Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-12-28
ADDRESS.

10 The Democratic Citi:sns Of Pennsylvania
| have but waited the tardy movements
of our public authorities in collecting the
result of the election held on the 8th ult..
in order to discharge the incumbent duty
OF calling your attention to the means by
which a majority of 20,0Sl votes las now
learn from Official circles) has been recor-
ded against us.-This majority is made up
from all tho votes stated to have been
given in the districts at home, including
those by proxy, aud all those given in the
armies-pegro votes and all-in every
form of returns, lawful and otherwise.
There have been at least two palpable
fUrula Uf fraud rrnotioed by the suppoT-
ters of Abraham Lincoln, in order- 10
make up this majority, and thus secure
him the electoral vote of the State. Fic-
titious ballots have been placed in the
ballot-boxes, answering to false registries,
the same as has been repeatedly proven
to have been the case in our elections
here tofore and secondly, the sullrages of
the volunteer soldiers have not only been
over-awed and perverted by corrupt par
tisan officials, but the returns themselves
in many cases, have been tampered with
and transformed. In reference TO ficti-
tious votes, who believes that the city Of
Philadelphia has to-day, or ever had. 90,-
900 voters legally and properly registered
in her various wards and precincts ?-And
yet that number of votes had been coun-
ted as thus resident.-giving near 10000
Abolition majority in city that not ma
ny years since burnt an Abolition hall in
open day. as public nuisance!
The late attempt to exercise the right
of suffrage on the part of the volunteer
soldiers, has proved signal failure farce
| would call it, but for its various melau-
choly concomtants. The doubts enter
tanned by many as to the wisdom and pro-
priety Of this measure, prior TO its adop
ton, would seem to have been fully real
lied,
1t is impossible ever to secure fair and
full distribution of tickets, so as to allow
free choice to the voters in army ser
vice. The expenses of the attempts made
to do So are almost beyond belief. On
the part of this State, they will reach at
least $50, 600; and the two political organ-
izations expended fully as much more
The system will always be liable to great
abuses. and must ever be unequal in its
operation, and unfair in its results.
Certain it is, that the privilege of vo-
ting given to the soldier is a mockery,
when the very man against whom per-
haps. he would like to vote, has the most
despotic control over those who rule that
soldiers every movement, and could send
him at n word 10 the front Of battle and
TO death, if he refuses compliance with
their behests. Until the volunteer SOL
diery have The power OF choosing their
own officers, the right OF suffrage for 9TH
er purposes can never bo properly carried
into effect in the army. Had they been
fairly and freely left to their own prefer
euces, can any sane man doubt, bnt that
there would have been about the same
proportionate division of sentiment ex-
pressed by the soldier in the late elect
ions tina. was manifested by their fathers
and brothers at home?
IL is this army vote, met TO speak oil
The other frauds,) which has given our
apnonents their recent beggarly triumph
in Pennsy lvania. Beggarly indeed when
| it is recollected that it shows a falling oil
offrom forty TO fifty thousand in their ma
iority, within the last four years Such q
victory, and so obtained, betokens spec
DIV downfall as a party, to the advocates
| of negro equaaiTy in our staunch old Com
monwealth. RevoSutiOnS neer 90 backwards
| II is worthy of rethark here also, that a
change of twenty-five thousand votes
properly divided amongst the larger
States would have defeated Mr.. Lincoln
sltogether
Ii was our duty, fellow citizens, 10 have
rescued the constitution at the late elect
ions, five could. The effort was gallant
", but unsuccessfully made. And now,
in view of all that must inevitably trans
oire within the sext four years, feel hon
estly, more like congratulating you as
political party, on having escaped fear