The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-11-12

containing hundreds of names written thereon
when no such votes were cast, and not for de-
Gliding upon the legality or illegality of any
votes that were actually cast, that Governor
Walker is said to have been unequivocaIly
condemned" With respect to the poll list in
the Oxford precinct, he left upon the record
the largest number of names of persons who
could possibly have voted in that precinct
leaving it with the Legislature to decide upon
the Legality or otherwise of those votes But
he rejected hundreds that had been deliberately
and fraudulently added to the record, represent
ing no voters at all, but purely fictitious. The
same occurred In three precincts in MCGEE
county. Poll lists, alleged records of votes that
never were cast, and that could not possibly
have been cast, were inscribed upon them BY
hundreds, with the most unblushing effrontery,
and without any of the forms or sanctions of
law; and 1t is not improbable that this was
done with no expectation that the Governor
would permit it, for no rational men could have
such expectation, but on purpose to have them
rejected. Governor Walker had prevented
equally the driving of legal voters from the
polls, and the voting by violence and intimida-
ton of persons not legally qualified, and those
who hoped to carry the election by such means
resorted to this trick, rather to have their re-
venge by embarrassing the Governor, than in
any expectation that it would succeed in effect
ing the result of the bslloting. And if the
Governor had no power or authority to reject
such fictitious and fraudulent poll lists, how
could the object of his presence there be &C.
complished? What ia the practical difference
between stuffing the ballot box with spurious
tickets, and neutrslzng the election by 6ct
tious poll lists? If Governor Walker could no.
reject these manufactured records they might
have been multiplied indefinitely, and the cleo
ton would have been farce. In truth, they
who represent President Buchanan as condemn
ing Governor Walkers conduct in this matter
We hope and believe do t., President great in
justice.
Had Governor Walker assumed to decide
that any number of voters, who had assumed
the responsibility of voting, and whose votes
had been accepted by the inspectors or Judges
of election, were not duly qualified, and had he
rejected such lists of actual voters, the case
would have been widely different, and his action
would have deserved condemnation. He would
then have encroached upon the prerogative of
the Territorial Legislature, for it is their prov
ince to decide whether the votes were legally
given and legally received. But the votes he
cancelled were never given. 1t was Just as
though any individual had taken half resm of
paper, covered it with names of persons who
had no existence, and presented that as evidence
of candidates election, and demanded that
the Governor should acknowledge that as a
bona detection return, to be submitted to the
Legislature. Who does not see that Governor
Walker would have stulifed himself and the
Administration that sent him there, and brought
mockery and scorn upon our whole suffrage
system, had he acceded to the demand? If the
Administration fails to support him i'll the
fearless performance of duty that was 80 OBJ
vious-which not to perform would have been
to proclaim all the measures and assurances of
the Administration, and his own promises, only
as so much gross hypocrisy-it will lose, and
deserve to lose, the confidence of every honest
and patriotic citizen of the United States.