The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-21

posted up, and examined. that from iour nun
dred 10 Ave hundred names were borne on those
li,,, Who were not legal voters, and most OF
them aliens. The Republicans at once went to
work TO canvass the city thoroughly, identity
every one Of those illegal voters, and ascertain
nj, place Of residence, occupation, sc. This
was done, and lists OF the names prepared for
each ward, showing the names Of illegal voters
borne on the lists. This was herculean labor,
bu, /, was eheefully and enectually done, 80
that when the Aldermen came together, on the
three days before Lection, to revise the lists We
had their bogus names ready to cite to shew
cause why these men should not be stricken of
the lists. This has been the practice hereto
fore, but the Democratic Aldermen opposed II,
and IL was only after the Alderman from Ward
1 said he was ready to take his oath that i'm
proper names were borne on his ward, that one
Democratic Alderman was found willing to vote
with the three Republicans to cite these per-
sons. The rule always has been in relation to
parties so cited, that IL they do not appear after
a personal notice, 1t is primG faeia evidence
that they have not the right to vote, and like
parties who refuse to appear Mt court, and are
nonsuitcd, their names are stricken oil. But
this year the Democratic board "changed all
that" and refused to strike of only the names
Of those rho did appear. Thus an illegal voter,
by absence, secured the continuance OF his
name ON the lists, and, Of course, under such
border ruiiian law, but few Of them did appear,
and the lists were posted up with these names
still on. But the Republicans were determined
to prevent these bogus voters from cheating us
this fall out Of our political rights, as they did
In the spring, and we prepared printed lists for
each ward, Of persons whom we claimed were
not legal voters, and whose right to vote we
gave notice would be challenged. We placed
a determined band of wide-Awrkes, and other
well known citizens, at the polls. and circulated
these lists openly on election day at each Ward
Room, at the same time offering reward OF
$50 for the detection Of any illegal voting
We have in our possession some Of these lists
for example, that Of Ward 1, bears the names
Of sixty-four persons "whose right to vote will
be challenged"
Now, we know there never was an election In
our city when our opponents were better, II rs
well, organized. as this year, and they had men,
means and vehicles to bring out every voter on
election day. The weather was pleasant, and
the great vote Of our city. 3,i56 votes 1.-THE
largest ever thrown) shows that every man was
got out Now, out Of these sixty-four names
borne ON the list of Ward 1, how many, we ask
our readers, would one suppose, under such
exciting circumstances, would decline to vote
II they had the right, But few, If any, is the
answer. But out Of that listo siIty-four, on
" six, or one-tenth, presented themselves at
the polls and voted. Where were the other IF
weight, the Carragans, the Doughers, the
Feeneys, the MeGuires, the McLoys, &C., &c !
They wisely staid away. IL such men resided in
the ward. But of this there is great doubt, for
, some Of them our canyassers could not find,
and some Of the wags in Ward l say the names
may have been copied from the old grave stones
in the eastern cemetery, or the first edition oil
Deckett's Directory.
In Ward 3, out Of such list Of thirty-siI
names borne on the list. but four appeared and
voted. In Ward 5, out Of ifty-three, but i've,
and so on through the city. In Wards and =,
there were over one hundred names on the re-
spectiye lists not checked when the polls closed.
Ofthese, certainly not over twenty or thirty in
each ward could be sick or absent, and the re-
mainder were bogus names or Illegal voters.
We have given this long but correct state
ment of the facts that our friends in other cit
les and in other States may see what weapons
our opponents will use in this campaign to car
ry their ends and II these things arc done in
aei,y where the eyes Of over five thousand c.
lectors are fixed upon those having charge oil
the lists, what may not be expected in smaller
places, and where the whole board OF munich
pal officers are Democrats.
without doubt 1t was the energy and deter
mination of the Wide Awakes Of our sister city,
that deferred individuals from voting Illegally
under those names which had been so corrupt
ly retained ON the lists. The Republicans OF
other places in the State, are indebted to the
Wide Awakes Of Portland, for teaching them
lesson worthy Of all imitation when. attempts
are made to stuff the ballot-boxes with Illegal
votes by corrupt and improperly prepared
lists.)