The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-23
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1869.
Tbe New York Election Frauds.

New NOEk BIechOn FRAUDS,
THE timely expose of the manner in which
fraudulent naturalization papers were manu-
faotured by the wholesale iu this city previous
20 the October election, in the interest of the
Democratic party, put the Republicans on
their guard and II we suffered u partial loss
in October, we were able to save the city for
Grant and Colfax in November. Many per-
sons. on the strength OF the disclosures that
were made, fancied that We we're even ahead
of New York in rascality, but the fact is that
the Democratic maEsgers in that city were
more accomplished rsscals than ours, aud
managed to keep their pefarious operations
concealed, until they oWplished their pur-
pose, at least.
committee appointed by the House Of
Representatives to investigate the New York
election frauds has prepared report, in which
they state that the appalling frauds in the
State and especially in the city of New York,
surpass anything that has been known 10
our past history, and that they were the re-
suit ofs systematic plan OF gigantic proportions,
stealtbily prearrapged aud boldly executed,
not merely by degraded desperadces, but with
the direct sanction, approval, and aid of many
prominent citizens and officials of New York.
Thousands Of aliens frauiulently procured
or were furnished with naturallz alton papers,
by which they were enabled to register as
voters and to vote in violation of law, and
many hundreds OF persons voted in New York
oity from two to forty times, or more, under
assumed names, frauduleutly registered for
the purpose. The gross-st neglect of duty
and actual connivanoe III the frauds, on the
part of the officers and Democratic partisaas
attached to the courts, are shown by the report
OF the committee to have existed; and they
declare that, from the evidence iu their pos
session, there is no doub; that through these
agencies the Democratic E-c,ors for President
and Vice President, and ths Democratic eaudi-
date for Governor of thu State of New York,
were fraudulently elected. The committee
give it as their opinion that the existing State
laws and mode OF enforcing them are wholly
inadequate to prevent these frauds, but that
Congress has the power, add ought to exercise
it, to enact laws which, if faithfully executed,
will to some extent furnish protection. Al
present there is no law of Congress protesting
to punish frauds In voting or conducting cleo
tions, and the penalties relating to certificates
OF naturalization are entirely INADEQUATE.
The committee state that the Judges of the
Supreme Court and the Clerk, Charles E.
Leow, threw every obstruction in their way,
and endeavored to hinder them from prose-
cutting their investigation. The whole NUN
ber of blank naturalization certificates re-
oeived into Mr.. Lsow's office is shown to have
been 80, 900; the number issued, according to
the record, was 10,070; the number OF blanks
remaining on hand is 1862, leaving 27, ,06S uu-
accounted for. In the three hundred and
forty districts there were cast in November
$4,000 votes, number nearly as great as
all the votes cast in six States of the Union.
Mayor Hoffman, now Governor of the State,
District Attorney A. Oakley Hall, now Mayor
OF New York city, Judge McCunn, and other
officials, rendered the most important assist
ance In this grand conspiracy to defeat the
will OF the people; and with the courts and
ohcers OF justice all controlled by men elected
ss democrats, men are not only able to escape
all punishment for crime, but immunity aud
protection were promised repeatedly to those
engaged in the election frauds.
1t is evident that the time has arrived
when some prompt and determined measures
must be adopted by Congress to put stop
TO this sort Of business. The Republican
party has the power in its hands, and it will
be.reoreant to its duty and will deserve to fall
into contempt lit does not enact some law to
punish rascals, protect honest men, and secure
the purity Of the ballOt-box The committee
recommend the withdrawal of naturalization
from the New York city courts; also, that one
DAY be liked for the elect on of Representatives
10 Congress throughout the United States.
that provision be made for enabling the
elections OF the President aud Vice Ptesiden,
to be contested; and that a constitutions, a,
amendment be proposed changing the mode OF
electing the President and Vice President
These propositions are we'll enough but tbov
do not cover the whole ground. The who'll
naturalization system needs reforming and
the matter should receive ths esrlv atten,ior
OF Congress, SO that satisfactory laws NAV h.
enacted governing the whole United STATE.
and put in operation before the next election
Andrew JOhnsOn's Seventeenth Veto
Ox tI,a of FL