Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-10
Iowa soldiers Vote.

An Iowa correspondent thus exposes the
frauds and intimidations practced in procuring
the vote Of the soldiers Of that State, who were
absent in the field at the time the election was
held. The Aboltionists have pointed to the
published result of the vote of the Iowa soldiers
as an indication of the sentiment of the army:
but il appears from the developments that have
come to light, in regard TO the manner OF taking
that vote, that the true feelings and views of u
large number of the soldiers, probably major
ity, did not find expression in the returns of the
Commissioners appointed by a partisan Gov
ernor to report them. Read the following expo
sition OF the manner il was done:
The Democratic candidate for Clerk in Marion
county, Democratic county-after beating his
Republican opponent handsomely on the home
vote, when the army returns came in found him.
self defeated by fifty votes Knowing that there
had not been a sufficient number of Republicans
who had gone To the war from his county to over.
come his home majority. il the thing had been
conducted with fairness, he came up to Des
MONIES TO investigate. The investigation
disclosed, among other things an error(O
in the footings up by the Board of State
Canvassers, which being corrected gave him a
majority of one. taking the vote rs il stood; but
stranger than all. 4 look over the poll books, i'm
selrch OF Illegal votes was rewarded by tie dis
covery of the names of twenty two mnors-all
known personally by the gentleman making the
investigation-all of whom voted the Abolition
ticket. of course; the name OF one dead man.
who was killed at the battle of Shiloh, last spring
and the name of discharged soldier, who had
lain in the hospital at ST Louis weeks before his
discharge. and had been at home in Marion
county for at least month before the election
and doubtless voted there. The Commissioner
who reported this vote and who perpetrated. or
sought to perpetrate. this shameful fraud upon
the honest voters OF Iowa il is unnecessary for
US to say, is Repubcan-one of Kirkwood's
tools and pets ! reerei that did not learn his
name. that | might publish il to the world and
hold him up to the public contempt he so richly
deserves | will yet obtain it. and give the DO
litical prostitute the benefit of further notice
have no doubt that similar frauds we're practiced
by other Commissioners; that a systematic and
wholesale system of political swindling was re
sorted 10 by these dirty tools of corrupt and
desperate party in order TO overcome anticipated
malorties against them in the Democratic coun
ties at home.
The above instance have given will serve as
a specimen. About the truth of the statements
made there can be no doubt, a. the gentleman
from whom | derived the facts has been a resi-
NCut VI loI ullclttU Nttf>-ufteeU
OF which he has held Office at the hands of the
Democratic Party-and knows. may saw. every
man. woman. aud child in IT, He further in
formed me that, in company which went
from his county, and in which there were. 10 his
personal knowledge. twenty FIVE Democratic
voters, he did not get single vote. The com
pany was in barracks at OskalOosa az the time of
the election, and IL represented TO him, by one
OF his political friends, that the Captain of the
company renegade Democrat who sold him
self for bis shoulder strsps-told his men, on the
morning of the election, that he had them in his
power, and, If they did not vote the Republican
ticket, they would be sorry for il. Thus brow
beaten. bullied. badgered and threatened. the
Democrats. a. matter Of consequence refused
20 vote at all. What beautiful commentary do
such Developments furnish upon the loud
mouthed professions o. the Abolition leaders Of
their patriotism and political honestly What a
suggestive eorollary 70 the wrpt panegyrics OF a
pen>ioned press over the devotion 90 the Admin
istration p manifested by our soldiers in voting
the Abolition ticket | trust the facts. rs they
gradually come 10 light. ia regard 90 the army
vote OF Iowa, will prove warning TO other
States, and that Iowa will not soon again be in
weighed into. or suffered 10 be made the victim Of
a like piece Of folly ard political nquty TIE
Developments Of this stupendOus fraud will con
ssitute part OF the recorded infamy of the Ado
huon party when the people shall have hurled il
from power and consisned Il 20 the oblivion IL -
richly merits