New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-27
OLE LOCAL ELECTIONS BECOMING
APAHCE-TIzE REMEDY WITHIN
RE,AdkI.

APAHCE-TIzE REMEDY WITHIN
REACH.
Unless something be soon done 10 amend tie
system under which votes are now taken and
cauyassed in this city. our elections Will become
IN toto, what they already arc IL grea, part, II
perfect farce. 1t is well known nat in certain
Of our waris--the Sixth, for iusiauce-whcre u
good understanding Las been had between the
local Democratic AID Union leaders, tic VIII Of
The people IL of but the slightest accounts; ana,
10 matter what ballots the voters may cast the
Canyassets are pretty sure to bring out Returns
exactly corresponding with tie desires OF in-
ereSts Of the chiefs to whose favor they
stand indebted for their appointment. All
VII remember that it wasby post-electiOn alter
atons in tie returns of the Sixth District Of
this Waid LA, year that Mr.. Justice lIosworth
was defeated ard Mr.. John II. McCunn re-
cciged his license 10 II, upon the bench OF our
Superior Court; and again, il is also as wei!
known that at our lsst general election the re-
turns Of this Ward were again iampcied with
subsequent to their first alnouucemep,-the
design being TO defeat Coroner Schirlner and TO
elect n favored minority rival in his place. In
fact, il has long been matter Of public not"riety
that, ~ any contest nearly concerning The joint
interests of the Democratic and Union leaders
in this Ward. tie returns might DO relied upon
"to come out right" lao matter how tie con-
stiiuency voted.
This systcm-known in city politics as the
Sixth Ward plan us fast over-spreadng ell
Of our lower Wards; and, from the advantages II
affords to the controlling politicians of both par
ties, will soon inevitably become universal iron.
The Battery to Harlem B-idgc, unless we can
have radical revision this Winter OF tie whole
present SYSTEM Cor the registration, acceptance
and canyassing Of votes. In the Firs,, Fourth
and Eighth Wards this year. as in .he Sixth
during many years preceding, our elections
AID more especially the late Charter Election
did BOT rise beyond the dignity Of an old-fash-
toned Tammany Hall primary" Decent voters
were driven away from the polls, and not al
lowed t. vote even once; while small bands Of
" bounty Jumpers" and others Of The dangerous
classes travelled from polling-place to polling
place, recording their votes IN cach, and brand
shing their pistols in the faces Of any policemen
or officers Of election who might strive TO arrest
or question them. In tie Eighth Ward, his vas
more especially the ease, where one OF the CHAR
ter candidates Was Of character to elicit the
utmost enthusiasm from oil the worst ruians
of our city. Even in the old ard steady Ninth
Ward, it is the general belief TINT one o, the
candidates for the Board Of Councimen was
counted in" by an alteration Of the returns
amounting to 200 votes, made several days
after the election; aud, 10 DO brief there ia
scarcely ward below FOurteenlh-st., in some
district of which il is not either very slrewdly
suspected, or capable Of positive proof, that the
election returns have been Iaudulenuy tam
pered with and altered.
The first step toward healthy reform in our
City affairs should be the submission to our
STATE Legislature. this Winter, of well-digestcd
and comprehensive plan for rendering oil The
officers of our olectiOns-R, gistrafs, Inspectors
and Canvassers-thorouehl independent Of all
exiting political organizations Al present,
they arc appointed by tho Board Of supervisors
in itself on unconstitutional and most obnox-
ious body; and in their selection no other rule
is followed than to blndly indorge the nominees
pf those organizations known In our local
politics os tho "Tammany Hall (Democratio)
and Twonty- third.st. (Union) City Railroad
gangs." This Is no fair representation Of our
voters; 1t Ia exactly the reverse. 1t Is placing
tho wolvcs over tho sheep as their guardians;
It Is employing tho direct tools ard dependents
Of corruption to supervise and protect God ,sye
tho mark y "tho purity and Independence Of
Ne ballot.boI." II tho Law Committee of the
Citizens Associatlon--ombracing, as It does, the
high-t loyal talent and character Of our island
will Svo this matter their attention, and pre-.
pare BIN furnishing remedies for these noto.
rious cofcots Of our prcsont election machinery,
most important step will have boon taken In
tho hight direction. and NO doubt not that sufD.
Oisut honest influences oan 10 brought TO beag