The Washington union., 1857-11-21


in length running from Little Rock along the north side
Of the Arkansas river, via Van Buren, Fort Smith
which is situated upon tho border Of the Choctaw Indian
territory.
us Il For Union
THE LATE ELECTION IN BALTIMORE
aF BAIrIAoaR, Nov. ls, 1857.
75 The Members Of The House Of Representatives e ofms s5a
Canyr@s @
GESrIEMgN AS natiye-born citizen Of the State Of
Maryland deeply panied and mortified at the poli6
cal and moral condition Of things existing in the city of
Baltimore and take tho liberty of addressing you upon
the subject
Without making any specific accusations, safely
say that all confidence in the purity and integrity Of the
ballobox in this city has been entirely lost and that in
the opinion Of most OF citizens, longer live u
der republican form of government have concluded
to invite the attention of members of Congress to the
subject with the hope that investigation may cnsue
from Of much dignity, eminencc, and impair
tiity which will forever put to rest all questions Of fact
connected with this subject.
Messrs Davis and Harris who claim to represent this
city in Congress- it is alleged have been chosen at
election characterized throughout by fraud and violence
It is fortunate Circumstance that this grave question
will present itself to power freed from all local and po
litical prejudice, and in this simple circumstance We can
discover the hand of Providence which has always guided
beloved country. These two individuals do not be-
long to either of the great parties which will divide the
next House of Representatives. and whether they arc
rejected not it will be matter of political or par
tisan importance to either The question being thus
freed from these difficulties will address itself every good
citizen fraught with the deepest importance The
ofare now itstrue, confined to baltimore
but who tell unless at crushed howsoon they
r. ~
throw the government Frauds and violence may have
prevailed heretofore elsewhere to limited extent but
is confidently alleged that before has case occur
red where entire congressional district has been
charged to have been the Of deliberate and pecon
certed preparations of fraud and force. Tho people Of
Baltimore may be divided, first, to the facts and
next to the authors of those facts 1t will
be great qualification, hope, it will be your duty
to calmly investigate these points, to put all questions
at rest upon the subject and to place the awful respon
biity of the disorders and outages which have dgced
this city where 1t properly belongs.
I repeat, shall make specific charges myself but
will merely enumerate of those made by Others
going to show the necessity Of investigation by Con
gress-
In the first place. the neutral press Of this city is united
in repudiang the late pretended election mere form
or farce.
city all but one gave majorities for the know nothing
candidates. The 9th ward gave large democratic
jority 1t is confidently alleged by the knownothng or
gans with considerable show Of truth that the demo
cratic majority considerably exceeds the whole number Of
legal in the ward and that this majority swo
len by the votes Of mems clothes. On the other
hand it is replied that prostitutes without every Disgusting
their female attire voted at other wards Thus 1t may
be said to be admitted that did so, as both sides
charge the fact the only point Of dispute being w a
most Of them poda issue, it will readily be seen, Of no
Importance to the question Of fraud which is presented
Again it is charged, upon the best authority that
nearly the whole foreign vote by means Of well defined
conspiracy oycby excluded from the polls and that
many nativebon citizens similarly treated that
the judges Of election were intimated from doing their
duty and that through the fear OF personal violence
they were compelled TO receive many illegal votes and
that in other Of garing fraud they unwilling
TO receive the ballots and yet afraid to reject the and
thus obliged TO resort to the expcdicncy Of ddy
to receive them while, in fact they thrown under
the table that large bodies of known to have
voted more once at the different wards that watch
words and signals employed to carry out plans Of
fraud and violence that because judge refused to
sign the returns his life threatened and for not
doing So in the exercise Of his free judgment, be
was actually arrested by two of the city police that
men were IOrClDly urlvcn away IrOni tno Piaeto :"
voting because they attempted to suppress violence
and for even attempting to collect evidence Of the out
ngcs perpetrated hat the civil authorities power
less for good Willingly connvcd at the fraud and force
used that the tickets ballots of party were all
marked on The back in direct violation of secrcteio'
system and persons holding ticket thus marked were
invariably protected in the right to vote that these tick
cts thus marked were exhibited till the morning Of
the election thus preventing them from being counter
ted and that in many instances persons who wshed~
vote different ticket had to resort to the expcdient
passing Of the marked tickets the they desired
to VOTE thus deccvng those who controlled by brute force
the polls.
If these things be true it be said that an da@
has taken place? Every would negative such
proposition All that is asked is that prompt ana
full investigation Of these charges be made and until TINS
is donc that Mcssrs Davis and Harris be not pcrntta
to qualify and take their seats.
1t is hoped and believed that the Importance OF thS
subject will address itself to Of all parties in Con
gress and that they will approach il far above the
mere party questions Of the day.
1t will be remembered that II is not proposed that inc
opponents Of Mcssrs Davis and Harris shall contest thS
election, is generally done. The point made s ha
election has taken place. and that Congress should refer '
matter back to the people, and continue to do so as o
as may be necessary until fair election Be held
LAW AND ORDER