American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-09-11

FRAUDS AT ELECTIONS. From the testimo-
ny of witnesses examiRed by the commission
ers, 1t appears, that fraudulent voting has been
carried on by wholesale in New York, by both
of the old parties. Indeed, to such an extent
has illegal voting been practised, that it has
constituted a main reliance of parties for sue
cess, as will be seen by the following deposit
ton:
Southern District Of .Nelc York:
Deposition Of Joseph II. Pettes, of the city
Of New York, broker, aged So, sworn and eX-
amincd this 18th day of February, lS45, by
John G.. Hamilton and Alexander w. Brad
ford, in virtue of commission to them, toge-
Their with John LLOYD, from the Judiciary Com
mittee Of the Senate of the United States, bea-
ring date the 18th of January, 1916.
To the third interrogatory, viz "Do you
know and will you state any instances OF fraud
and violence at electons?" he answers as fol-
lows:
Some time previous to the last election, dur
ING the months OF September and October, in
making a canvass of this city and State, the
subject came up: How many votes the demo-
cratic party would poll for Polk and Dallas in
the city aud county Of New York, and how
many votes the wings would poll for Clay
These conversations were had by me at differ
ent times, with active members of the demo-
cratic party
The result of them was, that we computed
the legal vote in the city and county of New
York at forty-four thousand of which it was
supposed the wings would poll from twenty
two to twenlythree thousand, so as to give
them majority. Then it was allowed, that
the wings might poll from two thousand to
twenty-five hundred illegal votes making the
total vote of the wings twenty-five thousand
five hundred. At the same time, it was COM
puted that the democratic party would poll, in
GLIDING illegal votes, twenty thousand
FIVE hundred to twenty-eght thousand FIVE
hundred-it being said that, if votes would
give Polk and Dallas a majority in this city,
they would have it.
From these and other estimates, the demo-
Gratis bet Oh majority ranging from three
thousand to thirty-two hundred in their favor.
This estimated majority, have reason to be-
lleve, was reduced in fact by the preventive
means adopted at the suggestion of a special
committee appointed by the central Clay exc
cutVe committee Of the SAID city; and was car
ried into effect on the day of the election, as
directed i'll a handbill which was circulated,
dated November A, 1914, specifying the mode
IN when they had ascertained illegal voting
would be attempted, and the best practicable
means OF preventing it.
As evidence Of this, from what ascertained
at one poll held in CORTLAND street. in the srd
ward of said city, a large number of persons.
and also at several other polls, were deferred
from voting, by the adoption of the measure of
challenging voters capable of Changing their
lawful residences by nights absence; that is
the young or unmarried men of no fixed domi
Gil, transient boarders, and others, who, on be.
ing asked whether they had previously voted
at any other poll, gave the invariabe reply in
the negative; and then, on being challenged,
refused generally to take the oath, and with
drew. The act of offering to vote without be-
ing entitled to vote, when done knowingly,
being only misdemeanor by the laws OF the
State of New York.
| understood, and believe, that one of the
plans adopted for the purpose of effecting this
large illegal vote in favor of the democratic
candidates was to procure large number OF
Young men and others, of no fixed domicil, and
without families, to COLOMBO in other wards;
and after having voted in such wards, if neces-
sary, swearing in their votes, to return to the
wards oftheir legal residence, and where they.
were known, and might expect to vote without
bono challenued and there again vote.