Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-12-04
A Fremont Voter Driven from
Virginia..
lFreu The Ner- Harez Palladium, Nor. 13.l
LETTER FROM CAPT. .STaNNARD.

somewhat incorrect reports are In clrcula-
ton respecting what occurred at Norfolk,
Va- in consequence of my vote IN that
city at the late Presidential election, de
sire TO makea correct statement Of the facts
l formerly resided at Fairhaven, where
my family are now, aud ever have been;
but having myself been engaged for sever
al years past in the commission business
in Norfolk, and having paid taxes there
and to the best of my abilities discharged
nv duties as a citizen OF that place, | have
considered It nv residence, and in the
spring of 1855 offered 10 vote at their
election, when, upon a full statement Of
my case to the proper authority, and with
their knowledge that my family were here,
it was decided that | was entitled to vote
there, and | did SO.
1 have never in any way meddled with
the subject of STRENGTHENING no inclina-
ton, nor, as | believed, any right to do so
consequently there has been no iIl-fael-
ing toward me on that account.
Before the election, many political meet
ings were held in Norfolk, but | did not
attend any Of them. nor did | converse
with any one on the subject, except on one
occasion, in answer to an inquiry made by
a friend, and then for moment only
But although neither an abolitionist nor a
politician, I examined the subject as a
question of duty, for me as well as for eve
~ citizen of the United States, and made
up my mind that the election of Fremont
would be best for all sections eff the coun-
try, and determined to vote for him-not
dreaming that, under our Republican Gov
ernment and in the Democrftic State of
Virginia, any one would question my right
to do so.
On the day of election / heard one gen
tleman ask another at the post Office who
he was going TO vote for, and he replied,
"tor John G. Fremont" and the other said
he should do so too. They NAV not have
been in earnest but then supposed that
they were, and | had no reason to doubt
that Others would vote the same way. In
the afternoon | wrote vote for Fremont
and DAYTON, and went to the place of
voting. My right to vote was again ex-
amined, and on statement of my case it
was admitted, and | then, as their rules
require, wrote my name on the back of nv
vote, and handed ii to the Inspector, who,
as is customary, read aloud, first my name,
and then the names Of my candidates. As
soon as he declared that l had voted for
Fremont, large number of voices from
the crowd shouted, "Hang himw "Hang
him" and the Inspector handed me my
vote and said, "There is no such ticket
voted here-we cannot receive this |
replied, every WE'LL" and took my vote
again. Some threats, which in the confu-
sion that took place did not distinctly
were made by those standing
near me, and the presiding officer exclaim-
ed, "Don't touch this man." and then said
to two persons, who were, I presume, po-
licemen, "Take him away from the polls"
The officers seized hold of me and hur-
ried me through the crowd, and then left
me, and | proceeded through violent
storm Of wind and rain to my boarding
house, and thence to my store. l after
ward returned to the house, and when at
the supper-table heard persons speak of
-he vote which had been offered at the
polls for Fremont-those who spoke of it
lot knowing by whom the vote was offer
I'd, and therefore speaking freely of it in
my presence. From what saw and heard
at the polls, and what was said at the Ia
Die, | was apprehensive that I had misun-
1erstood my rights as an American citizen,
and that had, though unconsciously, so
offended public sentiment by my vote as
TO be in danger of popular violence, and l
therefore went from the table to my room
md locked the door.
Soon after l heard some one inquire for
ne, and the landlady sent servant to my
loor to say that a gentleman wished to see
ne. On learning that he was alone l in
'ited him into my room, and he said that
ne came by request Of another person
whom he named) to ask me if l had of
cred to vote for Fremont. l replied,
YES" He then inquired, "What was
1our motiveg and l told him that | con-
'cientiously believed it my duty to do so.
He then said, IL am requested to advise
you not appear in the street tonight" and
replied that | should not go out of the
house. He retired, but soon afer returned
md said, "Mr. F. wishes to see YOU at the
ioor.' | told him that l should not leave
ny room that night, but if Mr.. F. wished
% see me he might come to my room.-
lie then left Inc and another person came
% my door, and informed me that Mr.. F.
vas not at the front door, but that several
men (naming them) were there, and l
Knew those men to be some of the most
desperate characters in Norfolk.
This was in the evening, and bv the city
amps | could see from my window a col
ection of persons in the street, whose num-
'ers increased till late in the night. and
heard their threats of violence to my per-
on and destruction to my property. To-
ward morning fire occurred, and an engine
'assed near by, which drew after it por-
ion Of those around the house, and at
racted for time the attention of the
thers, and took the opportunity to leave
he house, unobserved, and went to place
f eoncealment. While in my hiding
lace, some friends took pains to ascertain
hether it was prudent for me to appear
gain in public, and they found such
late of excitement and evaporation exist
lg in consequence of my vote that my life
as in danger if l was discovered. They
lso found that the customary routes of
-avel to the North were closely watched,
Though many believed that had already
1T the city.