The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-13
OTTUMwA Dec 9 1850


the columns of your paper to publish the
proceedings of the last session of the Board
of Supervisors of Wapello County, held at
the Court House, in this city, On the Goth
ultirno, for the purpose of canvassing the
vote Of the soldiers for Clerk of the District
Court. Relieving the action of part of
said Board of Supervisors on that occasion,
to be of the most disgraceful character, and
disgusting to every considerations man.
ain anxious to let all the people know, al!
the facts relating to this case will state
them candidiy, honestly, and impartiaHy,
and ask every candid man in the County
of Wapello, to read and digest this matter
for himself, and if any man can, altar learn
ing the facts in the case, say from the hon
esty of his heart that they actel fairly, and
impartially, according to the evidence before
them, shall give him over to hardness of
heart that he may "bclicve a lie and be
id"
Soon after the Commissioners started for
their respective Regiments, wrote to each
Of them directing to their Residence-en-
closing stamped envelope, and requesting
them immediately upon their arrival at home
to give NE the result of the vote so far as it
concerned Mr.. Brown and myself, and as
soon as heard, nom a few of those who
first arrived at home, came to the conclu.
sion that would not get the desired infor.
nation from that source, from the tact that
several CourtisS were represented in each
Regiment, and the Commissioners not being
Interested in the County vote Of any county,
except the one in which they had theirresl-
dence, made TO private record of the votes
cast, and the Poll Books being sealed by the
Judges of Election, they hal no means Of
oscertaining the result. As soon as learn
ed these facts, w.ote to Hon. Elijah Sells,
ons Of the Board of Canvassers, saying that
the contest was Gerry close, and the people
very much interested in the matter, and ex-
ceedingy anxious to know the result and
by sending the number Of votes cast for Mr..
Brown and myself, immediately upon finish.
ing the canvass, he would confer q great
favor upon his friends in Wapello. and my.
self in particular. The canvass was com
menced on Thursday, Nov. 18th, and CON-
pleted on the following Saturday On Mon
day, Nov. 18th received the following
letter
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE, !
Des MONIES, NV. l6, 1862. (
FRIEND GILLESPIE Your majority from
the vote by the Soldiers is 267 /; will that
save you. Your Friend,
ELIJAH SELLS.
On Wednesday, Nov. 10. received
Duplicate abstract from Mr. Sells Deputy
AS also did Mr.. Brown--innouncing the
following result: Whole number o. votes
cast for Clerk Of the District Court, of Wap-
clio County, was 3tl, OF which number j.
K. Gillespie had 279 votes. and Hugh Brown
had 81 votes, reducing the number Of votes
cast,-as stated by Mr. Sells Immediately
after finishing the canvass-Fifty. Know
ing Mr.. Sell, to be a very correct business
nan, had good reason to Think there was
an error in the Duplicate Abstract made out
and sent 10y his Deputy. | then wrote to
Mr.. Sells asking an explanation, and on
Monday, Nov. oath, received the following
letter, and Il corrected Abstract:
OFFICE OF SECRErHRY OF SrurE,
De, Moines, Nov. 81, 1862
John f. Gillespie ~ herewith send you
the vote of the Iowa Soldiers, for County
Gtlihers of Wapello County, exactly as it
was cabvassed by the Board Of State Can
vasscrS. The error in the abstract mt to
the Clerk, "a duplicate of which was sent to
you--occurred in this way. The Clerk in
footing, mistook the figures representing the
ballots crst by the Both Regt, for Clerk of
Dis;ric Court, fof"tl' instca Of "91".-