Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-04
NUMBER 64.\
THE FRAUDULENT ELECTION Il EALl.-


THE FRAUDULENT ELECTION Is EALl.-
MORE.
At the request Of distinguished and abl' O'-o
crat of Baltimore, we republish from the I ioa :.
communication that presents, the case fully in i. Z
eral character. /; states acts and I. no. a:c.ts.S
10 the charge Of partizsns!p:
BALTIMORE, Nov. IS Isl.
| To TIE Members Of hU Hou,s If P,orcssaaIs.c
slecs o. N" Ssh Congress-
Gentlemen: As Il native born cz-n ~ 'he 500
of Maryland am deeply PINNED en-. mo. tih-r NJ u
political and moral condition of things -x,s'ing ~.
the city Of Baltimore and take the libe.y oi d.
dressing you on the subject.
Without making any specjic eccusa'inns car
safely that all col leu"s IN th. puIi'y ant u'.-
gritty of tie ballot box in this city has hen .n-y
lost. and that, in the opinion of mos, OF our "z
no longer live under Repuhlcan form "i = ~.
ernmenf. ! have concluded 10 invite tn- Siirr f"H
of memter9 ofC"ngress 10 the su'j-ct ut'h ne h"'
that an investigation may en-ue from -onrr- - -
much dignity, eninence ard impart,ality WHICH ~ u
forever pat TO rest all questions OF fact cogGecG
with this subject.
Mes-rs. Davis and Harris. who claim to rs7rs-'r'
this city in Congress, il i. alleged have her rh,-
at election characterized throueho by ttrhr " 4
violence. II is fortunate circum.tsnc- th.' III
grave question will present ir-et 10 p w-r 'r-'.
from all local and political pre- udice and III f's in
pie circumstance We can discover the hand of Pow.
try. These iwo individuals do not belong I" -,h'r
of the great parties which will divide the n-It u IT."
0f Representatives. and. whether they are "i- "c
not it will b- matter Of no political or par IN II"
portance 10 either. The question being 'fu, rr-' ii
from these difficulties will aIdress itself 10 every sn,
citizen a. one traught with he deepest iInpor"'c''
The evils complained OF are now, " ts true c"' I! ed
10 Baltimore; but who can tell, uni'sSh once cin'''
ed. how room they may penetrate every phr' 81 ""S
Union. and eventually overthrow :h- G'v-rnru-r'.
elsewhere O limited extent, but II - cofhh MY ri'
legged that before has case occurred ~h-t- AL
entire Congressional District has been csnrG"d -
have been the scene of deliberate ard prrccr"'r
preparation. OF fraud and force. The prop. "' lt-
morr may be divided, Grs 10 the iac.; AMI !" y:
~ 10 the authors OF those f.crs. Ii w,i br
great graritcation hope IA il will be your duty ~
calmly investigate theae points. TO put all 9n-s''"s
upon the subject, and 10 place the nw'u r-,
possibility Of the disorders and cutra2-s which have
disgrsced this city whrr. il properly brIones
] repeat, shall make no specific charges nv =.
but will merely enum-rat- some of those mad to,
others going TO show the necessity of au invest
CATION by Congress.
In fhr first pare. the neutrs press OF this CRY -
united in repuInng the late pref, nded election hs
mere fJrm or tArcs.
Il will be- remembered. that of the % waG' IN our
ci;v all but one gave maior.ti-s for the Know N'''.
ing candidates The Sh ward gave n large D-n''
cratic majority. II is confidently alleged by ma
Know Nothing organs, with considerable sh"" 80
n,
ceeds the whole number Of legal voters 10 rh- war;
and that this majority swollen by the votes '"t
women in mems clothes" On the other hnnc. u l.
replied that prostitutes" without even di-gni'ius
their female attire, voted At other wsrGs ln"s =
NAV be aad 10 be "admItted" that women did vote
both sides charge the iac the only point ot dispute
being (which ticket most OF them voted - hn '-'n
it will readily be of no importance to tie I's'
ton .of fraud" which is presented
Again: it s charged upon the best authority. fhnt
nearly the whole fOreig IN vote, by Inrhns q ~-'i
defined conspiracy, "fOrcibly excluded from tho
polls, and that many native born citizens ~err s''i'''
hrly treated; that the Judges OF election We're 'h''n'
dated from dong their duty and that through the
f-ar of personal violence they were compelled
ceive many illegal vOesi and that IN other ca'es u'
glarng fraud they we're unwilling TO receive HE o1i'
lots and Yet afraid 10 Re- ject them, and were Nus
Obliged 10 resort TO the eXpedlency OF "prettIGing
10 receive them, while, in tact, they were thrown IN
der the table: that large bodies OF men are known :"
have voted more than once AT the different w-r''s
that watclIwords and signals %ere emp"yrd 10
carry out pans of fraud and violence; that oVcnu.
Judge refused sign the returns his life W.. ih'rn'
ened and doing i'll the exercise q" hi- tree
Judgment, he was actually ARRESTED by ih- p"
that men were forcibly driven awoy from lie pare
of voting because they attempted 10 supp-'s' 'i",
-nce and for even attempting 10 collect evidence :
the outrages prrperated; that the civil aui'i"ir'
were pOweress Tor good, or Willingly cohn''C n.
the fraud and force uaed that The tickets ar tr!"z
Of one pnrty were "ali marked on the osck' VI az
sons holding II ticket thus marked were 'n'nria'iy
protected in the right TO vote that these tickets hs
marked, were not exhibited TIL the morning "' '''>
election. thus preventing them from being coun''r'
feited and that 10 many instances persons who With
I'd 10 vote different ticket had TO resort 10 the .Hps'
dent of "pas,ng' one of the marked tickets on m"
one they desired to vote, thus deceivns tncsc wLo
controlled by brute force the polls
II these things be true can II be SAID that sn e'rc
rion' has taken place Every one wosld n-g.l>c
such propo ,ltiou All that IL now asked s mat ..
prompt and full investigation Of these charges os
nade and, until this s done, that Messrs. Davis nn!
Harris be not permitted to qualify and tako the.E
seais. =.
1t is hoped and believed that the importance I
this subject will address itself 10 mep OF al pnr,- III
Congress, and. tha, they will app'oach 1t es on !-'
above the mere party QUESTION: ot the day
IL will be remembered that it is not proposed met
the opponents of Messrs. Davis end Harris ss7''
contest" this election, AS is generally done. lhr
point made is that no election has tok'n ph't', q"
that Congress should refer the matter bock 10 i'9
people and continue 10 do often Is pl=y DC &c
cessary until a far cl.cton b. held.
Law AND ORoER.