The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-11-04
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WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT


The Mmnesoi,an, Of Saturday, furnished
liz promised disclosure Of the frauds which
II had before alleged were perpetrated by
the Democratic judges Of election in the
ChatGeld precinct. The narrative is given
in couple Of letters, one from Chatfed and
the other from Preston, and both Of such
doubtful credbility, that the names Of their
writer's are withheld. The charges contain
cd in these anonymous cpistles are that,
during the noon recess Of the election board,
tho ballot box Of the Chatfcld precinct was
locked up IN the safe OF the Land Office, and
that, before the rcnsscmbling OF the board,
the safe and box were opened, Republican
ballots abstrsetaJ and .5asaucratic votes
substituted in their place. These charges
are substantiatcd by the anonymous letter.
writers for the NnneSotian, by the fact that,
since the election oldayits have been pro,u
ed from greater number Of persons than the
returns showed. swearing that they voted
the Republican ticket. These aflidavi,s
were presented 10 the board Of County
Canva@ers, who thercupon entirely rejected
the Chatiicld returns. and gave certificates
OF election 10 the Republican candidates,
who, In the other precincts, had majority
The whole case, IA stated by the Blacks
themselves, reveals u very transparent and
ilmslly constructed game Of fraud on the
part OF the County Canvnscrs. In the first
place. It Ia incredible, that at holly con
tested election. where the passions and inter
ests OF u whole community were involved,
safe could be broken open, and ballot box
riiled. in public Office, within the short pc.
riod OF noon recess. without exciting the
observation or suspicion Of my inhabitan,
OF the place. Tho charge, in itself, Is so
prcpos'crous, that il could only have been
made by persons whose names would have
been evidence Of it, ialsity and which,
therefore. ART withheld IRON the public eye.
We submit TO the Mnse,otidn that it will
be very difficult TO convince nm intelligent
public that any election board has been
guilty Of one OF the most monstrous crimes
known to the law. upon the anonymous ac-
cusations, even when such are sustained hy
ailidavits which are not made under any OF
the sanctions, nor attended by any Of the
penalties, Of law.
But admitting, for the sake Of the argu.
ment, that every charge made by the Mn.
nescf'd" was susceptible proof that does
not Justify the county board in the action
which they have taken The county board
Is not Judicial body, The law vests in
them no powc. Of Acknowledgement. The
Chatfcld return. so far rs appears in the
accoun, Of the N,nnesoi,an, was formal and
regular and was verified by the oaths Of
the legally constituted officers Of election.
By that return, thus regularly made, the
county board was legally bound and its
rejection was in the highes, degree criminal.
Whatever the facts may be- in the case,
We hope II may be made the subject Of judi.
eial Investigation. II the precedent started
in ilenncpin county las, year and followed
in Fillmore county this. is to be established
as the rule the entire political power OF the
State must soon rest in the different boards
OF County CanvaSscrs. 1t is a matter of
the highest Importance TO every citizen. and
We hope the powers Of county boards will
be judicially asccrtancd and determined.