Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-11-21
LOUISIANA ELECTION.
From the New Orleans Bee, November I.
ATROClOUS FRAUD AND INFAMY J


From the New Orleans Rec Nox.mh.r
ATROCloUS FRAUD AND INFAMYl
We stated yesterday tina, ominous whisper;
were circulating through our streets of a con,em
plated SEUPENDOUS SYSTEM OF FRAUD
rERJ URf and SCOUNDRELISM in the Parish
OF riaquemnes, whereby that Parish, with o vo-
ung population Of less than five hundred, would
DC made to give one thousand or twelve hundred
Locoioco majority. We were laughed at by a
lew honest Locolocos, who could not conceive
OF the existence Of such villainy; but we had
received our information from sources too anthem
. tic to doubt the fact. The system has been car
Iled out. THE INFAMY HAS BEEN PER
PETRATED. As to the mode in which it was
done, the following communication from gentle
man who was present at the voting, will best de-
!fthere be any thing in the annals of outrage
IMAM the conduct Of the presiding officers of the
election at Plaqucmines, it has escaped our search.
III Il be tamely tolerated; if it be submitted TO
with meekness, the people of Louisiana may as
well fold their arms and surrender their govern
ment to the loafers and vagaDonds, the ofl-scour-
ings OF society, the lees and refuse of the COM
munity who control the ballotbox, and thrust in
their spurious votes in defiance Of law and JUS
lice. IL this gross system of imposture and crime
prove irremediable, we may bid farewell TO the
dream of self-government and popular institu-
lions. Let the honest citizens of every party look
at the naked fact. TWELVE HUNDRED LO-
co MAJORITY in Parish which never vet
gave four hundred votes-and from three hundred
and fifty TO four hundred residents of New Or
leans VINO had cast their suffrages here on Mon
day, dlloioed 10 cote double in PLaquemines on
Wednesday'
We have much more TO say on this subject,
Out must content ourselves for the present with
IN ff,a In ct,t, Of c,,s
appended
A number Of young Wings, night before last,
having learned that the locofocos had freighted
steamer with objects wearing the human form,
(men they cannot be caled) for the purpose of
Pipe.iaying the parish of Plaquemines, determ-
ined 70 watch their man@uvres, and to ascertain
their destinations; and to accomplish this object,
chartered the steamer SaOifisure, which they got
under way about one O'Clock in the morning,
some three hours after the locofoco boat had put
out. About o'clock dense fog impeded their
progress, and they were forced to lie to some two
hours. AT six the mist having cleared away,
they came In view of the object of their pursuit.
made fast to the left bank of the river. The
S,oJlsure landed on the opposite side and des-
patched boat over, which shortly returned with
the information that about $50 persons were be-
ing qualified to vote, and that their destination
was Pointe la Hache, where poll would be
opened at 10 o'clock. The Whps Immediately
soon landed opposite staff bearing the American
Ensign. Before, however, she could be made
last, the Sheriff of Plaquemines ordered the boat
to be removed, in an authoritative tone, saving
that IT was his landing, and that it must be kept
clear Tor boat which he soon expected with vo-
sers on board: Not wishing to create any dstur-
bance, the Wings advised the captain to drop
down to the point, which he did, while they re-
NAMED on the ground, claiming the right, as r.
WeTtcdn citizens, at least 10 remain at the polls as
spectators.
In few minutes the steamer Planter, Captain
Lodwlck, neared the shore, his boat swarmng
with beings, who made the air ring with shouts
for Polk and Dallas. So thoroughly crowded
was the boat that in their descent from the upper
DECK, one man had to leave each side at the same
lime, to prevent her careening over. Once
on land, they were marched or driven like herd
CT swine to the road and there formed into a sort
OF iine' TO await the arrival of the Agnes, anoth-
er boat In the locotoco employ. She, however,
did not detan them long, and came booming up
win crowd similar in character, though far less
In number, headed by Judge Leonard, who had
80 far forgotten that dignity that is reckoned to
apPertain to his office, to hurrah and amalgamate
win men who were journeying to trample upon
the Constitution and desecrate that instrument
the american people prize above all earthly bles-
sings-the Ballot Box. The "Sovereigns' from
the last boat having touched terra firina fell in
rear OF the line first formed, and with a sort of
demonlac yell, rushed TO the polls and common
ced their work of perpetuating freedom. This
was ABOUT ~ minutes after nine, and before half
past ten-a little over an hour--over $50 voices
had spoken for "Polk and Dallas" and "Equal
Rights"
Amongst those who had been freighted from
TINS city, were large number recognized by the
wings as residents or sojourners in the three mu-
niciPalltIes-the largest portion from the second
o. Wnom, doubtless, over two-thrds voted on
II hot frDt ~
10 Inc authorities, with the assistance of the
committee, to ascertain. We are assured, never
.heiess, That considerable number of them have
been booked by the Wings who were there at the
Time, and that their names are down for double
and fraudulent voting.
The reader will Judge from the time consumed
In polling $50 votes what forms of law were OBJ
served in the proceedings. gentleman informs
US that whilst he stood by the table some fifty
were taken and deposited in the box, with no
other question, than "what name." The tickets
were invariably opened, the Judge saying that in
mat independent precinct, no man ought or should
vote ticket that was folded up.
once circumstance connected with the Sheriff
is amusing, Notwithstanding the disgust with
which every candid mind will view it. The en-
gineer OF Inc Planter, who, by the way, is good
wing ana kentuckian, asked the Sheriff if
man who had run four years on Red River was en-
Titled 10 vote. The Sheriff, thinking no wing
Souie 10 .oahu III such crowd, told him "most
certainly, sir, you have right to vote in the par
ish OF Plaquemines; but when he opened the
ticket and found "Clay and the Union,'' on it, he
decided that the Red River gentleman could not
Poii vote In his parish, and with that ordered
him from the poll!
when the boat left Pointe a la Hacbe, the fol-
towing were the returns of the election, as de.
s,,eo rom Inc parish Judge and Sheriff. Seeing
that every ticket polled was opened by the Judges
previous to being deposited, they may be consid-
cred pretty accurate:
Bafze.--(two days.