The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-04

persons designated by the Order without regard to
their individual choice preference OF candidates
That me mbers OF this society or Order having taken
these oaths and obligations informed by the Order
or the officers thereof that refusal to vote for the
perjury and render themselves infamous and unworthy
the confidence OF all good men. And thus they d.
recy Influenced in giving their vote or ballot are
deferred from giving the same and are disturbed and
hincered in the free exercise of the rights Of suffrage
And it further appears that members have been
threatened that they did not vote according the
quiations Of Oroer that they should deemed
pejured under these oaths and obligations should
ursS be With dshonor That such societies or
Orceys after the last general election called their
bers to account to them or their officers, TO the
which they discharged their elective franchise
and required them TO deare upon oath for whom they
cast their votes At the said election.
investigation by the refusal Of witnesses to answer
questions put TO them TO their proceedings in secret
session, the ground that disclosure OF these facts
would lender them infamous; and in other cases. the
Witnesses claimed protection on the ground that
swers to the questions would crmlnats themselves.
Bavipg titus been deprived Of the full disclosure Of facts
individual have been presented by u.s. and the
jury therefore beg leave to make this general present
mept against such combinations, that are in their OPT
pion direct violation OF the statute in relation to eec
ons the law designed to protect and guard
elector in free and voluntary choice in casting his bal
proper subject OF such suffrage We believe from the
testimony before that such proceeding strike at the
iscty to destroy the great and csTdnai principles Of
our Institutions founded by forefahers that
institutions only continue to exist by the free and
uncontrolled action OF the citizen and that all such
traDts and obligations destructive to elective
and free government.
All of which has been duly adopted and ia most re-
spectfuly submitted. VIM G. BLOSS, Foreman.
The following s list of the Grand Jury. Those who
signed the Know Nothing minority report in itacs-
William @. Bloss, Foreman.
CbauDcey Allen, Lewis Billings,
Caleb Coreer, Elias Garrison,
Geo W. Goodman, Robert J. Fellows,
WiUiom I. Hdnford, David Mckay,
Etenszer /. Gage, Thomas d. Walker
Mason Cole, Roswell Lockwood
Jared Coleman, Jacob Garrison,
Ddpid Stagkey, Lyman johnson,
Philip NJ. Simmons, Butler Bardwel.
JobnYGrsham,
THE MINORITY REPORT.
To THE HONORABLE COURT OF UYER AND TERMINER:-
We the members OF this Grand Jury, beg leave to
port, that have diligently and laborously investi-
gated for days into the dongs and sayings Of secret
political examinations and their bearings upon The eec
tive franchise and also, we have deliberately and
dioy inquired any person or PERSONS party or parties
had sted suppressed free speech and liberal discus
sion and have not been able to substanate the
violation OF the election laws the elective fran
cbise upon any person party. This we humbly beg
leave to submit as O minority report
DAVID srARKEY,
JARED COLEMAN,
w. l. HANFORD,
MASON COLE,
PHILIP NJ SIMMONS.