Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-01-26
s.B. ROW. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
CLEARFIELD, Pa, JAN. 2e. 1850
THE KANSAS FRAUDS PROVEN.


THE KANSAS FRAUDS PROVEN
Our readers will recollect that, during the
controversies relating to the Lecompton con-
stitutional question, frauds of the grossest
kind were alleged TO have been perpetrated in
several of the election precincts of Kansas,
the most noted of which, perhaps. were those
of Oxford, in the county of Johnson, where
1923 votes, as indicated by the fraudulent re-
turns, were cast, whilst according to the CEN
sus taken afterwards there were only forty
three voter, in the district The charges
of fraud, although originating with men of
distinction and high character, were at the
time sedulousIy denied by the friends of the
National Administration, which was using its
influence and its patronage TO force the OBJ
noxious constitution upon protesting people.
The truth of these charges is now, however,
being established in such manner should
remove all doubts from the mind of every
right-thinking person. The proof of forged
returns having been made for the precinct OF
Oxford, has just been presented to the country
in shape that is entirely reliable. 1t comes
through Ex-Gov. Walker and Ex-Secretary
Stanton, of Kansas, who have issued an address
s.To the People of the United States,'' rela-
tive TO the returns from that precinct, which
they rejected on the 18th Oct. 1857, in which
they embody a letter from Mr.. Bait Jones,
one of the Judges. of the election at Oxford,
whose name purported to authenticate the re-
turns. In this letter, Jones says that he nerer
subscribed Them, authorized any one 10 do so
for him, and consequently they are forgery
as alleged at the time by Messrs. Walker and
Stanton, and as such were properly rejected
by them. There is, however, more importance
TO be attached to this circumstance than may
at first sight appear. ssUpon the face of the
Lecompton Constitution" say Nessrs. Walker
and Stanton, "it appears that this Oxford for
gerry wac incorporated into, and made part of
that instrument. by the legislative apportion-
ment avowedly based upon it," Besides this
they have no doubt ssthat the census and regis
tration, purporting to have been taken in the
fifteen counties out of thirty eight which FORM
ed the sole basis of representation in the Con-
vention, were largely contaminated with frau
dulent and fictitious names, designed to give
control of the Convention to the same parties
who were the authors OF the subsequent frauds
at Oxford, Shawnee, Delaware, Kickapoo, and
elsewhere, perpetrated under the Constitution
itself.'' Thus, it is clear, that the Lecompton
Constitution was based upon fraud and forge
ry, and should, for that reason, as Senator
Hammond, of South Carolina, said, shave
been kicked out of Congress" And yet, as
Messrs. Walker and Stanton remark, the Pres
knowledge Of all the facts, urged upon Con-
gress the sanction of this forgery. We are
somewhat curious to know what the advocates
of the Lecompton swindle will have to say
now that the Kansas frauds are being proven
A short time since, Hon. John Covode, the
member of Congress from the Westmoreland
district in this State, acting upon the Presi-
dents opinion as expressed in his letter to
the committee of the centennial celebration
of the taking Of Fort Duquesne, that OF late
years money had been employed to carry e.
lections, offered resolution asking the ap-
pointment of committee to inquire whether
any money had been used last fall in Pennsyl-
yania to influence the election of Members of
Congress, &c. This motion of Mr.. Coyode
has had tho effect of arousing the sevengeful
wrath of a number of pseudo-D mocratic ed
itors, who make it pretext for pitching into
him rough-shod and in order to withdraw at
tention from the corrupt and nefarious praeti-
ces of their own party, they charge him with
having used large sums of money to carry his
own election. We arc well acquainted with
Mr. Coyode; We know him to be what it will
keep some of his maligners busy to be, can
honest man." and we feel satisfied that he
would despise using any but fair and leriti
mate means IN a canvass. Where he is we'll
known, a refutation of such story as is aim
ded TO would be unnecessary but as the re-
port might, perhaps, be credited where he is
not acquainted, we deem it but an act of ms.
tice to an upright and honorable man to stig-
matize il as it deserres-a base fabrication
The very fact Of Mr.. Covode asking for COM
mittee to investigate the corruption that is
alleged to have been practiced in this State, is
of itself sufficient to refute the charge made
against him by unscrupulous politicians.
The AaERIoAN FREENAsoN-an Organ of
Ancient Craft Mason, conducted by ]. f.
Brennan, 22l Centre street, New York, i, a
monthly periodical that every member of the
fraternity should have, if possible. Besides