Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-11-03
FRAUDS IN THE SAILORS VOTES
BALLOT sTUFFING ON TIL
MISSISSIPPI
Copperheadism Ashore and Anoat,

The following letter was forwarded 10 the
Secretary of the Navy by Fleet Captain A. NJ.
PCunock, temporarily commanding the Missis-
sippi squadron. The Navy Department some
time since issued instructions to the COM
manders Of all squadrons TO AFFORD every facility
to the agents of States, appointed by compo.
tent authority, to secure a fair vote:
The New York World of yesterday, with
characteristic mendacity, asserts that socre-
tary Wellcs has sent ga tbreemastod revenue
steamer TO take the presidential votes OF the
scancn at Hilton Head, Key West, and In the
Cult" and also that the Commissioner sent
Oh board refused to take Mcclellan votes !
Now, Secretary Wclles has no more control Of
tho revenue steamers than he has Of the United
States Supreme Court. He has not sent
revenue steamer or any other steamer upon
such commission.
The truth Is, that the World Is only crying
"stop thief" over such frauds as are exposed
in the subjolned letter, sent by Capt. PcnnOck.
The Copperheads send out commissioners to
take only Mcclellan votes, and, If possible, to
transmute Union votes into copper, and then
attempt to cover up their rascality with such
lies as that in the World of yesterday
UNITED STATES IRoN.CLAD ESSEN,
MEMPHIS, TENN, oc'. %, 1864.
'Hpt. 4. W. PcHnOck, L. s. ", Commanding MtSsis-
SipPi squadron!
Sin. On the 18th inst. arrived by the naval
supply steamer New National a Mr.. Michael
McKeon, accompanied by his clerk, Mr..
Hugh f. Meighau. Mr.. McKeon announced
himself to me as Commissioner, appointed
by the Governor of the State of New York, TO
distribute the blank forms requisite 10 enable
soldiers and sailors who are qualified electors
of that State to vote al the approaching general
election. In support of this statement, he
exhibited 10 me the commission of Governor
Seymour 70 that elect, also an order from
Lieutenant Commander Greer, by your au-
thority, directing all commanding officers Of
vessels in the Mississippi Squadron 10 afford TO
him as Commissioner every facility In tho
execution of his Office.
In reply 10 my inquiries, Mr.. McMahon
stated that he had with him only the blank
forms printed by the State, aud that the cleo
ton ballots for both parties were aboard the
nag ship, expected here within few hours. !
told Mr.. MckcOn that every opportunity would
be afforded to the officers and crews Of my d.
vision to exercise freely and fully tho elective
franchise. The Commissioner soon after left
the ship, promising to return shortly. That
thulO NNNlllUR 1bu uIIlNtu uCTC III luG DlHCh
Hawk. Alter paying my respects, made in
quiry Of you in regard 10 the election ballots.
You Informed me that the bag purporLing TO
contain them was opened In your presence, but
that no ballots were 10 be found-the contents
consisting solely of the blank forms intended
TO accompany the ballots. / next saw Mr..
Mckeon on the afternoon of the following
day, when | returned on board tho Essex, after
accompanying yon in your official visit to the
commanding general and to the defences Of
Memphis. lie aud his clerk were, or rather
had been, engaged in filling in the blank forms
for some of my men. He had asked my exec
tive officer TO administer the requisite oaths,
assuring the latter that II was call right"
| could only exchange word or two with Mr..
Mckcon, as ! desired, In accordance with your
instructions, to place the Milwaukee, as soon
as possible, in position where she could en-,
| nladC the rayne below Fort Pickering. But
before left the Essex, Acting Volunteer Lieut.
Parker Informed me that Mr.. McKeon only
brought before him those of my men who were
willing 10 vote for Mcclellan; and to those
men lie distributed Mcclellan ballots, leaving
the ship as soon as lie had attended TO those o.
| his own party.
| ] saw that the Commissioner was using hi,
public office for Shabby elcctioneGring purposes
| | afterwards discovered that he had pursued
| exactly the same CcOurse-securiug only the NJ c
| Clellan vOte5-abOard the other gunboats lying
here. ! reported the circumstances TO you
| DESTROYS TO defeat such unworthy partisan
schemes, aud to secure free and impartial OK
erclsc OF the elective franchise to the officer
and men of the Mississippi Squadron, you re
qucsted me 10 procure correct lists of the PrCsi
dental Electors nominated by each one of tn,
great political parties in the State of New York
In order that you might have copies struck Of
by the flagship printing press for the use o
those under your command.
The New York city newspapers supplied list
of the Presidential electors and of the guberna
torial candidates of both parties, and from thcs
have been carefully printed, and by your orde
forwarded 10 each vessel of the squadron II
equal proportion, the ballots of each Of tn
great political organizations, &C., &c.
(SignCD X. TOWNSEND,
Commander U. s. N,
Commanding 9Th District, Miss. squadron