Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1857-11-20

Sd. As the vote Of each eloctor was TO b,
recorded for each one of twenty two oandi
dates. and in more than hundred cases. fol
toenty-fve. and that by a Uiva roce vote. i
was physically impossible that the number o
votes pretended to have been taken on tn,
second day, being more than fifteen hundred
With the name Of the voter written, and eacl
Of twenty-five candidates properly designa
ted. could have been taken and recorded with.
in the time prescribed by law.
9Th IL is an extraordinary fact tendinp
10 throw distrust upon the whole proceeding
that Of sixteen hundred and twonty-oieh,
votes, only one is given to the delegate elect
To Congress and only one hundred and TWEEN.
ty-four are recorded as having been cast for
the local candidates Of the township.
Influenced by these considerations, and i'm.
pressed with the grave responsibility resting
upon ms in regard TO the fairness of the cleo
ton, and its freedom from all fraud susccpti-
bic Of detection and prevention within the
scope of our duties, we deemed il essential TO
truth and justice that we should ascertain ov-
cry fact calculated to refute or confirm the
conclusions derived from the face of the pa
pcrs Accordingly we went to the precinct
Of oxford, which is a village with six houses.
including stores, and without a tavern. and
especially adjacent TO the village of New Santa
Fo in Missouri. Separated only by a street.
and containing about twenty houses) and were
satisfied that altogether not more than one
tenth Of the number of persons represented
90 have voted were present on the two DAYS
OF the election, much the smaller number. not
exceeding thirty or forty, being present on
the last day, when more than fifteen hundred
votes arc represented as having been given.
The people ofOxiord, as well as those of the
ncighborng village of Santa Fo, were astoun-
dal at the magnitude of the return: and all
persons of all parties, in both places. treated
che whole affair with dersion or indignation,
not having heard the alleged result until sew
cral days after it had occurred.
In the course Of our journey to and from
Oxford we passed over much the larger part
of the county of johnson and We became
thoroughly satisfied that tl.Ic is no popula-
ton in the whole count, from which more
than one third the vote of that single precinct
could have been given.
We learn that some ycy few persons, hav-
ing cabins on the reserve in Johnson county.
aud claiming a residence therein, though gem
orally absent, had voted 40 some of the pre-
cncts in that county; but wc are convinced
that a very inconsidorabla number. not reach
ing, we believe one hundred VI Mssourians,
or other persons having 40 admitted right 20
vote. did claim or attempt 70 exercise that
right anywhere within that county. The pco-
pie of Missouri cannot b. justly charged with
any interference in the late election, nor are
they in any degree complicated with the eyi-
IDENTIFY fraudulent returns. which beyond all
doubt, arc simulated and fctials.
lndcr these crcumstaur,s. we do not feel
D. IN I.a.. D.
our right TO go behind the reforms. We hold
tle returns themselves t. bc defective in form
and in substance, and therefore inadmissiblc.
We go behind them and enquire into the
facts, only for the purpose Of asocrtainng
whether by these valid objections 70 the mere
returns, our rejection Of them viii have the
effect of defeating the VIII Of the people,
sought 90 Doc fairly expressed 10 the polls
ln thc event Of such consol ncea, we might
hesitate to reject a vote upon any defect Of
form, however essential 90 law But in the
present case. we feel oulsoiyc, bound to adj
here to the very letter of Che law, in order TO
defeat gross and papablc fraud The con-
sideration that our own party bv this decision
will lose the majority in the Legislative As
sambly. does not make oar dlty in the prem
Uses less solemn and imperative
The elective franchise would be utterly val
ueless and free government Itself would re-
caiye deadly blow. if so great an outrage as
this could be shielded und the cover of mere
forms and technicalities. We cannot consent
in any manner, 10 give the sanction of our
respective official positions TO such transac-
ton. Nor can we feel justified TO relieve our
selves Of the proper responsibility OF our Off
ces, in case whore there is no valid return,
by submitting the question 20 the Legislative
Assembly, and in that very act giving the
parties that might claim 90 be chosen by this
spurious vote, the power to decide upon their
own election.
In view OF the condition Of affairs in Kan
sas for several years past Of the efforts so
long made 10 put in operation here a revolu-
uonary government, and of the fact that
this effort was suspended under the belief
that the difficulties of this territory might at
length be fairly adjusted at the polls il that
adjustment should now be defeated and the
people deprived of their righttul power under
the laws of Congress, by fictitious returns of
votes never given. it is our solemn conviction.
that the pacifcation of Kansas, through the
exercise Of the elective franchise, would be-
come impracticablc, and that civil war would
Immediately be recommended in this territory,
extending, VIC fear, TO adjacent States, and
subiectng the government of the Union to
imminent peril.
Because, therefore. the paper now under
examination is not one Of the original poll
books, by law required to be returned, and
from the absence Of the oath prescribed by
the territorial statute for the judges of cleo
ton, the returns being thus clearly invalid and
as we believe fictitious and simulated, we
have under the circumstances no alternative
but to reject the whole return from the Ok
ford precinct and TO give the certificates to
those who appear TO have been elected by vir-
tue Of the other regular returns.
r.. J. WALKER,
Governor Of Kansas TERRITORY
FRED. p. STANTON,
Secretary.
A like Proclamation has been issued as to