The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-19
COMMUNICATED.

To the Hon. Henry Winter Davis
SIR In the National Lteliigencer, of Monday
last, lind report of argument addressed by
you, on Saturday, to a jury in the Circuit Court
OF the United States in the contested election case
OF crawford Us. Addison. Knowing nothing of the
merits OF the case, | would probably have passed
over 1t, but for natural curiosity to discover how
man in your situation would treat a cause invoIv-
ing question of fair and fraudulent voting judge
OF my surprise upon reading the following LANGUAGE
attributed to you:
MI Davis characterized wiu false voting as one of
e most heinOus o, crimes and deserving severe
ment. 1t was an act of treason, assault upon the SOW
erels crime OF the nature of that which in England is
punished with death He denounced the man
"hiu ut'se voting, as guilty of an infamous crime an
Illegal outrage towards the country at large towards hs
ieowctzens whose rights he usurps and towards him
sell as the author of which lnust dagraJ bi -
the eyes OF every honest man. w "
On the second of November 1859. there ,vas
held In the city of Baltimore, an election at which
you were a candidate. From the hour At ,rb;ob
the polls were opened until their close in 49,
ward IN the district which you claim to represent
this most "henous of crimes" this "act of trea
son, this assault upon the sovereign, was COM
mltted without rebuke from the authorities with
the connvance OF the Judges by the aid of the
police, and with the guilty knowledge of numerous
candidates, including yourself. There is not in
the city of Baltimore, venture to assert a single
man whose veracity could find a respectable
voucher, who will deny this. In the ward in which
you yourself voted you are returned BY the JUDGES
as having received 972 votes. You saw with your
own eyes, how 'false voting" was done in that
ward. You that the polls were purposelv
placed alongside of that den from which, for wears
past, rutfians have habitually emerged and to
whch7ruiians have habitually fed for refuge You
saw how, from this den, wretches unknown to anv
citizen OF the ward, unknown to the Judges hear
ing upon their livid countenances the marks of the
debauching discipline of their COOP were marched
again and again to the polls and swelled with their
foul and "false voting" the majority upon the
strength of which you claim your seat and won
what nj man ha Ind,
election were in that ward, and how they demean-
ed themselves. | gather from your argument in
the case OF Crawford and Addison, that the oues-
ton there is about matter of eighteen or twenty
votes This mighty fraudit is which has reused your
Indignation and led you to use those brave words
what have quoted above. 1t is not to be doubt
ed, Sir that your sensibilites will be still more ex-
cited, for it can be shown that, not only in the
whole District, but that in the ward which you
honor by your residence the most stupendous ''out-
rage towards your country at large, towards your
'lelloW-cltlZens and towards thousands" has been
committed IN your name and for your benefit The
10Th ward of the city of Baltimore is reported as
having given you 972 votes
NOW, Sir, take it upon myself to aver that no
scrutiny which you can devise can find in that
war9, persons resident therein the second day
OF November last, and lawfully entitled to vote
who cast for you, one-haIf of the number of votes
which you appear, by the returns, to have recaiv1
ed. 1t is small ward-its Inhabitants GRO u,ou
known-thelr names and places of abode can be
fairness of your election. Are you content that the
scrutiny shall be instituted land that you shall stand
or fall by the issue? l. as citizen of Baltimore.
feel outraged that you claim to hold seat under
the election OF the second of November, but will
acquiesce, without further complaint, if YOU will
md i've hundred persons residents and legal voters
In the 10th ward, who cast their votes for YOU on
mat mat day in that ward Take the poll bookshelf
rngn De canvassed Select for yourself 4s6, the
names OF those who voted for you. Show that thew
were residents of the ward and legal voters and l.
ior one, VIII consent that you shall wear YOUR
honors without further dispute.
Wnom you have deemed your constituents--tha w.
vnnr us 70 your own doors-have been guilty, in
traason ma Tor your elevation, of "this act of
s.nnon tho SOUS heinons crime = this "assault
you the proclaimer of such lofty political 81
ity, that you will follow the example of I Udn
Msmp by pos. that has conferred