New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-15
PENNSYLVANIA FIRST CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT,

To the Editor of The n. Y. Tribune
SIR: As Gov. Packer has proclaimed Lehman 10 be
elected TO Congress in the LIST District, Philadelphia,
and as persons disposed, very unjustly and
Improperly TO censure John NJ Butler, beg leave TO
say that Mr. Butler has done nothing but what it was
his duty do and that Gov. Packer has transcended
his authority in declaring Mr.. Lehman TO be elected.
The whole matter is | think misunderstood by the
public, and justice requires that it should be set right
That gross fraud was committed by Byerly, and
that the correction Of this fraud would transfer the
majority from Butler 10 Lehman, is not to be denied.
But this If not the whole Ii Is also undenabe
that Mr.. Butler and his Republican friends were not in
any way connected with this fraud or responsible for
il. No one, 80 far Us l know, has pretended 70
charge il upon them. Mr.. Byerly was Breckenridge
Democrat and has long been prominent Democratic
politician in his Ward and District. Many of the
Breckenridge men in the District had bet largely
against Lehman not 80 much from any love for Mr.
Butler az from dislike TO Lehman and desire to win
money. Thousands Of dollars was staksd on the
sut, partly by Republicans, principally by the Breck
nridge men and the Bell men who supported Judge
King 1t was the desire to save these bets that
situted the motive for the Byery fraud and it ia pretty
well understood in Philadelphia that he to be well
paid from the wagers which hung upon the result.
When the election was closed the returns first col
ected at the varous polls by the friends Of Mr.. Butler
indicated that he was elected and many Of his friends
still believe that correction of all frauds will show
that to be the true result The friends of Byery in
sst that the one fraud only neutralized previous
in favor of Lehman. The certificate of the Judges
was forced on Mr.. Butler without any act of his. A.
an honorable man. he should have been willing to
rect all the frauds that might exist His duty to him
self and the men who voted for him forbade him to
abandon the ground to his opponent by correcting the
Byery fraud alone and neglecting to inquire to the
others. He publicly offered his opponent 70 have re-
count Of ballots and examination of the lists Of voters
and tally-sts (which under laws carefully pre-
served and to abide by the result This offer was
never accepted and il il idle for editors and
sponGents to say that Mr.. Butler should act upon
punctio Of decacy, and yield everything TO his OPP
ponen If he and hs friends believe that he is legally
elected he has not only done all that an honorable man
can be asked 10 do but he would be absolutely cupa-
bic and unfahful to hs constituents TO have done any
more.
do not reside in his district or city. He il not in
any way c0gnzant Of or prvy to this communication,
and, although l have converted with many OF his
friends have never coDyersed with him in regard to
his election But know him to be an honorable, high
toned man of the strctes integrity, who would scorn
to take advantage of any fraud and it pains to see
injustice done him by AppanI and ineonsiderate re-
marks.
Onr laws require the Return Judges of the Congress
sopal District to furnish certificate Of election to the
successful candidate and duplicate certificates to the
Prohonotary and the Secretary OF the Commonwealth.
The PrOhonoy also required to furnish to the secre-
tary Of the Commonwealth copy of the duplicate de-
posted with him. These all the returns which come
into the Office Of the Secretary The law further pro-
yides tha, it shall be the duty Of the Governor on
The yeoeeP, Of the returns Of the election for Men,