The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-11-27
From the New Haven P.llsd um. Nor. 49,
A Fremont Voter Driven from Vn-
ginia.

MESRs EpIToRs AS various and some
what incorrect reports are in circulation re-
spccting what occurred at Norfolk, Nirs inia,
in consequence Of my vote in tina. city at the
late Presidential election, l desire TO make a
correct statement of the facts.
l f,rmerly resided at Fairhaven. where
my family are now, and ever have been :;
but having myself been engaged for several
years past in the commission business at
Norfolk. and having paid taxes there, and to
the best of my abili.ies discharged my duties
there a citizen Of that place, | have con-
sidered It my residence. and in the Sprin:, oil
1855 offered 10 vote At their election, WI hen,
upon full statement of nav case to the pro-
per authority, and with their knowled re tina,
NY family were here. it was decided that /
was entitled to vote there. and did SO.
/ have never in any way medlled with the
subject of >lavery-having no inclination
nor, believed. any right 10 do so--con-
sequendy there has been no ill-fceling to-
ward me on that account
Before the election, many poll ical meetings
were held in Norfolk. but l did net attend
any of them nor did l converse with any
one on the subject, except on one occasion, IN
answer 10 an inquiry made BY friend. and
then for moment only. Ba. Though nci
Their An abolitionist nor politician, exam
med the subject as a question of duty. tur
me we'll as for every citizen Of the United
States, and made up my mind that the cleo
ton of Fremont would be best for all sec
tons of the country. and determined 10 vote
for him-not dreaming thai, ua Ter our Re
publican Government, and IN The Democ raj fe1
State of Virginia, any one woul Question my
right 10 do so.
On tie day OF -electior. hasrl one gentle
man ask another at The Posi- Office who he
should vote for. and he replied, !" For John
c. Fremont" and the other said he should
do so too. They may not haze been in ear
nest. but then supposed that they were.
and | had no rcason.te doubt that others
would rYke the same swTy; in the afternoon
| wrote vote for Fremont and Dayton, and
went 10 the place of vo,ine Ny right to-
vote was again examined. AMI on a statement
OF my it admitted. and then, as
their rules require, wrote my name Oh the
back of my vote, and handed it to the In
spector, who. as is customary, read aloud
and first my name. and then the names of
my candidates. AS soon he declared that
| voted for Fremont, large number of voices
from the crowd shouted. s. Hang him. hang
him." and the Inspector handed my vote,
and said, There Is no such ticket voted
here-we cannot receive this" l replied.
s.-N-"---s1ff' 'rr--H--a---.Ass- xa.a again
Some threats which in the confusion that
took place did not distinctly understand.
were made by those standing near me, and
the presiding officer exclaimed, !" Don't touch
this man." and then said to two persons who
were, l presume. policemen. :. Take him
away from the pols.''
The officers seized hold of me and hurried
me through the crowd, and then left me- and
| proceeded through aviolent storm Of wind
and rain to my boarding house, and thence
to my store. | aferward returned to the
house. and when at the supper-table l heard
persons speak of the vote which had been !
offered at the polls for Fremont--those who
spoke of it not knowing by whom the vote
was offered. and therefore speaking freely of
it in my presence From what saw and
heard at the polls, and what was said at the /
table. was. apprehensive that had misun- /
dersood my rights an American citizen,
and that l had, though unconscionsly, so
offended public sentin,eat my tsie As TO /
be in danger of popular violence. and there {
fore went from the table 10 my room, and T
locked the door.
Soon att r., l beard some one inquire for
ne. and the -landladv sent a servant to my
door to say tina, gentleman wished to
me On learning that he was alone. admit .
ted him into my room. and he said that he
came by request of another person (whom (
he named to ask me if | had offered to vote /
for Fremont. / replied. Yes He then +
inquired, what was your motive 90 And
| told him that l conscientiously believed it +
my duty TODD so. He then said. Il am re- .
quessed to. advise you MOTTO appear in the .
street. tonight and l replied that should
not go out of the house. He retired, but
soon after returned. and said. . Mr.. Y. wishes
TO see you at the door" | told him that
should not leave my room that night, but il
Mr. +. wished to me, he might come to
my room He then left me. and another per- :
came to my door, and informed me that
Mr. F. was not at the front door. but that
several men whom he named were there. and I
| knew those men to be Of the most !
desperate characters in Norfolk.
This was in the evening. and by the city +
lamps | could see from my window q colec
ton of persons in the street, whose numbers
increased till late in the night, and heard
their threats of violence to my person. and
destruction TO nv properly Toward morn
in, IRE occurred. and an engine passed near
by, which drew after 1t portion of those
around the house. and attracted for time
the attention OF Others and | took the oppor-
tuni,y to leave the hoa<e -upobserved AID 1
went to a place of coneealmrak: Whife IN
my hiding p!ace, some friends took pains to I
ascertain whether it was prudent for me 10
appear again in public, and they found such
a stare of excitement and evaporation exist
ing in consequence of my vote. tina, my life
would Be in danger if | was discovered 4
They also found that the customary routes Of /
travel 10 the North were closely watched,
although many believed that had already
LETT the city,
Early in the morning of the second day
after my unfortunate vote. | escaped from the
city By an unusual route. and IN disguise, 4
and male my way to my family anil hope
now thai when tie eYci.emant has naxsed.