The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-01-01
Tho Now York chartor Elections,


The following erposs which We hrd IN the
New York Tribune Of Dec. %, shovs n state
Of c Eruption, aud fraud 10 the politics Of
that city which could hardly be credited
we're Il not so well authenticated. We would
be glad TO believe that such measures we're
not resortrd TO by political denagogues. but
the evidence ia before us, and We caunot shut
our eyes 10 the painful truth, IL We would.
The facts are so pl.in that they esnuo, be
perverted;
lfSny man doubted that party aud person.
Al interest had usurpod the place Of justice in
the doings OF the board OF aldermen Of this
city, the recent CANVASS Of the votes catt at
the charter election must have fully oonyinc-
ed him. From the first day, down 20 the
disgTaceiul scenes Of the final adjournment,
there was All open effort TO CIPHER thc oppo.
siton majority ia the next board Of council
men ouf Of office Instead Of canVaasing IN
regular order, nearly all the returns we're
open at once, subject TO the unkering Of nun
Who we're utterly interruptions us 70 means,
40 that the result might be gained By
counting here and there district, they soon
Asecrlninod that in all probability. the oppo.
alton had elected one man in the fourth, four
in the fifth, five in the siAth, and. six in the
seventh district, making sixteen to eight
But the majofiues we're small in suvurpl cnsUs
aud It was deemed possible to count the slX.
teen down 10 twelve. So IN the first district
one ward, in which the tickets wero much
slhit up, was kept back until nearly the close
OF the work, aud James Jones, Republican,
Who aAs thought 70 have $500, according 10
the returns published from day TO day, as the
canvass proceeded, is declared elected. In
the hitl district Mr., Mcconnell, DEM, whose
vote We make 1891, ia counted la over Mr..
EgbOrt, opp, vino had J,1UU. The lower
districts now stood democrat 10, opposition
2. The sixth was Eve 10 one the other Nay.
and no amount Of ciphering coula affect il rs
the lowest elected Republican had about 500
majority over the next democrat, and the fig
ures had been too well canvas sed to bear
Amendment. The board now gtood demo
Gratis opposition I, with perfect under
standing that the Opposition had tho whole
delegation from the With District. They
haggled and figured and corrected returns
from the upper wards until they succeeded in
robbing James G. MeAdam Of more than hall
thevo cast for him in the lNth election
district or the twenty.drst ward, thereby
elsetinR Mr.. Frear, democrat. Against this
mRnileat outrage the opposition members
stoully protected, but were regularly voted
down under the previous question. McAdam
appealed 10 the Supreme Conrt, and the can
yasSsrs were ordered TO show cause on Tues
day, why the votes in question were not al
lowed 10 him, but instead of obeying the or
dor, the aldermen held night session and
forced the canvass through by a strict party
division, he opposition protesting and refus-
ing to vote at Ill. Having finished the work
before midnight, ihey adjourned SINE die,
which amounts to a dissolution IS a board of
eAuvassers, so that when called for IN Court
no such body existed.
Such was the progress and the result of
the late canvass. IL was characterized
Throughout by u determination on the part
or The majority to break down the verdict OF
the people. The idea Of deciding a question
upon the facts was not even proposed by the
leaders in this business they we're working
for the continued supremacy of the party
which has ruled for four years past IN the
councils, and the consequent retaining Of the
contractors and spectators who have, during
this time, drawn freely and deeply from the
public purse. II was also characterized by
blackguard and ruffanly speeches, such as
can be heard only in the municipal councils
of the city and, altogether. the scenes and
the results must have convinced all sober men
that the election returns are totally unsafe in
such hands.