The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-10-31
Gov. oeary and Fort Delaware.

The present Executive Of this State has
recently furnished conclusive evidence that
he is fully capable Of sounding all the
depths and shoals of political infamy.
Fort Delaware belongs TO the govern
rncnt of the United States, and is situated
a short distance below Philadelphia. 1t
is gnrrisoned by soldiers of the regular ar
my, who were not in service under requi-
sition from the President, nor were they
there by any authority of this Common
wealth. This fact was just as we'll known
TO Gov. Geary as it was to any man in
Pennsylvania who has ever read the Act
of Assembly passed in 1864, which con-
fers upon citizens { this State who are in
the service of United States the right to
vote. 1t seems to be beyond controversy
that on the 5th day of October, just three
days before the recent election, Gov. Gea-
ry issued commission under his hand and
the seal of tie Commonwealth, directed 10
one Henry Mitchell of Philadelphia coun-
ty, 10 take the votes of Pennsylvania SOL
di,rs at Fort Delaware, by virtue of the
Act of August 2lst, 1864. The first Sec
ton of that Act is as follows:
That whenever any of the qualified cleo
& rs of this Commonwealth shall be in any
actual military service, under a req,uSiton
from tho PreJidsW IF the United States or by
the ~ hotity of this Commonwealth, and as
such absent from their place of residence"
&c. &c, "such electors shall be entitled al
suth times to exercise the right of suffrage"
VIII any man of comm on honesty to
say nothing Of common sense, pretend for
one moment that, under the plain provi-
lions of this section, the soldiers of the
United Safes army stationed at Fort Del
aware were legally entitled to vote at our
late election? No man outside of luna
tic asylum would maintain so monstrous
anl absurd proposition. And yet Gov.
Geary sent his willing tool, Henry Nit
chell, to take that vote in plain and man.
ifest violation Of law, although the COM
manding officer of the Fort informed NIit~
chell that there were no Pennsylvania SOL
diers there who were entitled to vote, V, t
Mitchell persisted in taking the vote and
turned fre for Sharswood and one h,ln-
dred and thirteen for Williams, And they
were actually counted by the Return Judge
of Philadelphia county. Itis as gross and
Paipable Il violation of the election law as
was ever perpetrated.
If Geary is so ignorant MS not TO under
san the law he Is unit rJr The position
h holds, but if his intention was to abuse
and pervert the law, then lie deserves ex-
posure and punishment. That such was
his design is evident, and we trust tha;
this outrage on the election franchise will
he thoroughly investigated, and that his
EHcel!cncy will be held up to the scorn
and contempt of an outraged people.
How deeply humiliating it is to see the
highest EXECUTIVE office in the Common
wealth filed, to use the language of Thad-
deus Stevens, by such "miseraJle failure"
a' John w Geary. If he possesses
single qualification for the office of Gov
orhor 1T has yet TO be discovered, and be-
lore his term of office expires lie will be
regarded by common consent as the weak
est as well as the most faith!css incumbent
who ever occupied that position. Pig
m'eS' though perched on Alps, are 12ignies
still.