New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-23


vim Frost was supplied with 100 in one lot.
vVhicb were contributed from the Democratic
Club Room at PeeksklI, in the same county.
In addition 20 this there large class OF fraudulent
certificates issued TO Aliens who not only Appealed
I'm Court who asked that application should be
made for them They left at houses, stores and
other places sold given away Individual instances
are numerous. The evidence discoses the fact that
certificates Of naturalization were procured from the
Supreme Court to fictitious names, and delivered to
aliens and citizens to enable them 10 register and vote
"repeaters" John McCluskey, who had been clerk
for John II. McCunn when he City Judge and after
ward, and up to January last clerk for City Judge
Russell, procured 40 certificates, all fictitious
names. which he delivered to foreigners and citizens
The applications wereIprepared by him. Edward Ritter
and Theodore Taylor, Clerks OF Judge RUSSELL with sig
natures OF etcous applicants and Witnesses and with
producing applicants witnesses in Court had
cates issued On the day Of the election, McCluskey
engaged in aiding Reporters" and the purpose Of
these fraudulent certificates may be readily understood
The pracoabiity of procuring certificates fictitious
is proved by other instances These are some OF
the detected frauds Those concealed well be inferred
1t was not practicable for the Committee TO pursue
these inquiries In the various counties OF the State, but
that a scheme arranged on so large scale reached
many OF them, admit OF doubt 1t has been i'm
practicable for the Committee TO investigate fully the
naturalization frauds pracced in the interest Of the
Democratic party any Of the counties OF the State but
for the purpose OF ascertaning their prevalence and
character sufficient evidence has been taken TO show
that certificates of naturalization extensively Issued
In modes not authorized by law, TO persons not
titled naturalization, otherwise fraudulenty, in the
counties Of Orange Ulster, Monroe, Westminster, Rens
selaer Putnam and Greene. 1t shown that in most OF
these counties during the year 1865 the Clerks OF the
Courts have been issuing certificates extensively without
any proof made in court before judge and without
any order OF such Court Judge Those certificates
old Anon fha auda
Naturalization laws the false personaton Of app
cants for naturalization perjury Of witnesses under real
and assumed Names the fabrication OF applications for
naturalization and oaths In support Of them, with names
Of applicants and witnesses forged the granting of
tcates OF naturalization in fictitious Names and on ap-
pcations regular in FORM but without the presence OF
any applicants, ana to persons not entitled TO them
Judge McCunn appeared before the Committee, and his
evidence s on record 1t is believed that
nected with this investigation has deemed 1t advisable TO
call Judge Barnard as q witness did he, any
for him. venture TO request any such privilege AS he
has not yentured TO ask the privilege Of making any de-
NAL any for him, this fact may be significant, es
peciay in connection with his refusal to make order
to permit the Committee examine the files Of his Court
and the record OF his proceedings On Dec 49, the Com
mttee then sitting in New-York City asked
of the Clerk Of the Supreme Court per
mission 10 cause the papers relating TO
naturalization in his office 10 be examined by suitable
and witnesses This was deemed essential TO ascertain
their number detect forgees and other frauds The
Clerk required time consider whether he would permit
II TO be done On Dec 20 he notified the Committee that
he did think he had right to allow other parties to
como in and take temporary custody OF the papers
without the order OF the Court and that he had prepared
a communication to the Justices Of the Supreme
Court, requesting its proper order in the
matter A communication was submitted to him
from the Committee, TO be also presented
TO the Court The court never made any reply 10 thes
communications, any order authorizing the examna-
ton On Dec So the Clerk however, gave permission to
make the examination under protest" Subsequently
the evidence McCusky showed that applications for
naturalization had made and certificates of natural
zaon granted, on fictitious names the 2lst and 2Jd
October. and of forged signatures OF a
plicauts and witnessed On tho 9Th Of February the
q TX was subpaenej to appear before sub ENBfJs
of this COMMITTEE at York, and produce these pa
pers Under preteX that not practicable TO assert
and produce tho papers they were not pro
duced, although it Is admitted that some OF them
were ready and could have been produced After cor
respondenoe evincng purpose 20 delay or defeat the
purpose Of the Committee Mr. LOew appeared before the
Committee in Washington Feb H. with opinion OF the
Judges that lawful TO the papers from
their jurisdiction, and their production was refused
The purpose of delay at Eew-YOrk be understood.
Their production there would have furnished the means
OF confirming the evidence Of McCluskey and Taylor as
their spurious character The investigations OF the
Committee were otherwise obstructed The
power OF tho House OF Representatives
is doubted to compel the production
Of papers but this especially when, In this
case the Judges and Clerks derive their powers and
erce their Jurisdiction under acts Of Congress- and as to
subjects which the states have control In view
OF the evidence IL is not too much 70 say that no re-
lance be placed the records and files Of these
Courts declare the actual number Of certificates Of
al
fraudulent and fictitious DaturalzatiOns Dc
known but including those sent from NewYork City
the State TO persons appearing in Court and
probably safe that fraudulent certificates were
issued from these Courts amounting 10 not less, and
probably than sfItyei0h housdnd three hundred
and toriree OF the GO counties in the State OF New
York IA are Democratic. There is evidence OF the
issuing Of fraudulent naturalization certificates by any
Republican Court or officer but NewYork city had made
ample preparations TO supply the Democratic party
abuRdanty, even In the Republican counties These
frauds are so systematic in EewYork that the operation
called repeating and those engaged In 1t are called
repeaters" The evidence OF repeating" arc as fol
lows; First That names Of persons were registered
from houses Of given numbers and sreets on which tho
poll lists show TO have been given though per
Of those names had any such residence existence
anywhere Second: That certificates OF naturalization
In great numbers 70 names OF fictitious persons were
distributed enable the work Of repeating 10 be per
icNOou' IHUN' lHdt gangs VI mcn WtIo hctuhHy eii-
gagged In the business shown by witnesses who
them and their repeating books. Fourth or the dsclos
ures made by the repeaters thenselves and, FINN OF
STATISTICAL MISUNDERSTANDING that the vote Of 1863
lar IN excess Of the voting population. There
evidence TO show that 1t was q part Of
the gigantic scheme Of carrying the Democratic tcKe: In
the State OF NewYork by fraud delay the canyassng
OF tho vote in the City Of until result in the
counties OF the State should should be known and then
make up any denclency not supplied by repeating and
other fraudulent voting by "siufng the balotbor Inv