The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-12-22

year rolled round, and the good beeples were
again assembled at the election precinct, Il
mad not been forgotten, however, that at the
last election some one had voted the sVip
Dlcket !; and it was now the subject Of open
remark and wonder. 4f 4s'5o,,.
While they were having an outdoor discus
sion of the subject, Sam Starret. a late imu1i-
grant from the eastern shore Of MARYLAND, came
along and demanded the cause Of the commo-
ton. 'aSl79'2
"Vell, We vas wondering who Il yas wat
voted de Wig didket at de last election, said an
ut was me-" Sam said, and ait want no
body else :"
II dinks not" said the old Dutchman, and
the balance shook their heads incredulousiy.
II tell you it was though" said Sam, pull
ing out Wing ticket, " and may be chawed
up III aint going to do it again. / am going
to vote that, (holding out the ticket,) and vote
it open, too. I'll let you know that Pm an
Independent American Citizen, and I'll vote
Just as ! please, and you can't help it by
So in he went to deposit his ballot. There
sat the three old Dutch Judges of election,
calm as summer morning ;S,and true to his
word, Sam handed over his ticket, open. One
Of the old judges took it, and scanning it a
few seconds, handed it back toward the indie.
pendent voter, and said f.. .q0
"Yaw, dat ish Wig dicket."
swell put it in the box" said Sam.
Vat you say?" said the old Dutchman,
his eyes big with surprise; "put him in de
box 2"
" Yes.sir.ee, put it in the box am goin
to vote it
"Oh no ! nix goot nix goot dat ish Wig
dicket; said the old Dutchman, shaking his
head.
swell, reckon know it's a Wing ticket, !"
said Sam, and ! want you to put it in the
box, darnation quick, too"
mo, no dat ish not goot dat ish Wig
dicket we not take 'em any more" said the
old Judge, turning to receive "goot dickets !"
from some Of his German friends II. f3.
sam went out and cursed till all was blue
said he had come thar to vote, and he'd be
tambergasted if he want goin' to vote in spite
OF oil the Dutch in the township. So, after
cooling off little, he again went in and ten
dered his ticket, very neatly rolled up. The
old judge took it again, and notwithstanding
Sans demurring, unrolled it and looked It
over and then turning to Sam in a manner
and tone not to be misunderstood, said:
"I tells you dat ish Wig dicket dat it ish
nix goot; and dat we not take 'em any more! /"
Sam again retired, cursing all Democrats
generally, and the Dutch particularly, and as
signing them the hottest corners of the brinl-
stone region and was going on to curse every
body that didn't curse them, when he was in
terrupted by an old Dutchman in the crowd,
with '..... /. ..j.....+. ..,
"Sam Starrett, I tells you vat it isb, if you
will vote der Dimergrat dicket, aud leef der
COUNTY, we gifts you SO much monish as dakes
you we're you cum'd vrom." pan .,5. A.
Sam scratched his head, studied awhile, and
then said that he had come thar to vote, and
want goin' away without votin' he guessed he'd
do it. f.6s -
Again Sam made his appearance before the
judges, and rendered his vote. The same old
judge took it, and looking it over quietly
turned to Sam and said:
Yaw, dat ish Dimegratic dicket I" and
dropped it into the box. = -'" s'l'
1t is only further necessary to say that Sam
went back to the eastern shore at the expense
of the township; and that, at that election, and
ever since, that German township has been
o. K. l& o.... L.ggg
That is what I call preserving the purity
of elections" M