose credulity and accuracy
are on par On the passage from Philadelphia,
these fancy returns Of Stevens were circulated in
the cars, and passed off for the genuine. AT Eliza
BEETHOVEN or Newark, Thomas Snowden, the cashier
OF the Courier & Enquirer slept into the cars, and
took copies Of these exquisite returns.
On the arrival Of the here Sunday eve-
ming about Ii o'clock, Stevens returns were circu-
lated over the city Horace Greeley went into pri-
waite room with the Wing leaders, and fourshed the
letter OF Stevens, Continuing msjorties in favor Of
the Wings in IS counties, about 20 than could
be got short Of supernatural power. At the " Cou-
rier o!ice Burgess delivered his curate returns
but Webb, lIoskins, and Snowden,i in orderto make
show and vet give the fact pleaded the real with
the fancy returns as TO make their returns perfectly
contradictory and ridiculous. At the Herald Office,
we received the Stevens returns, gave them, but
did not believe them. The sequel is known.
This is true &C count Of this stupendous hoax. as
explained aud told to ss by Mr. Bargess hims elf
whose original receipts for the express horses We
have seen The Philadelphia papers Of yesterday
confirm this statement throughout. The United
States Gazette says that statements Of returns from
4j counties we're exhibited to them Sunday
but they did not pat faith in hem. In this hoax,
believe that w ebb for meant to be honest but
he aud his oadjutors are so ignorant Of political
stai.tcs-.o redulous and selfimportant that they
did not know how 20 the accurate returns he had
Webs own express rider, NJ. Burgess, is coafdsnf
that Fan BURN riH get lhe STATE of Pennsyirania.
However. although We think Penssyl vania has
gone for Vas Buren,, could adcise no person 10
bet on IT, Ia eoa,est so close, accidents may
happen.
As full snd accurate returns as IL is possible to
| get, will be found in this days paper.
| ARnrxe ron rHE CosrEsr.-The staff officer.
ofthe corps OF Washington Guards, were summon
cd TO the Mayors Office last uight. The meeting be-
| ing strictly private, we do rot pre- sumo 10 know
| what the o. jeet, but, believe that his homer
wished 10 take measures for the desperation Of any