The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-11
Democratic Electioneering.

As an indication or the way In which
the Democrats conducted the late canvass,
We subjoin the following circular from
the Chairman Of the Democratic State
Central Committee to a Chairman of a
| subordinate Committee. The lessons OF
fraud and dishonesty which it inculeates
are unparalleled in political history -
CIRCULAR 4-PRIVATE.
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE RooAs, \
s29 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA,
September II, 1866.
To J h. Samson, Chairman of County
Committee of Indiana County:
DEAR SIR-The subject of the desert
ers' list requires prompt and thorough
attention. These lists are being furnished
by the Adjutant General to the several
Clerks of Quarter Sessions, and it will be
attempted to reject the votes of all those
| whose names are found upon them.
The case of Huber VS.. Reilly settled the
question In this State, and unless a man
| has been convicted of desertion and failure
to return to service or to report to a Pro-
vost Marshal, he is entitled to vote This
| is the fixed opinion of the Supreme Court,
and they stand firmly by it.
The only evidence of desertion is the
| record of conviction. The Act of Assem-
bly, known as the M'Conaughy law is
| totally void as regards all other cases, and
desire to impress it upon you and our
| friends, that the law is with us in this
| matter, and that we will be sustained In
| receiving these votes in every case, and
will be justified in resorting to almost
every means to poll them.
Noneof the penalties imposed by that
law can ever be enforced; / have the
very highest authority for declaring this
| to you.
l have made every effort to bring the
Act of Assembly directly before the Court,
but up to this time have not succeeded
[ shall not relax my efforts in that and
another direction.
In the necessity for Immediate action I
have to give the following general direc-
| tons. | trust you will see them attended
to, and also use all other means that you
and our friends deem wise in the emer-
geney.
| shall within a week furnish you with
| complete lists of all the alleged deserters
! and non-reporting drafted men so far as I
| have been able to get them, and as / OBJ
tain others will also furnish them to you
| One copy of this list will be furnished to
you for each election district. "Fore-
| warned is forearmed." The law makes
the certificate of the Clerk of Quarter
Sessions the evidence of desertion, and it
is probable that the enemy will get GER
tihcates to use against our men, and not
produce the evidence against their own.
With these lists you can learn which Of
their men are also on, and be provided
| with the weapon against them, if it be
| necessary.
The first thing to be done is to keep
our election officers fully up to the mark,
| and sustain them in receiving these votes.
I advise that circular signed by the
| District Attorney and the Democratic
| members of the bar, distinctly pointing
| out their duty under the law, and giving
| the point decided in Huber VS.. Reilly, and
assuring them that the penalties in the
| act of Assembly cannot and shall not be
enforced against them, be placed in each
of their hands.
| A circular from yourself, accompanied
| by the list, should also 60 to the Vigilance
L
in each election district, for private use
i by them.
! l also wish to furnish to every election
officer copy of the decision of the Su-
| preme Court. Forward me their names
and Post Office address.
| Where we have the President Judge,
the District Attorney and reliable Juries,
the case is very plain one. The votes
must be polled, and you must threaten the
Republican officers and frlfll your
| threats. This will dispose of the matter
in the Democratic counties. In those
counties in which the Republicans have
.he Judge, Juries and District Attorney,
we must be specially active in sustaining
and upholding our election officers, and il
we can succeed in getting them right, the
whole trouble is reduced to Republican
Districts in their counties. Here the
lists again become useful, and / advise
that our friends change the voter Gf il
can be done) into a Democratic District
over 10 days before the election, and also
provide themselves with certificates tC
strike their men In return. IF we can
carry this out we will neutralize THEN
great game, and whip them with their owr
weapons.
Please require our friends to keep &C
curate lists of all voters who may be re
ljected on election day.
| Courage, frmness and clear instruction.
as to duty and we will easily win th'
fight. Very respectfully, yours,
| WILLIAM A. WALLACE,