New-York tribune., 1868-07-01
A SHlRP ST1TE CONNITTEE.

4 SHIKH DI1IE tOAhII
Having pointed out how the Democrats of the
XXIst Senate District of Pennsylvania, in 1867,
stewcd naturalization papers in coffee to make
them correspond in appearance with swindling
dates, and how they stole the seal OF the court,
together with the records. and how they fur
thermore murdered one of their dupes to pre-
vent him from bearing testimony against them,
it is matter of interest to inquire what part
the Democratic State Central Committee played
in this drama of fraud and felony Ii appears
that this patriotic body, on the 18th of Sep
tembcr 1867, sent out secret and confidential
circular, addressed to the County Committees,
recommending that the measures adopted
should be comparatively noiselcss but full OF
"activity.r The Committee didn't pretend to
disguise their opinion that money should be
freely spent, and avowed that said money thus
disbuTscd was "betteT than meetings" Their
plan of bribery was, in respect of whipping the
devil round stump, delightfully."- shrewd and
ingenious. They recommended "a special con-
"tract with active men," TO be based upon
these conditions: Say "that in 1865 the Dis
"trict polled 100 Democratic votes; in 1866 100
democratic votes; now. for every Democratic
"vote over 10 polled we will pay fixed sum
"the day after election Here was tempting
offer for "actve men," and it was undoubt-
edy upon this hint that the operators in the
XXIst District went TO work. The transfer OF
aliens from localities where they were not needed
or were too well known to places character
lied as Republican holes" commenced. The
shantes of Cearfeld County were emptied,
and the male inhabitants, being moved to Cen
tre County, were furnished with naturalization
papers, coffee -colored with tax receipts, and
with Democratic tickets. IIhus trpy armed
they were marched to the polls under the
guidance of Mark Lede and Michael OMeara.
This was at Philpsburg; and it is remarka-
ble fact that four days after the election not
one of this precious gang was to be found in
the neighborhood. These ready-made citizens
had all gone back to Clearfeld County, and
Shugart was elected" to the State Senate by
virtue of perjury, colonization, grand larceny,
and the strongest of coffee.
Now, who set Mark Lede and Michael
O'Meara, and Squire Reynolds, and the rest of
the conspirators, to work 7 Who suggested the
wholesale manufacture of "the papers," the
robbery of the Clerks office, and the transfer
of this crowd Of dupes from one point to
another where they were most needed We
nave seen JldJ ID6 ulSt buSBcolioh VI houihie
men to the polsn came from the Democratic
State Committee. When the iniquity was
brought to light, and the Senate had taken the
investigation in hand, it was quite necessary
that Michael 0'Meara, the agent above-named,
should abscond. lie offered to do so for the
neat sum of $4,000, and turned up his
yirtuous nose at $500, which it was pro-
posed to pay to him. One Tracy, who was
employed to deal with 0'Meara was in con-
slant correspondence with Senator Wallace, the
Chairman of the State Committee. He reported
to Wallace the avaricious contumacy of
OMeara. Wallace gave it as his opinion that
800 per month for an absence of three months
would be an ample remuneration; and at last
O'Meara consented to make himself scarce for
the $500 originally proposed. He went of to
New York, was detected there, and finally
brought back to testify to the liberalty, the
skill, and the patriotism of the Democratic
State Central Committeeiof which Mr. Senator
Wallace was Chairman. In view OF all
these interesting and romantic incidents,
we would suggest to onr Republican
friends in Pennsylvania that the ID.
s. C. Committee, as it appears to be much
better supplied with cash than conscience, VIII
bear Watching in case It should l9chAe III