The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-12-09
THE CHARTER ELECTION.


THE CHARTER ELECTION.
The Charter election in this city las
Monday was the occasion for great activ
ity on the part of both contending par
ties. Early in tho day the Abolitionist.
felt quite sure that an easy victory woul,
be won by them, but as the day advance,
fear and despair took the place of th,
mornings hope and belief. The part,
lines were as rigidly drawn in the cleo
ton as at a Presidential contest. and
greater activity on the side of the Adolf
%tionists could not have been exhibited
They voted every body their party mum.
bered, present in the place they coaxcd
wheedled, threatened. bullied, and almost
eoerced voters TO their ticket. Their
two Judges of Election admitted ever,
doubtful Abolition vote, and rejected
every possible Democratic vote. An
idea Of their outrageous ruling can be
formed when We assure readers that
among the Democrats whose votes were
refused was one of the wealthiest aud best
of Albany old'eitizens, who is a native
born American, Of sound head and clear
mind, and has been a steady resident OF
the place for nearly sixteen years. He
has not, in all this time, had or made any
other residence in the State. He owns a
farm a few miles from town, and because
he visited that farm with his wife within
the thirty days preceding the election
his home being here in town all the time
the two Abolition Judges Of Election
refgsed TO let him vote, even after he had
offered to swear Il in. Three other
nearly parallel cases occurred, each time
the rejected citizens being Democrats
There were seven Democratic voters alb
sent, stormStayed across the river, or on
business. OF the Abolitionists there
were not five, fso many, absent. Aud
yet they beat the Democratic ticket only
largest majority against any of the Demo
cratic candidates. But the Democrat:
elected two of their candidates-Dr. Lis
ter for City Marshal, and Mr.. John Long
for Alderman. As We said in our last
issue, the Democracy could have %carrieC
the election IN toto had the Judges De
eided honestly, or all of our voting fore,
been present. Two or three Democrat
did not vote at all, for some peculiar rea
sons. Had they voted, even as thing
were, our whole ticket would have beer
elected.
This triumph may seem triaing an
insignificant to some of our people il
other counties. 1t viii not appear so I
any in this county. For it has develope,
the fact that right here in the yer
| Gibraltar of Abolitionism in Linn, wher
our opponents have for years carried ever
ELECTION by from thirty to fifty majority
strongest. Outside the corporate limit
the precinct is Democratic also, and henc
We have beaten them in their creates
boosted stronghold, Now, we have Ia
an accurate, complete trial of our strengt
and theirs, and though unjust ruling a
the polls and our absentees and nor
voters allowed them to carry off most {
the Offices, the Democracy knoto that the
have the actual majority. W. are SUI
of the county in June by over two hun
! bred, perhaps full three hundred. Th
| city Offices amount to ~nothing-it is wins
the election has revealed to cur part
brethren that we all rejoice over-th
fact, the inc~ontrovertible fact, that til
| city of Albany, the Abolition stronghold
: of Linn, is Democratic. Our friends j
the other precincts of the county will no
safely count upon us here, and so the
may. We have secured Albany, now ]
: us storm and take Lebanon, that 9TH
Abolition castle. Organization, actiyit
resolution and an united attack may e
fleet it. But the county is safely our
4 at all events.
- aEH