American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-09-06


ough: at our annual elections we can poll
from eighty to one hundred Republican
votes. Our whole party vote seldom
comes out in full and yet we usually
poll double our vote at nominations i
This is the result of two causes; first, by
polling many Republicans from different
townships; and, secondly, by bringing
out large Democratic vote In this
place that party is vastly in the majority
nearly two to one. 1t is, therefore, much
easier for candidate, in our party, to
make arrangements to bring out good
part of this vote than to canvass one of
our Republican townships. In the latter
case, candidate would have to traverse an
area five miles square, while in the Bor-
ough be. could see as many Democrats in
travelling over an area half mile square J
this is much more convenient. Again, If
a Republican who has endeavored to dis
charge his whole duty becomes candi-
date, his political opponents would, if al
lowed, throw their influence for one who
had given less attention to politics; while
another class would be governed by no
higher motive than a glass of Layer or
some similar beverage On several occa-
sions the large Democratic vote polled in
this Borough has been cause of offence
and resolve after resolve has been made,
that ia the future it should not be repeat
ed Three years ago there was consider
able complaining about this matter, but
then all had agreed TO the propriety of
letting this vote be, at least all of whom
we had any knowledge of complaining at.
forwards. 1t was quite different this sea-
son. The matter was talked over at length
in committee; Gen. Purviance and ourself
were both present, and consented to the
propriety of conining our nominations
strictly to our own party-in fact the
whole committee we're protessedy of one
mind, and the call was arranged accord
ingly, inviting only Republicans. With
this understanding we went into the can
vass-when asked, on one or two occasions
whether it would be proper to have any
Democrats come out, we said no that it
was understood between all the candidates
that they would not have any Democratic
votes polled Mr.. Purviancc and we both
live in Butler township, and accordingly
met on the afternoon of the nominations.
Soon after the election was opened a gen
tleman offered to vote, whom we thought
Democratic, at least in appearance, and on
inquiry he frankly told the board that he
was "von DEMOCRAT J" We called the
General forward and reminded him of
our mutual understanding he assented
to it, and so our Democratic neighbor was
not allowed to vote. In our absence, how
ever, several votes of this persuasion were
inadvertently received. "Red Bill Bryson,
for instance-than whom a more bitter
Copperbead did BOT live perhaps, drove
up in a buggy and offered TO vote. The
board asked him what was his politics. : His
reply was Republican. While things upen
an average were conducted with fairness
in the township, it was quite different in
the Borough The board was composed
of young gentlemen for whom we have
great respect, and whom We believe earn
estly desired to do their duty. But in a
place like this, one half of the German
Democrats perhaps were not personally
known to the board. If some designing
person, therefore, was so lostto sense of
political propriety, or personal honor, as
to desire to impose upon the board, he
could do so by having ono of these igno-
rant creatures, VINO had no honor to lose,
offer his vote, and on being askedif he
were Republican to say Eyes" This, it
was insisted, was an end to the matter.
We thought differently. All knew that
it was trick.
If such shallow trick is beyond con-
troll, then the purity of our nominations
is ia the hands of few unprincipled men
in our own party backed up by this class
of ignorant copperheads--intelligent Dem
ocrats despise such conduct as much as
genuine Republicans. As connected
with this disgraceful proceeding, we might
meatioa the names of several gentlemen,
some of whom would much surprise our
people but will content ourself for the
present by referring to one-that Of. John
Purviance, Esq son ofthe General. We men
&ion him rather than any other, because,
although he seldom gives politics any at
tention, unless when personally inter
ested, he was the most bold and un-
scrupulous on this occasion. We would
much prefer avoiding the mention of