The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-29
From the Bedford tPa.l Gazette.
Whig Frauds.

wing
The democrats have suffered greatly in Pennsylvania
Tor many years past by wholesale system OF fraud prae
Used by our opponents on the elective franchises ana Inc
most important duty have TO perform al The approach
ing election is 10 watch, with jealous care, ihe ballot
box and that ouages upon rights such as have
heretofore been perpeaed not again repeated Every
county in the Commonwealth has been pIosialed Ia this
way TO the vile purposes Of whiggery In the defeat OF
Colonel II B. Wright for Congress. We have inelan
choy evidence OF The deep depraviiy OF HE leaders OF
federalism, and the case is one that should be carefully
read and understood by every voter IN The State.
The following are among some OF the prominent facts
elected at the late investigation into the frauds praesed
at the Danyille poll al the October election - The lllh
congressional district The evidence taken is too y0.
luminous TO publish, containing some eight hundred
pages OF written testimony. condensed statement oil
The most imposing part OF the evidence IS al lha can
conveniently be introduced into the limits OF puOc
journal Danville contains about 5000 inhabitants and
poled on the sih Of October 732 votes2OO more Than
a sy p0a 0so and pU wa
defeated, according TO the returns, by 5V majority, ana
in 1913. by the same system OF fraud. by DC majority
According to the testimony elected, nc shows, among
other facts:
lst That twenty three persons have made application
for citizenship either since they voted last fall, or not
two years previous and OF this number John Foley
and VIM Hancock, The proprietors Of the Trough and
Ready" IRON null MIR Foley being also a minister Of
the Gospel,
voted for the contestant Tor Congress, the returns giving
him only 80 OF the 732 votes polled.
3D. That hundred and csnty -seuen persons voted
at the election whose the assessment
list at all many OF them having fictitious names, and
the persons they represent no existence IN fact The re-
turned list oil voters has not the word tax written upon
il, but shows that forty persons voted on age, present.
ing the anomalous case that every eighteenth man was
between the age of 81 and % years.
4th That thirty persons cast their votes at the election
who were not naiuralized and some OF them had not
been month in the United States In addition to this
persons voted who happened 10 be there on the day OF
county, and three from Northumberland county.
1t is in proof that no man was challenged by the
board-no receipts were produced Tor the payment OF
taxes oath administered to establish the iactno
was certificate OF naturalization offered in population
where third OF the voters were foreigners boy oil
eighteen voted who worked in the federal printing Office
boy also voted who in Bests Office and his lore
man. who at the time citizen OF New Jersey,
having been but two months previously in the State
soon aaer .ns noad MAS a. aanu
his duty. Three by the name OF Bates offered
their votes he, knowing them 10 be unnaturazed per-
sons, refused to take their votes.
AT this point he removed, and the Judge (K,chen)
took his place. and received all the that polled
after that, including the three Baleses.
The assessor, Joseph Hartman, not long after their
polls were opened, made add tionai member OF
the election board, and the following oath admins
tered 10 him by Mr. Judge Kitchen: "You do swear
that you will assist the Judge and inspectors OF this here
election seieting these here tickets TO the best oil your
knowledge, with hdey" In this capacity Mr. Assessor
Hartman worked, as he swears, from five TO Six hours
But the election boad was not yet fully made up Each
OF the clerks had assistant 10 assist in recording
names and keeping tailes" who were moi sworn and
in this capacity they acted I'LL the votes were all counted
One of the clerks, (regular) E. w Conkln, was al the
time citizen OF the State OF New Jersey, who swears
that he left Danville in 1914, and did not return until
about the middle of April $780,. and who had during
that time, exercised the rights OF citizen by voting in
the Stale OF New Jersey and who had not for the hive
years preceding the sth October 1850, paid in
Pennsylvania !" Ii is in proof by three good witnesses,
that Thomas Neither of the inspectors, said that the
tickets of Colonel Wright destroyed by the board
" that he Melher said this not right, and he would
not stand it, and they told him step side, and
destr nd sOm "
1t is also in proof by OF the most respectable gentle
men in Danville Smith b. Thomson, I" that VIM. Kitch.
en- the Judge OF the election, Told HIM that when the
removal question up, they allowed every one
that offered their votes to voeit ma,iered not If they
large enough whether they were old enough or not
No question asked ihem and II was no matter toaert
they resided"
Ii is also in proof that at the special eec,o, held in De-
cember after supply the vacancy caused by the death
of the member from that district "over forty votes
challenged apd rejected OF pereons who had voted
a, The general election in October previous"
prothonoarys Office within three days after the cleo
,on" found their way into the office the I" 10Th OF
April is5l"-he duplicate copy OF The oaths Of the OH
the clerk could not tell whenand the list OF voters
rAtufned into office the " 9Th day oil December,
/ 1867"
The foregoing presents glance only OF the nature and
character OF the gross and corrupt practices al The Dan
vile poll at the congressional election might be iur,
Their added that there determined effort 10 conceal
and up the transaction, and every means were re-
sorted to to bury up the fraud Over hundred wit
nesses refused TO obey the commissioners subj nna TO
appear and testify As reason Tor this course, came
out in the CATION hat Fiers attorney had gtoen
them OPINION that they moi legally bound 10
obey The subpeao." Peter Ham and Peter kraz, two
Gemans-the in the country about eighteen months,
the other about two yeas-came forward and swore they
voted. Before of them got TO his lodgings, he was
arrested and bound for fraudulent rottng the
information OF the federal clerk OF the federal board Of
county commissioners.
Eminent counsel forthwith volunteered to defend him,
but when The court came on no recognsance was sent
up, and there the matter ended Honest who were
disposed TO obey the sbpano and who attended before
the commissioners, were publicly led away by the shout
der by their heariles employers Many anxious 10
swear only for whom they voted but told by iron
lords if they did they should be instantly discharged
nevertheless, there found hfty-two who did
swear they voted for Col Wright, and which is twenty
more than found By that honest board IN the
baot-box
Taking the whole presented, II out Badgers
Badger The pipe-ayng times nothing TO the tester
ing corruption laid bare at the recent investigation al
Danve. So will a conscientious Congress DECIDE.
1ha, Col. Wright fairly and honestly elected al
both the election OF lsiS and 1850 must be apparent to
every whose conscience will allow him TO decide
impar,iay -,he latter admits of doubt and YET
The Certificate OF election in both instances given 10
his federal opponent more rotten transaction was
before laid open to the public, all will admit
who read The facts have given touching the question
There cannot be the shadow OF doubt TO Colonel
Wrghts success before the Congress- body that
will place the matter before the country IN such hight
will hereafter go far 10 puts stop 10 these wicked and de-
grading pactces
Col. Wright deservedy ranks among the ables, men
IN the State and possesses legislative powers OF high
order. He is OF the most torcible and eloquent
speakers of which country boast, as all will bear
/ testimony who knew him Is a member OF the Pennsyl.