North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-12-21


To the Democratic Citizens Of Pc nnsy ylrania
have but waited the tardy movements Of
our public authorities in olecting the result
of the election held on the 9Th ult., in order
to discharge the incumbent duty of calling
your attention to the means by which ma
jority of 20,0Sl votes Gas | now learn from
off tial circles) has been recorded against Us.
This majority is made up from all the votes
stated to have been given, t. the districts at
home including those by proxy, and all those
given in the armies negro votes and all in
every form Of terms lawful and otherwise,
There have been OF least two papabIe forms
of fraud practIced by the supporters Of Abra
ham Lincoln, in order to make up this ma
jority, and thus secure him the electoral vote
Of the State. FcticIous ballots have been
placed in the baliot-boXes answering to false
reglstries, the same as has been repeatedly
proven to have been the case in our elections
heretofore and, secondly, the suffiages Of
the volunteer soldiers have not only been
overawed and perverted by corrupt partisan
officials, but the returns themselves, in many
cases, have been tampered with and trans
formed. IN reference tt fictciouS votes. who
believes that Philadelphia has to day, or ever
had, 9Q,S00 voters legally and properly regis.
tered in her various wards and precincts 3
And yet this number OF votes has been count
ed as thus resident-giving near 1000 Aboe
lition majority in q city that not many 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 a signal iaiIure-farce I would
call it, but for its various melancholy con
ccm!tants, The doubts entertained by many
Is TO the wisdom and rropriety Of this meas
ure, prior to is adoption, would seem to have
been fully realized.
1t is impossible ever to secure fair and
full distribution Of tickets, so as to allow
free choice to the voters IN army service
The expenses of the attempts made to do so,
are almost beyond belief On the part of
State, they will reach at least 10000 and
the two political organizations cxpende3 fully
as much more. The systesi will always be
liable to great buses, and must ever be une-
quail in its operation, and Unfair in its results
Certain Il is, that the privilege Of vo ting
given to the soldiers is a Inockery, when the
very man against whom perhaps, he would
IKE to vote, has the most despite control
over those who rule that soldiers every move
mcnt, and could send him at word To the
front Of battle and to death, if he refused
cnmphances with their bybcsts
Until The volunteer soldiery have the pow
er Of choosing their own officers, the ri hit Of
sutIrag Sc for other purposes can never be car
ried in:o effect in the army. Had they been
lamiy and frealy lett Ia their own pre- ference,
can any sane man doubt, but that there wo'd
have been about the same proporiIpnae dl-
vision of sentiment expressed by the soldiers
in the late elections that was manifested by
their fathers and brothers at home
1t is this army vote. (not to speak of the
other frauds,) which has given our opponents
their "ccent beggarly triumph in Pennsvlvan-
ia. Beggarly indeed--when it is reco!lccted
that it shows falling of of from f,rty TO
Fifty thousand majority, within the last four
years Such a victory, and so obtained, be-
tokens speedy downfall as party, to the
advocates Of negro equality in our sfsunch
Old Commonwealth. Reroiution ns nerer 90
backwards. 1t is worthy of remark here al
so, that change Of twenty five thousand
votes property divided amongst the larger
States would have defeated Mr.. Lincoln alto
gether.
1t was our duty, fellow citizens. TO have
rescued the Constitution at the late elections,
if we could. The effort was CALAMITY, but
unsuccessfuly made. And now, in view of
all that must inevitably transpire within the
next four years, feel honestly, more like
congratuating you as political party, on
having escaped fearful responsibility, than
Offering explanations and coincidence over a
defeat, After entailing a weight of suffering
upon this country, from which nothing but
the most radical measures can ever relieve
il after having forced into operation a fl
nancial system, which is but the mask of ruin
in that regard; after so mis- managing the
unfortunate civil war now upon their hands
as to leave scarcely hope of saving the I'M
ion-t is but right that the Abolitonists,
and their instrument Abraham Lincoln, sho'd
remain in position to feel the first fruits Of
their own wick edness and folly, and meet the
suffering people. when the impending clouds
Shall mature into storm and darkness.
Our plain duty, fellow citizens, both as a
party and as patriots, is to maintain our no
BILE organization in all its power and activity.