True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-01-23
StEisfsllang
How to Preserve the Purity Of Elso-
tions.

In the northwestern portion Of the
State Of Ohio, in the county of AugIaize,
there is township, the citizens Of which
are principally German, and notwithstan-
ding their "sweet accent" they are all
Democrats Of lhe regular 'sunterri6ed"
stripe. Flom the time Of the erection Of
she county up 10 the year 1852, there
had never been a Wing vote cast in the
township spoken Of, although there were
oyel six hundred voters but at the fall
election Of that year, upon counting the
ballots, it appeared tina. there was one
Wing amongst them; that blot must be
wiped out, and with their courage Dutch
Ufcourse) up 10 fever heat in the shade,
they went 10 work slyly 10 find the man
who had dared to vote the Zig dicket;"
but their labors were unsuccessful. In
The meantime another year rolled round,
and The good "beeples" were again as
sembled at the election precinct. 1t had
not been forgotten, however, that at the
last election some one had voted the Zig
dicket;' and ii was now the subject of
open remark aud wonder.
While they were having an outdoor
discussion on the subject, Sam Starretl,
a late immigrant from the eastern shore
Of Maryland, came along, and demanded
the cause of the commoiion.
we'll, We vas wondering who il vas vo-
ted de Wig dicket at de last election, said
an old Dutchman.
IL was me- said Sam, 'and it WASH Z
no body elae!'
Il dinks not, said the old Dutchman,
and the balance shook their heads incre-
dulously.
Il tell you it was, though said Sam,
pulling out a Wing ticket, 'and may be
chawed up if amt going to do it again.
1 am going to vote that, (holding out the
ticket,) and vote it open, TOO. III let
you know that I'm an independent finer
ican citizen, and Ill vote just as please,
and you cant help it, by Jemima!'
SO in he went to deposit his ballot
There sat the three old Dutch judges Of
election, "calm as summer morning -
and true to his word, Sam handed over
his ticket open. One of the Judges took
it, and scanning it few seconds, handed
it back toward the independent voter, and
said:
'Yaw, dat ish Wig ticket
We'll, put ii in The box said Sam.
Vat you say!' said the old Dutch
man, his eyes big with susprise put
him In de box!'
yes stree, put it in the box! | am
goin' TO vote it,
oh, no! nix goot. nix goot! dat ish a
Wig dicket,' said the old Dutchman, sha-
king his head.
well, reckon l know its Whig
ticket, said Sam, 'and | want YOU TO put
il in the box, darnatioa quick, too
mo, no! dat ish not goot; dat ish a
Wig dicke; we not take 'em any more,
said the old Judge turning 10 receive good
tickets from some Of his German friends.
Sam went out and culsed ill all was
blue, said he had come thar to vote, and
he'd be fambergasled if he want goin'
to vote in spite of all the Dutch in the
township. So after cooling off little,
he again went in, and rendered his ticket
very neatly rolled up. Tie old judge took
il again, and Notwithstanding Sans de-
murring, unrollSl it, and looked it over;
then turning to Sam in manner and tone
not 10 be misunderstood, said:
Il tell you DAT ish Wig ticket dat it
ish nix goot; and dal we do, not take 'em
any more
Sam again e ired, cursing all Demo-
Gratis generally, and the Dutch particular
ly, and assigning them the hottest corners
Of The Birthstone region, and was going
on to curse every body that didn't curse
them, whe j. he was interrupted by an old
Dnichman in the crowd, with
Sam Slarrett, | tells you val it ish; il
you will vote der Dimergrat di cket, and
leef der county, we gifs you SO much
monish as dakes you we're you cum from.
Sam scratched his head, studied awhile
and then said that as he had come
thar 10 vote, and want goin' away
without voiin', he guessed he'd do 1t,
Again Sam made his appearance befor,
the Judges aud rendered his vote. Th
same old Judge took il. and looking owe
il quietly, turned to Sam and said;
Yaw, dat ish goot; dat ish Dinner
cratic dicketr and dropped it into tn
box.
is only further necessary to say th;
sam went back to the eastern shore, ;
expense Of the township; and that, ;
4 that election, and ever since, thai Germa
township has beeu0. X.
That's what we call preserving u
purity OF elections