The evening Argus., 1865-09-26

We notice, in the Philadel phia Age,
speech delivered BY Capt. G. B. Brockway,
at the Great Mob Mountain, democratic mass
meeting, in Columbia Co. Pa. on the Both
ult. Our people will rsmem Der Capt. Brock
way as one of the marshals of the great Al
len meeting, held here last October, and who
made capital speech from one of the stands
in Court Square, or that occasion.
In the course of his speech he alluded to
his western trip as follows.
We also insist that elections shall be free and
equal that men shall vote as their judgement
dictates The object of the war was not to do
away with vested rights, but to assure them to
ourselves and descendants. We want our legis-
lators to be representatives of the people, and not
the selections of department. generals, operating
through squads of soldiers. Had the time i
would tell you how my ''interference" in cleo
tion gave me pleasure trip to the Mississippi
G"Let's hear it-tell it'll Last fall, about the
time of the Columbia county invasion, and soon
after the Petersburg mine explosion was sent
to Annapolis hospital, sick with fever. The
October election coming on, in order to how
such things were managed, secured an appoint
ment as clerk of the election board. A captain
from Philadel phia was made judge, and portion
OF the board consisted of officers of negro troops,
VINO were not AuU never Hda Deeu C1tlZeHs Ol
Pennsylvania. They concluded it unneces-
sary to swear the board. according to law, be-
cause-were they not officers and was not their
word sufficient? protested in vain because
was alone. They at once, in conjunction with
some chaplains, commenced electioneerng and
circulating abolition ballots Not democratic
one was to be had As squad after squad of men
came in proposed asking if they were citizens
OF the United States or OF Pennsylvania whether
they were of age, or had paid tax within years.
But | was asked il was not ashamed TO press
such matters; these men were soldiers and was
opposed to letting soldiers vote? / had to sub
nit At Camp Parole, where we had about
s 600 paroed prisoners, the same process was
carried on, and the men were shifted from
point TO another. After we had closed the polls,
a sergeant brought in a squad of about so men,
whose votes were admitted for t, ar they had not
been taken elsewherel We then commenced
counting off, but the judge declared it was late,
he tired, and would adjourn until the
next day wherenpon he put the ballots into his
coat tail pocket and did not him any more
that day. ! kept the tally-lIst, however, and
have it now. We met the next day, but he had
E.ore ballots in his pocket tn IN had
the tally lis; BY some bogus process they had in
creased. Here W IS quandary; but it was soon
settled. They remarked that the thing was very
simple the democratic ballots, save mine, had
been cast by mistake, and they would take out
enough of them to make the ballots and tally-list
correspond. | tenh entered Il formal protest
against the whole proceedings, and refused to
make up the necessary returns. That afternoon
l received telegraphic despatch from the
tary of war; ordering me TO report at once at
Crooks Island, lii. of course had To go at
once, and without making up the elections.
went to Chicago, thinking that Crooks Island
might be in the lake, but could find out nothing
TO the place After some truiress searching |
concluded 10 stop at Rock Island CITY, it being
pleasant locality on the Mississippi, and report
my whereabouts to the Adjutant General. AS
there nothing for me TO do in the shane of
military duty, spent few weeks in hunting,
fishing, and killing time generally at Uncle Sans
expense. Al thi- time, in view of the approach
ing presidential election, the republicans made a
grand parade, marching some cOlored soldiers in
front OF Pennsylvania regiment in spite of their
protests. At the same time General Hooker
commanding the department, Gen. Logan and
other military gentlemen, were making speeches
through the state in behalf of the republican par
ty. Following the example thus set me- acted
as marshal i'll democratic procession, ard also
made speech. 4 short time after received
another despatch stating that "honorably
mustered out hy reason of expiration of term of
service, y though that had occurred seven months
before, MT the time of tie discharge of the Penn
syIvaala reserves.
We should be glad TO publish Capt. Brock
ways speech in full, tut have only space for
the local reference t. region. The speech
is able and eloquent one-strongly sup
porting the policy Of President johnson, and
opposing all the repu blican schemes of negro
| equality.
Capt. Brockway is now an attorney at law
1t Blooms burg, Pa.