The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-09-18
NOTICE OF CONTEST FROM Mr.. BLAIR TO
Mr.. BARRET.

NOTICE OF CONTEST FROM Mr.. BLAIR TO
Mr.. BARRET.
To j. Richard Barret-
Sir You are hereby notified that l
will contest your right to a seat in the
Thirty Sixth Congress as Representative
from the first Congressional District of the
State of Missouri, and that l claim to
have been legally elected from said Dis
trict at the election held on. the second
day of August, 1858,
The following are the grounds upon
which base my contest, to wit:
l / charge that large sums Of money
were used by you for the purpose Of aid
ing you in your election, by bribery and
corruption. The money so used was con-
tributed by Federal Office holders and
contractors under the Federal Govern
ment, and other persons, and with said
money votes were purchased for you, and
votes otherwise illegal, obtained by you
at said election.
II. charge that the inmates and pa
tients of the United States Marine Hos
pital at St. Louis, voted for you at said
election; some Of them not being citizens
of the United States ; some not being
citizens of the State cf Missouri, and none
being free and unconstrsined, or at liber-
ty to vote according to their own will.
That these persons were induced to vote
for you by officers of the Federal Gov
ernment, who controlled the said Hospi-
tai and the liberties of said inmates and
patients.
Ill l charge that the inmates of the
County Farm or Public Poor House o.
st. Louis county, voted for you; some
of them not being citizens of the United
States some not citizens of Missouri, and
none of them being free, unconstrained, oil
at liberty to vote according to their own
will, the said institution being under
the control of the County Court of the
county. That said inmates not being le'
gal voters, were made to vote for you by
the officers in charge thereof.
". I charge that the Governor of the
State OF Missouri, Just prior to the salt
election, issued pardons to sundry persons
then recently convicted in the Crimina
Courts of violating the laws, to be deliv
cred to said persons on condition of thei
voting for you at said election, and tina
such persons did so vote and did, in con
sideration thereof, receive their pardons.
V. Ichsrge that sundry persons, foreig1
born and never naturalized, voted for vol
at said election.
VI. charge that many persons, not en-
titled to vote because they were minors
under twenty zone years of age, voted fo
you at said election.
VII. l charge that many persons hav
ing a legal right to vote, voted for you a
said election several times
VIII. l charge that many persons VIII
had no right to vote at said election, be
ing minors, nom naturalized foreigner:
persons resident out of this Congressions
District, or not having sufficient residenc
in this district, voted for you at said cleo
ton.
NJ. Icharge that certain persons wer
bribed with money and otherwise, to vot
for you, and being so bribed, did vote fc
you at said election.
y. I charge that your friends took fol
chile possession Of several of the polls {
voting precincts, and intimidated an
overawed the Judges and ell persons OF
posed to your election, driving off man
persons who were entitled to vote, an
who would have voted for me but f
such conduct This was especially tn
case at the western precinct of the mint
ward in this city. where your partisan
had several barrels of liquor secreted in
house near the polls, which liquor W;
there dealt out in violation of the law an
the Mayors proclamation. Said liquC
was so dealt out in order to stimulate you
partisans to acts of violence on peaceabl
citizens who offered to vote for me, an
by means Of which, such acts Of violent
were produced, and one of the Judges
said poll received blow in the faS
from one of your partisans, whilst in II
discharge of his duty as Judge. Sal
liquors were also used by your partisan
to induce persons to vote for you, WI
had no legal right to vote, and to NAL
Others who had already voted for yol
vote again, which purposes were. in fac
effected thereby, and the Judges Of sal
precinct were, by the means above mel
toned, compelled to receive such fraudl
lent and illegal votes.
XI. Icharge that at the polls held
the Gravois Coal mines, at the house I
James Horton, the election was conduc
ed in gross fraud and corruption towar.
me. and partiality towards you, on Il
part of the Judges thereof, who, to .
YOU, omitted and refused to administer
persons offering to vote, and not known
any of them to b legal voters, any oat