The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-01-29
NO. 4s4.
From the Knickerbocker for December
Preserving the Purity Of Election.


Preserving the Purity Of Election.
'Iu tho northwest portion of the state Of
Ohio, in the County of Auglazia, there is a
township, the citizens Of which are principally
German, and notwithstanding their sweet
accent they are all democrats Of the regular
untcrrifcd stripe. From the time of the
erection of the county up to the year eighteen
hundred and fiftytwo, thcrc had never been
whig vote cast in the township spoken Of,
although there were over six hundred voters
but at the fall election Of that year, upon
counting the ballots, it appeared that there
was one whig amongst them. There was the
proof regular straight-ow whig ticket, and
they dare not pass it by. This caused great
commotion; their cscutchcon was dimmed,
tccre was aohig amongst them; that blot
must C wiped out, and with their Courage
Dutch Of coursc) unto fever heat in the shade
they went to work slyly to find the man who
had dared to vote the V;g Dickef;;' but their
Iabors were unsuccessful. In the meantime an
other year came round, and the good 'becples'
were again assembled at the election precinct.
1t had not been forgotten, however, THAT at
the last election some ono had voted the 'Vig
Dicket;' and it was now the subject Of open
remark and wonder.
''While they were. having an outdoor dis
cussion of the subjects. Sam Starrctt, a late
immigrant from the eastern shore of Maryland
came along, and demanded the cause Of tho
commotion.
"Vell, We vas wondering who vas voted
de Wig ticket at dc last election" said an
old Dutchmal: ~ 80
at was me-" Sam said, "and it want no.
body clse."
81 dinks not" said the old Dutchman, and
the rcst shook their heads incredulously.
81 tel. YOU itwast though" said Sam, pull
ling out Wing ticket. Sand may be chaw-
ed up, if amt going to do it again. am
going to vote that, (holding out the ticket)
and vote it open too. I'll let you kpow Fm
an Independent Americdh citizen, aid Ell vote
just as please, and you can't help it, by
Jcmima"
$50 in he went to deposit his ballot
There sat the three cid Dutch judges of elec-
ton, ''calm as a summer morning" and true
to his word, Sam handed over his ticket, open.
One of the old Judges took it, and scanning
it few seconds, handed it back towards the
Independent voter, and said:
".Yaw dat ish Wig dicket.'
"WM imt,it in the boz" sajd Sam.
''Vat YOU say!" said the old Dutchman,
his eyes big with surprise; "put him in do
box I"
"Yes sir ee, put it in the box lam going
to vote it." q
'sOh no! nix goot! dat is Wig dicket said
the old Dutchman, shaking his head.
"Wclp reckon know its a whig ticket"
said Sam, and want you to put it in the
box, darnation quick too"
"No, no! dat ish no goot; dat is a Wig
dcket; we not take en- any more, said the
old Judge, turning to rcceivo good dickets'
from some of his German friends.
"Sam went out and cursed till all was blue
said he had come thar to VOTE and he'd be
fambcrgasted if he want goin' to vote in
spite of all the Dntch in the township. So
after cooling off little, he again went in,
and rendered his ticket, very neatly rolled
up. The old Judge took it again, and not
withstanding Sans demurring, unrolled il
and looked it over; then turning to Sam, in
a manner and tone not to be misunderstood,
said
"'I tell you dat ish a Vig dicket, dat II ISL
nir goot, and dat zoe not take en- any moreP
"Sam again RETIRED cursing all democrats
generally, AID the Dutch particularly, and
assigning them the hottest corners Of the brim-
stone region; and was going on to curse
everybody that didn't curse them, when he
was interrupted by an old Dutchman in the
crowd, with:
"Sam Starrett tells you vat it is, if you
will vote der Dimergrat dicket, and leef der
county, we gifts you so much moLish as dakcs
you we're you cum rrom."
"Sam scratched his head, studied while,
and then said that as he had come thar to
vote, and want goin' away without votin,' he
guessed he'd do it.
"Again Sam made his appearance before
the Judges, and rendered his vote. The same
old jadge took it, and looking it over quietly,
turned to Sam and said:
"'Yaw, dat ish goot; dat ish a Dmcrgrat-
ic dickctr and dropped it in the box.
at is only further necessary to say that
Sam went back to the eastern shore attheef7
pcnsc of tho township and that. at that
election, and ever since, that German town
ship has been O. X.
''That is what | call preserving the purity
Of elections"