Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-10-24
ELECTION FRAUDs

1t seems as # an election could not be held
in Philadelphia without some rascality being
perpetrated. In the first Congressional Dis
trict, John NJ. Butler, having been granted
the certificate of election, it is alledged that
this result was brought about by altering the
returns, and although Mr.. Butler is a Repub-
lican, it seems the cheating, if there was any.
has been done by the Democrats out of re-
venge to each other. correspondent of
the Tribune writes from Philadelphia, under
date of Oct. 10Th, as follows:-
There is ferment among the politicians of
the 1st District touching an alledged fraud by
which Butler has been returned as elected to
congress. If there be fraud at all, il is adj
mitted that neither Butler nor any of his friends
had any knowledge of it. 1t is emphatically
family quarrel among the different wings of
the Democracy. If any cheating has been
done they have done it themselves. Lehman,
the Douglas candidate, has been foored by
the Breck inridge men IN revenge for the Doug
las voters boiling certain Breckinredge candi-
dates for the Legislature. Butler has receiv-
ed his certificate from the Return Judges; but,
under our law, two returns are made to the
Governor, one by them and one by the Pro-
thonotary, and as these will not agree, it is
barely possible the Governor NAV omit But
the broad seal of the Commonwealth. The
fraud is said to be this, aud occurred in the
Fourth Ward, Moyamensing, district from
time immemorial ruled by the roughest of the
rough Democracy. The Judges of its pre-
cincts met on Wednesday last and made up
their returns, appointing William Byerly, a
Breckenridge man, as return Judge to the gem
eral meeting Oh Friday. Each of these ten
Judges kept memoranda of the vote as did
Mr.. Lehman and the reporters, all being cop
led from book containing the returns of the
ten precincts, and this book gave Butler O03
votes, Lehman 1.518, and King 1913. The
Judges signed such return, and delivered it
to Byerly to hand in to the general meeting
on Friday. But on that day he handed In a
return giving Butler l, ,l60 votes, Lehman l.
389, and King. 206, thus defeating Lehman
This last return is alledged to be forged.
Some of the signers swear their signature to
1T are forgeries, while others say theirs are
genuine Byerly has been bound over to an
swer for forgery, yet it is we'll known he can
neither read nor write, SO that if a wrong has
been done, others must have had hand in it.
Altogether it is strange affair to happen a.
mong the harmonious Democracy, and where
the wrong is to be righted we do not exactly
see, whether in Court or in Congress. But a
fresh count of the ballots will undoubtedly be
had somewhere, and that being done, we are
persuaded that Butler will be shown to have
majority and if Lehman has been cheated in
one ward, il is fully believed that Butler ha-
been worse cheated in others. Should Leh-
man obtain his seat, it will be some satisfac-
tion to know that he is really an able LAWYER
an enthusiastic Tariff man, and heart and soul
anti-Lecompton, all which is infinitely better
than could have been said Of Tom Florence.
THE EFFECTS OF AID VALoREM DuTIEs-Wc
find, from an examination of the official re-