Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-13

The township election neid AT the COurt house
in this city on Monday was the most perfect bur
Iesque on a free election ever enacted outside Of
Baltimore OF Louisville in the days of Plug Ugly
rule, and il is only owing to the forbearance Of
the Democrats as a party that il did not result in
bloOdshed We have no heart to comment upon
the disgracelnl scene which has stamped a blot
upon the fair fame of our city. and but for our
duty as journalists would gladly leave the day
q blank A few facts must suffice to give an idea
of the manner Of conducting the election.
The Republicans as we stated yesterday had
refused the Democrats a representation on the
boards and to this decision in spite OF all remon
STRANGE they adhered. This was not n very
promising introduction. and many advised the
withdrawal Of the ticket. This advice, however,
did net prevail. The Democrats had full conf
dence in Gen. Darlington that he would enforce
the orders he had issued in regard to the military
and they hoped to be able to poll their strength.
and take ther chances for the result.
For two hours or more after the poll was
opened. matters went on smoothly ana pleasantly.
Candidates were around. electioneering as usual
and their friends had tickets in abundance to
offer. Occasionally. some rabid Republicans
would denounce "Butternuts," and look cross
at the persons who held Democratic tickets; but
no attention was paid to them, and it was fondly
hoped that the day would pass of quietly and
without any occurrence to add to the embittered
state of feeling.
Gen. Darlington anne on the ground about
nine o'clock. saying that he bad himself visited
the camps the night before, and gave personal in
structions as to enforcing his orders He said
that the number Of men entitled to vote would
not exceed two hundred and twenty five. None
Of the list regiment we're raised here, and they
of course would not interfere with the election.
The General had scarcely left the ground when
squads Of soldiers began TO lrrive, and they came
and went very freely. The two hundred and
twenty FIVE were likely to string out to a full regi
ment. The appearance of the soldiers was the
signal for loud talk and buster on the part Of the
DULLES who always frequent such places Still
the Democrats kept quiet. They were determ
ined to have no general fight. Two Republicans,
gentlemen of standing in the community, Sims
A. Colley and Mr.. W. II Roll. got up the first
fight. They pitched into each other. Among
the outsiders Of the crowd it was only known
there was a fight up, and it was concluded OF
course that it was a party Sight. The tiger had
got a taste. and the fighting commenced shortly
after that. Meu who held Democratic tickets
within the enclosure were compelled to leave. If
they hesitated, it would be proclaimed that they
had uttered a disloyal sentiment, and the mob
would run bowling after them. The soldiers
were used by the cowardly political tricksters Tor
this purpose. There was a provost guard sta
ton on or near the Court house grounds, but
they seldom or ever got to the scene of fight un-
ill the victim of mob rule was severely punished.
or had escaped by a free use of his legs. In one
or two instances they did probably save life, and
in several protected the wounded meh from fur
Their violence by marching them off to a place of
safety.
Mr.. Hoefgen, one of the candidates for Justice
of the Peace. was chased bv a mob from the
Court House all the way to Temperance Hail.
a distance of three squares down Washington st.
Officer johnson. of the police force, interfered in
his behalf on the square between Delaware and
Pennsylvania streets, and enabled him to get the
start of his pursuers. IL was "A noble act of Capt.
johnson, and we hope he will not lose his place
for il.
Mr.. Burt, a candidate for the nomination for
CITY Marshal, on the Democratic ticket. was be-
set bv a crowd. Every effort was made to draw
him into a controversy. He was told that the
tickets he held in his hand were Secession tickets.
The Cincinnati Enquirer and the Sentinel were
called Secession organs, and Mr.. Burt was told
that any man who patronized them was a traitor.
He replied that he took those papers, and intend
ed to take them-that he voted the Democratic
ticket, and intended to vote it, if he voted at all
This was the signal for a general shaking of fists.
Mr.. Burt told the crowd that if any one of them
shook his fist under his nose, he would blow his
heart out. He did not draw a weapon. for he
was so hemmed up that he could not. Three
policemen secured him from behind, and logged
him off on a charge of carrying concealed wea-
pons: and Mayor Maxwell fined him 81 95 for
the offence.
So they went on. Men could be seen running
for dear life pursued by a frantic and bowling
crowd every few minutes, until all those who had
taken an active part in supplying tickets were
driven from the precinct Prominent among the
rHgleaders in these outrages was a daguerrean
artist named Crane, who holds forth somewhere
on Washington street. He should be made a
Brigadier at once.
One poor fellow was chased from the enclosure
and took refuge IN Il bakery on the oppotite side
of Washington street. He passed through into
an alley in the rear, when his prosecutors again
got sight Of him. He ran down Delaware street
towards the military Headquarters holly pur
sued. A full company of military was then
drown up and Gen. Darlington witnessed the
chase but made no effort at "A rescue. Perhaps it
was not his place to do so. We utter no COM
plaint, for the General knows his duty better than
we do. We only tate facts as we get them from
undoubted authority.
DR.. Carter. an elderly gentleman. entered the
enclosure. The cry was raised that he was the
Secretary of the knights of the Golden Circle,
and the soldiers we're told ito 20 for him They
went. FOUNDERS with them. and as he could not
run fast he was beat shockingly over the head be-
fore he was rescued by the Provost Guard. They
protected him after they got him in their hands
and in all probability saved his life.
About l o'clock the Democrats abandoned the
contest. They sent men in different directions to
warn their friends and advise them to stay away
from the polls. Many. however. were deter
mined to vote at all hazards. and did do it.
Major Conklin, formerly Of the 35th regiment.
went ND about A o'clock. accompanied by Mr..
Richard Simpson and another friend. He got
his ticket and presented il, giving his name. He
was asked what sort of a ticket it was. The re-
ply was that il was the ticket he desired to vote.
The judges still hesitated. The Major opened
out his ticket He said he was a Democrat, and
a true Union mar. He desired that ticket put in
the box, for he would vote no other. The ticket
was put in, but the words Ego for him." was
passed around. He detected one gentleman urg-
ing a soldier to attack him. He told that gen
tleman that he wanted no fuss with the soldiers.
but if he would step outside of the crowd. he
could have all lhe fighting he wanted. The
craven shrank away. and the friends. by sticking
together, got out Of the bull pen unframed. This
was the last Democratic vote cast, as far as we
know.
We have given but a very few incidents Of this
famous election, but enough. we presume, to give
an idea of the mode Of conducting elections under
the new order of conducting things in this free
country. These can. all, and many more, he
fully established as facts. unvarnished facts, he
fore any Court. And yet this farce is called an
election.
What the vote will count out. we do Mt know.
and don't care. IL was too serious To be a farce,
and not dignifed enough TO be called a tragedy.
IL might provoke mirth. il it was not for the seri-
Gus consequences TO public liberty likely to flow
from il. We most sincerely hope we shall not
see such another scene. In this city, until some
respect is paid to the law. and until there is either