The Winchester weekly appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-10-24
The Great Fraud.

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TUESDAY last will long be remem
bcrcd as the day ofthe great fraud
Driven to despair by the fact that an
immense majority was known to exist
in this State and city, against the Dem
ocratic party, its leaders devised a 81
gantic system offraud, which extend
ed throughout the whole Commons
wealth. Gangs of scoundrels were or.
ganized in this city to vote in every
prccinct, and more than ten thousand
illegal votes were polled in this way
alone. Others, after having voted in
the country, came to the city for the
same purpose. Some six or eight thou
sand naturalization papers were issu-
ed to men who had no legal right to
tbcm;a and the clerks Of the Courts are
again hard at work, manufacturing
thousands more Of these patent Amer
lean citizens for the Presidential cleo
ton. Watchers were refused admit
lance, in defence of the law, in many
precincts, that the Locotoco officers
might perpetrate fraud without the
chances of detection, and every posi-
BILE stratagem was rcsorted to to defeat
the lie inmate expression ofthe will OF
the people.
Men who claim to be respectable
citizens, were the chief consplrators
in this attrocious scheme Of vlllalny,
and they hired an army OF baIlot-box
suffers and adopts in crime to DO the
deeds which they originated. The I'M
scrupulous Mayor Of this city had APP
pointed some ofthc most notorious ruiz
fans of Moyamensing on his police,
who co-operated in the execution OF
this outrage. In some Of the wards
they covered the extra assessment lists
with false names, by vouching for per-
sons who knew they were no entitled
to vote. They interfered in every way
with the assessment of the legal voters
andeven attempted to overawe the cit
liens from the free exercise of the
dearest rights Of American freemen.
With the agents of the law against
them, and surrounded by an over
whelming fraud, it is q matter of sur
prise that SO many votes were polied
against the conspirators.
All this was done by the party which
processes such a tender regard for the
constitution--such a jealous apprehcn-
sion of the duration of our institutions!
What consummate hypocrisy, for such
party to talk about the Constitution
and the Union, when they engage in
acts like these, which say the very
foundations of the government.
If the people are to be deprived Of
the privilege Of expressing their will
through the ballot-box, then the gov,
eminent will fall into the hands Of a
political oligarchy, who will rule the
country by frauds in the great cities
which determine the votes in the lead
ing States. Unless new guards are
thrown around the ballot box, it viii
altogether cease to be an exponent o
public opinion.
1t is easy to see that our institution:
cannot long stand such things. Blu
will the people quietly submit to b
thus swindled out of their most pre-
cious rights? Will an outraged com
munity calmly submit to be thus cheat
ed by clique OF nomlnally decen
men, but who are really lost to all sen
timents of honor, to all consideration
rectitude of conduct!
Arouse, then, Americans! Bring tn
scoundrels to condign punishment
Citizens, assemble in town meetings
and adopt measures toprevcnt the rep
etition of fraud, by furnishing its pres
ent perpetrators, and let the countr
see you are determined to defend tn
purity of the ballot-box at every haz
ard"
Wonder if Ovid, the poet, had fash
ionable church-goers in his eye whe,
he delivered the following very signifi
cant sentiments, viz: