The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-05-18
Fromthe Rochester Democrat, May 3.
KnOW-NotllingiSm in New York.
Presentment o oftte Order By The GRIND Jury Of
.Monroe County.

.uOHFOe Z O9Hty.
We give below document emanaiing from
thr Grand Jury of this county, which closed its
session Yesterday. 1t will br widely read and
criticised. The Grand Jury devoted three days
to the Investigation, in pursuance OF sugges-
ton from Judge Weles, that II was their pro-
vince and duty TO inquire into any intractlonS OF
the election law.
Several witnesses, it appears, refused to an
swer, and were taken before the court for IFS
direction In every such instance we believe
Judge Wpl!es has discharged his duties like
pure and upright Judicial officer. Witnesses
who sworp-and it is reported there were such
that they could not answer the questions
"wIthout crlminating themselves or making
themselves Infamous were Of course excused
from answering. That is the privilege OF all
witnesses who are apprehensive that their con-
duct has been in violation of law and the rights
OF individuals or the public. The Presentment
follows;
To the Hon0rabie Court Of Oyer md I'erminer
Of The County Of Monroe
The Grand Jury of this County having been
specially charged bv the Court TO make lnqui-
ries as TO all violations and iniractionS OF The
election laws of this State, have, in discharge Of
their duty. called beforp them large number Of
witnesses, and made diligent inquiry upon the
subject. They find that by section of the
general election law, ''if any person shall, by
bribery, menace, or other corrupt means or
device whatsoever, either directly or indirectly,
attempt to influence anv plpctGr nf this State, IN
giving his vote or ballot, or deter him from Civ
ing the same, or disturb or hinder him in the
free exercise of the right of suffrage, at any
election within this State, held pursuant to this
chapter, and shall therefore be convicted, such
person so offending and convicted, shall be adj
Judged guilty Of a misdemeanor, and be fined or
imprisoned, according to the discretion OF the
Court before which such CONVICTION shall be
had such fine in case TO exceed five hundred
dollars, nor snch imprisonment one year."
Tt appears from The testimony taken before us
/ that there are NUMBER OF SOcieties, or orders
Of men, in this county, who have formed them
selves into secret combinations for political ac-
iion--that these societies meet only in secret
| that their members are admitted under oaths
aud obligations, and pledged to invloIable secre-
cv-that they are induced 10 enter the soclety
under variety of pretPnces, and to take upon
themselves oaths and binding obligations that
| they will not vote for certain particular classes
/ of their felow-citizenS, or individual citizens
that they will cast their votes and use their
elective franchise, according 10 the behestS and
requirements of their Order, or the officers
thereof, or of certain degree or circle thereof,
under the rules of their Crder-that by their
oaths and obligations they are bound to vote,
under the penalty of perjury, or being consider
ed as periured, and as being unworthy to be-
employed, countenanced or supported in any
| al A
the confidence of their frlowcitIzenS.
Under these penalties they are bound 10 vote
for the persons designated by the Order, with
! ont regard to their own individual choice OF
nreleie ence of candidates. That members OF this
society or Order, having taken these oaths or
obligations are informed by the order, or the
officers thereof, that a refusal to vote for the
candidates of the Order will subject them to the
charge of perjury, and render themselves in!a-
nous and unworthy the confidence of all good
men. And thus they are directly influenced IN
giving their vote or ballot or are deferred from
giving the same, and are disturbed and him
derpd in the free exercise of the rights of Sui-
frage.
And it further appears that members have
been threatened that if they did not vote accor-
ding to the acquisitions ofthe Order, that they
should be deemed as periured under these oaths
and obligations, and should be subject TO DIS
grace and iniamy, and as false and peTnred, b.
dispeIed with dishonor That such soeietie:
or orders, after the last general elrctlon, called
their members 10 account to them, or their OFF,
GERS, as 10 the manner in which they discharged
their elective franchise, and required them tC
declare upon oath for whom they cast then
votes at the said election.
The Grand jury have been much embarrass
ed in their investigation, by the refusal of wit
nesses TO answer questions put TO them as tf
their proceedings in secret session, on the gronnt
that disclosure of these facts would rende
them Infamous and in other cases the witness
es claimed protection, on the ground that an
swers 10 the questions would crimnae them
selves Having thus been deprived Of the fol
disclosures Of facts, no individual cases have
been presented bv Us, and the jury therefore hr;
leave 10 make this general presentmen agans
such combinations, that are, in their opinion,
direct violation OF the statute IN relation
TO elections, as the law was designed 70 pro
tect and guard every elector in a free ant
voluntary choice in casting his ballot, and 10 al
low every citizen, otherwise worthy, to be
proper subject of such suffrage. We believ
t from the testimony before us that such proceed
ings strike at the foundation of individual librr
. ty of action, and tend directly TO destroy th
great and cardinal principles OF our institutions