Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1855-12-20
KENOSHA, WIS.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2oth, 1855
Tha State C:anvass.

We give in another place the returns for TO-
vernon as canvassed at Madison, on Saturday
last. We also copy an article upon the subject
from the Madison Journal, and another from the
Madison Patriot. These show the means that
have been resorted to, by the State Canvassers,
to bring about the result that has been arrived
at. 1t is evident now, as has been along pre-
dicted, that it was the settled purpose to give
Barstow the certificate of election, at whatever
sacrifice of honesty, truth or decency The po-
litical vampires that have tapped their hideous
wings over their victims lulling them to fatal
repose, while they sucked their life blood away,
cannot abandon them yet, without a struggle.
To speak in palmer terms, Mr.. Barstow and his
satellites have found the means of filling their
own pockets out of the public treasure too acces-
sible to withstand the temptation, and having
now fairly got their hands in, they will not fore
go the profits of another term, SO long as it de-
ponds upon themselves to say whether they
shall hold on, or relinquish the power they
hold
We cannot conceive of more fragrant act OF
political dishonesty and corruption, or greater
outrage upon the rights of a free people, than
that just enacted by the Board of State Canvas
sers at Madison. The whole fraud and intent
is so apparent, so perfectly barefaced, to every
one outside of the transaction, that we arc at a
loss to fathom the infatuation that has led the
canvassers to thus disgrace and damn themsel.
yes in the eyes of all honest men, of whatever
political creed. Look at their course. Where
ever vote was TO be made for Barstow they
have not hesitated to 60 back of the County
Canvassers to bring it in, while under precisely
the same circumstances, they have refused to 60
behind the County Canvassers when the discar-
ded votes were for Bashford. They have re-
ceived and counted returns that bear the impress
of fraud upon their face, under the plea that
they could not go behind the County canvas
sers, while they reject legal and certified returns
from the same county, and thus disfranchise
some six or seven towns entirely, because they
gave majority in the aggregate for Bashford
Had there, unfortunately, been no appeal from
the action of this Bcard-were they the bc-al
and the erd-all-this high-handed outrage would
lie less a cause of wonder. They conld have
said we will it thus, and therefore it must be so
grunlble or curse as ye may But as it is, they
have shown great folly as well as wickedness
and corruption. No judge or jury under heaven
can sustain their action, in any shape, should
an appeal be taken, which " e doubt not will be
done. A Court will either go back of the Coun
ty Canyassers, or it will not. In either case
Bashfori would be elected If the returns are
taken and counted honestly as certified to and
sent in by the County Canvassers, Bashford
will have about 400 majority. Or, go back OF
the County Canvassers, and bring in all the vo
ties that were cast, and throwing out the evident
and palpable fraud of 400 votes in Waupacca
for Barstow, and Bashford will be elected by
about 500 majority.
We do not believe the people of Wisconsin
arc craven enough to submit to such an imposi
ton. If they do, and allow Barstow to hold his
ilEgotten place, we might far better dispense
with the farce of elections. 1t would be chca
per and less aggravating to submit to the rule
of whatever aspiring and reckless demagogue
chances to get the reins into his hands, as long
as he sees fit to hold them.