The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-10-23
THE DEMOCRACY AND THE
SOHDIE RS.
ValIandigham,s Outrageous
Conduct.
rFrOm the Dayton journal, OctoberI4.l

From the Dayton Journal, Oetoberl4l
The conduct of Vallandigham and
his associates, Messrs. G. V. Nauerth
and Dennis Dwyer, in endeaVoring to
prevent the soldiers from voting, ex-
cites universal indignation among Re
pubhcans as well as among the inmates
of the Home. 1t was supposed the op-
position had exhausted itself long be-
fore the day of election, and that the
loud professions Of love for the soldiers,
which were so profusely uttered, would
be manifested in a show of fairness, at
heart, when the time for voting arrived.
But it was not so. Early in the NOM
ing, Vallandigham, who it is said had
spent the night at Liberty, in company
with a cherished friend who accom-
panied him from Dayton, and who re-
turned with him on Tuesday afternoon,
appeared at the polls, had a conference
with the judges, and prepared them for
business. The soldiers from the Home
were waiting to deposit their votes when
the polls we're opened. But there was
no disposition to allow them to vote.
The game was to keep as many ofthem
from voting as was possible. Delay,
annoyance and all other means to an
noy, fatigue and discourage them was
the thing in hand. Just look at it for
moment Here were three hundred
men, some with but one leg, and some
reduced by sickness to a condition Of
weakness which would have made them
objects of compassion and tenderness
at any other voting place in the country
save that at which Vallandigham was
the evil genius. Yet these disabled
men, entitled by their first coming to
be first served, did not succeed in get
| ting in their votes till near sundown.
Their rights were disregarded, they
were put aside to receive the votes of
citizens in good health who came to
the polls hours after the soldiers had
been upon the ground. 1t would have
been perfectly justi6able, if the soldiers
had closed around the polls, and re-
fused to permit any citizen to come up
until after their votes had been taken.
The objections made by Vallandigham
in some cases were peculiarly unjust,
but they were sustained by the Judges.
The vote of the soldier who had been
separated from his wife for twenty
years, was rejected, for the reason that
having been married, he must vote at
the place where his wife lived. The
soldier stated that he was finally sep
arated from her. 1t was then asked
why be did not procure divorce. He
said he was a Catholic, and that his
church did not recognize the right of
divorce. Still the objection was not
withdrawn, and the man was rejected.
There were other cases of similar
character, To one Vsllandigham said
Where were you in October, 1884 2
d was not in Canada, was the reply.
Another laid down his naturalization
papers; Vallandigham said-'Are these
your papers, sirP Yes they are my
papers, and here's my vote,' showing
Republican ticket. The soldiers, with
scarce an exception, voted open tickets
This was denied; the soldiers had re-
solved, at a meeting held the previous
night, to vote open tickets. Vallandig-
ham said next year the Democrats
would have control of the institution,
and then the soldiers would vote the
ticket, This threat to overawe the SOL
diers was based upon the election of
Seymour and Blair. The conduct of
Yallandigham is everywhere severely
condemned, while the patience and
patriotism of the soldiers, as displayed
at the polls in Jefferson township, is
praised by all who respect and honor
the bravery of the defenders of their
country.