The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-13
CHICAGO CITY ELECTION.
CHICAGO, March 6, 1855.
TTJ,1a.. al.

OhiNAoOJ -nUCH W lOOOs
To the Editor Of the National Era:
| AS the election which was held in this city
yesterday is regarded as of considerable i'm.
portance beyond our limits, wish to state the
facts and conclusions pertaining to it, to the
public, through the National Era
The friends of Mr.. Douglas declared that the
political issue should be carried into the char
ter election, on this particular occasion, con.
trary to the usual practice, and the local inter
ests. They nominated one Thomas Dyer, for
merly Connecticut clock peddler, as a Demo
crat; but to make the task of eectipg the more
easy, with resolutions, declaration of principles
| publicly keeping the Nebraska issue in the
background. He was held up only as a Dem
ocrat In opposition to him was called out by
the voice of the people, without regard to par
ty, not as Republican or Democrat, F. C.
Sherman, a Democrat of the old school, always
up to the present crisis, acting with Douglas
The foreign vote of this city is very large,
probably majority, and two-thirds of this il
against Nebraska. Know Nothingism is re-
ported to be strong, for heretofore, by an art
full alliance or attachment to other influences,
it has seemed to have carried the day. There
is really enough of Know Nothingsm to con-
! soldate the foreign vote.
Immediately on Mr.. Sherman being called
out, simultaneously with the representative of
the Order from this city in Philadelphia NOV
ing the Douglas plank of the American plat
form, his newspaper here, and the Nebraska
squad in the Councils, brought out the name
of Sherman, as a Know Nothing candidate,
"nominated as an American" for the double
purpose Of making capital out of Nebraska, by
killing him with the foreigners, of Growing over
the victory if he should happen to be elect
ed by Anti-Nebraska votes. That is now the
only way in which this Order can shave a
name to ive,' by getting in position to shout
or claim triumph, whichever side turns up.
This has been the practice, as witness the
Growing over the election of Banks, the mouth
piece here being purchased to denounce him
as renegade, or hail him as a victor, which.
ever way the cat should jump.
Yesterday, Dyer was elected-one third of
| the Know Nothings voting for him, and the
other two thirds silently voting or staying away,
and rendering no efficient aid at the polls, as
| they had been wont to do, and had been ex.
pected to do. In consequence Of the lack of
| watchfulness and efficiency at the polls, hun
| dreds of illegal votes were cast. Anti-Nebraska
| foreigners rallied to man, to defeat the So
| called Know Nothing candidate ,chile Douglas
| Nno,o Nothings, noU controlling the Chicago
| Councils, voted for Dyer among the number,
| it is reported beyond dispute, were the editors
| of the Native American paper. 80 the aflilia-
ton proposed at Philadelphia is working the
end.
While really there is no occasion for regret
at the demonstration against Nebraska, we have
reason to rejoice that Know Nothingism is used
up. 1t has over.acted itself, played too openly
for Slavery, and has at length opened the eyes
of the blinded and honest multitude that have
followed its signs.
You may bet the world, that Chicago is as
true to Freedom as ever, and if Know Nothing
ism vaunts itself again, it will be the Douglas
platform, not with the intelligent foreign vote,
as now, but against it.
Mr.. Sherman received over four thousand
votes, and an increase of one thousand or fifteen
hundred over any successful ti-Nebraska
candidate. Fifteen hundred illegal votes were
cast for Dyer, as can be shown by facts, and
the average of population with the wards where
the polls were properly protected. a contest
of the election is proposed.
On the Nebraska ticket for alderman was one
of the two oldest Abolition voters of the city,
of 1910 date, yet true, but standing in this DO
sition as an anti-Know Nothing. The other of
the two oldest voters is said to have been sup
porter of the Dyer ticket. This diversion was
part of the game of triumph, which will be
made use of to carry grist to the Douglas mill.
So you see, things were pretty we'll mixed"
INsIDER.