Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-05

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IS Prom the New Haven Palladium.
Attempt to vote for Fremont in vir
giuia.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. srAxxARp.
MEssRs EprroRs:--As various and
somewhat incorrect reports are in cir
culation respecting what occurred a
Norfolk. Virginia. in consequence oI
my vote in that city. at the late Pres,
idential election, l desire TO make q
correct statement Of the faas.
I formerly resided in Fair Haven,
where my family are now. and ever
have been, but having myself been
engaged for several years past in the
commission business in Norfolk, and
having paid taxes there. and to the
best Of my abilities discharged my du
ties ms a citizen OF that place, / have
considered Il my residencc-and in
the spring Of 1856 offered to vote
at their election, when upon full
statement Of my case 10 the proper
authority, and with their knowledge
that my family were here, il was dc.
cided that I was entitled to vote there
and / did so.
Ihave never in any way meddled
with the subject cf slavery--having
no inclination, or, as I believed, any
right to do so-consequcntly there
has been no i'll feeling towards me on
that account.
Before the election many political
meeting were held in Norfolk, but !
did not attend any Of them, nor did
l converse with any one on the sub
ject, except on one occasion in answer
to IN inquiry made by friend. and
then for moment only. But. al.
though neither an abolitionist nor a
politician. examined the subject as
question Of duty for me, as well az
for every citizen Of the United States,
and made up my mind that the cleo.
tion Of Fremont would be best for all
sections Of the country, and deter
mined to vote for him--not dreaming
that under our republican government
and in the Democratic State Of Virgin
ia, any one would question my righ,
TO do SO. On the day of election
heard one gentleman ask another al
the Post Office whom he should vote
for. and he replied. "For John @. Ere.
mont" and the other said he should
do SO too. They may not have been
in earnest, but then supposed that
they were, and l had no reason to
doubt that others would vote the
same way; and in the afternoon
wrote vote for Fremont and Dayton
and went to the place Of voting. Ny
right to vote was again examined, and
on statement Of my case, il was ad-
miIted, and / then, as their rules re-
quire. wrote my name on the back ol
my vote and handed it to the Inspec-
tor. who, as is customary. read aloud
first my name and then the names ol
my candidates. As soon as declared
that ! voted for John @. Fremont a
large number Of voices from the crowd
shouted: ft .
Hang him. chang him." and the
Inspector handed me my vote, and
said, There is no such ticket voted
here-we cannot receive this" re.
piled. Every well," and took my vote
again. Some threats. which in the
confusion which took place l did not
distinctly understand. were made by
those standing near me. and the pre-
siding officer exclaimed. "Don't touch
this man." and then said to two per-
sons who were, presume. policemen.
Take him away from the polls. -
The officers seized hold Of me and
hurried me through the crowd, and
then left me, and / proceeded through
violent storm Of wind and rain to my
boarding house, and from thence TO
my store. afterwards returned to the
house, and when at the supper table
l heard persons speak Of the vote
which had been offered at the polls
for Fremont--those who spoke Of it
not knowing by whom the vote was
offered, and therefore speaking freely
Of It in my presence. From what /
saw and heard at the polls. and what
was said at the table. I was apprehen-
sive that / had misunderstood my
rights ms an American citizen, and
had, though unconsciously, so Often
ded public sentiment by my vote as to
be 10 danger Of popular violence, and
| therefore went from the table to my
room. and locked the door. Soon af.
ter this / heard some one inquire for
me and the landlady sent a servant 10
my door to say that gentleman
wished to see me. On learning that
he was alone, / invited him to my
room. and he said that he came BY re-
quest Of another person whom he
named. TO ask me il l had offered to
vote for Fremont. replied, Yes"
He then inquired, "what was your
motive?" And told him that I
conscientiously believed IL my duty to
do so. He then said, II am reQues.
ed to advise you not TO appear in the
street to.night;" and replied that l
should not 20 out Of tho house. He
retired. but soon affcr ~et,,rncd ,od
said. "Mr. +. wishes to see you at the
door," l told him that I should not
leave my room that nigh. but that IL
Mr.. +. wished 10 see me he might
come to my room. He then left me,
and another person came TO my dopr,
and informed me that Mr.. + was no,
at the front door. but that several men
whom he named were there and !
knew those men 10 be some OF the most
desperate charactersin Norfolk. This
ID. Al. .v.s... IL L. Al.