The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-08-18
Government Interference in Elections.

Government Interference in Elections.
ES- Among the many gross abuses
of power and patronage made by the
present Democratic administration, none
has been more glazing and less defens-
BILE than that Of its interference in cleo
tions all over the country. 1t is notori-
Gus that employees in all departments OF
government are taxed certain amount
annually for a corruption fund to be used
IN electioneering, and the official organ
OF the government, at Washington, but
a short time since declared that no man
should be allowed to hold official station
who was unwilling to give certain per
centage OF his salary for this purpose
Then we know how contracts have been
fraudulently made, in order that the con-
tractors should put certain number OF
employees to work about election time
in certain doubtful districts, in which
said employees were all to vote for the
administration candidate. We know, too,
how Navy Yards have been filled up by
workmen of a certain class, when the
work performed was not needed-as
proved by its previous and subsequent
suspension-simply to bring in enough
hirelings to turn the scale in favor of a
government candidate for Congress-
We know, also, how clerks, drawing sal
aries for performing official duties, have
been sent into Congressional districts for
weeks, for the purpose of interfering
personally and actively against men who
had become obnoxious to J. B. Pennsyl-
vania, New York, Maine, Illinois, and
other States, have recently had to COM
plain of this special interference of the
national administration in their local
elections, and now Iowa, it seems, is to
be subjected to the same treatment. A
certain gentleman at Washington, doubt
less drawing an official salary for duties
never performed, has sent the following
secret circular to the several postmasters
in the State, which, despite all his eau
ton, has nevertheless come to light. He
writes under the signature of G. Don
NELLAN, which is. probably an assumed
name, and says he has calculated what
amount of Democratic increase is neces-
sary, in each county, for success, and
imparts, besides, much other information
of importance to the cause. Five thous-
and copies of his statement is to be dis
tributed, one tor every ten Democratic
and American votes he calculating, it
seems, upon such a cordial union be-
tween the Know othings and Demo-
Gratis, as the Ciuilian's correspondent,
the cursor of Ignorant foreigners, re-
Gently prognosticated) with a much
greater amount of other documentary
matter suitable to the time and place. It
may not be impertinent to inquire how
all this large amount of documentary
matter, "suitable to the time and place.
has been prepared, and who pays for it.
Most probably by some official ostensibly
employed upon other business, and paid
for out of the public treasury. He re-
ceives a salary for sitting at Washington
and preparing what is deemed necessary
for 6 Strengthening tie outposts of Democ-
rocy" in Iowa. We wonder how the peo-
pie of Iowa will relish this interference
of DR.. j. B., and his satellites, in the
political affairs of this State. j. B. is
solicltous, undoubtedly, because he
knows, as asserted by all his organs,
that DODGE, and BABBITT, and Mason,
if not Cole and WILSON, cordially en-
dorse his administration-territorial pol
icy and all. He would therefore claim
their election as an endorsement of his
administration, and this would be pleas
ant, undoubtedly, in view of the effect
that a few such endorsements might have
upon the Charleston Convention. Wheth-
er The proposed !" strengthening the out
posts" however, will be relished by the
people of Iowa remains TO be seen. We
believe they viii treat these attempts at
in their domestic affairs, as
hey deserve, and will show j. b., and
lis friends. that something more than tab
llar statements. with documents "suita-
pie for the time and place. are necessa-
y to secure an endorsement of their COR
'upt administration.
We give Mr.. DoHNELLAN the benefit OF
our circulation. His circular is as fol-
ows:
III lcosFiDENTIAL.
WASHINGTON Cry, d. G. July 28,' SO.
SIR In view Of the approaching
campaign, the election of a
United States Senator bv the lnayt Ganar.