The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-10-22
A HIGH-HANpEp ATTEMPT At FRAUD.

The Black Republicans. it seems, are not
satisfied with carrying eIfclionsby forcing men
10 vote again.t their own senimrn4s and by
dragging PauPers 10 the polls, as they did at the
late election but even attempt 10 deiraud
successful Democratic candidates. by endelyor-
ing to prevent their being granted the election
certificates to which, they are entitled. The
following from the Philadelphia Ledger, an
Independent sheet, will acquaint our readers
with some of their attempts at this sort Of busi-
ness
San ATTEHrr TO DErEAr THE PEopLE's
WmL.-Ihe return judges Of thp,eIection are re-
CURED by law 10 meet the first Friday after the
general election, and connt he votes received
BY the respective candidates. Their dutlps are
entirely ministerial, and their powers extend
no further than casting up the votes, ascertain
ing who among the candidates voted for has the
largest number of votes, and giving him the
certificate Of election The law SAYS expressly
that the judges shall not omit or reject any part
Of the returns except when, in the opinion Of
the judges, the certificate Of return 'may be so
defective as 10 prevent the. same from being
understood and computed in adding the number
of votes : and even in this case they are to al
tach correct copy OF the paper, and transmit
it, with the returns, to the proper Office. Not
wilhsandng the clearness of the law upon
this point, an attempt was made yesterday, in
the Board Of Return Judges, TO throw out the
returns of some of the precincts Of the Fourth
Ward, on account of alleged frauduIen; voting.
The object of this, il was well understood, was
10 defeat the election Of Colonel Florence, or
by giving the certificate 10 bis opponent, to
compel him to appear in the next Congress as
contestant for the seat. This attempt which,
il is rumored, was planned by some desperate
politicians the evening before, failed OF IFS pur-
pose, for when The Court was appealed 10, it
decided that the return Judges had 0 power to
90 behind the returns, and that charges Of fraud
were f5r the Criminal Court 10 investigate
Tbongh 5affied by the Intervention ofthe Cout n
this scheme, the aitemN was not the less dShon-
est and reprehensibl1. While protesting TO be
shocked by the illegalnies alleged to have been
pursued in the Fourth Ward, the parties whose
moral sensi5lilicS were reused in defence Of
the law and Of honest elections openly attempt
to violate the one and disregard The other, bv
usnrping power that does not belong to them,
and enGeavOrlng TO d~irat candidate Who
according TO the returns before them, bad The
largest number Of votes. Wherein does an al
tempt 10 drlraud The people out oflheir election
10 this manner differ in cuIpabi!ry from The
polling Of illegal votes Morally and legally
there is not the least difference brtv cen ballot
box slnffing> at an election, and the illegal
throwing out Of votes after it. The purpose OF
both acts is 10 deirat the fair expression Of the
popular viii. None but the most desperate
and unscrupulous Partisans would csort to such
Illegal measures 10 gain temporary advantage.
II the allegations are true respecting the con
duct oflhr election officers in the Fourth Ward,
the parties aggrievpd know where their remedy
lies. They can have the election officers
c'""noonad into CONT. and on proJf of wilui
fraud have them punished by hne anu lmpriSon-
ment, or fined for msdemeanor in office The
allegations also, when sustained by proof, will
be proper facts TO lay b.forr Congress, who alone
are the judges Of the returns and the qualifca-
ions Of their own members"