The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-02-09

T 7AYNE Co., ND.
such 8 number of ballots. and with such
accuracy as to make no discrepancy be-
tween the ballots and poll books2 Is
the idea not so preposterous rs to pre-
clude all reasonable doubt? And is it
not equally preposterous to assume that
the officers of the election, i've in num-
Der, three RepubIican-all voting for
Julian-and two Democrats, would
themselves do an act SO devilish7 They
are men who have not only heretofore
sustained character for honesty but
were selected to conduct the election
because of their integrity and capacity.
Even Judge Johnson. under his high
pressure OF excitement, is unwilling to-
impute dishonesty to them. Here is
what he says: 81 have no evidence that
warrants me in charging the inspector
or judges, and my personal acquaint-'
ance with them warrants me in acquit
ting thcm Of everything but great care
iessness. Still more. On the Monday
after the election the Grand Jury met in
the court over which the Judge presi.
|9ded. He appointed Capt. Lacey. one of
the Judges of the Election, Foreman of
the Jury. Pregnant with the wrat'. of
this assumed fraud, he made a speciali-
ty Of it, and ordered an Investigation.
The officers, poll books, etc, were all
b o u e h before t b e N fs Persons
and papers were sent for. A search
ing examination was had under the
Judges own eye by two prosecuting at
torneys, while all was fresh,s and before
jury, every one Of whom, / am told.
are Julian men; and, strange as it may
seem, the stuffing Of the ballot u * was
found to be all stuff. And, y what ia still
more strange, even the ..traitorousrl Re
publicans, who made themselves hewers
Of wood and drawers of water tor the
Ku Klux Klan," were not indicted. But
of this there is no reliable certainty, as
the Sheriff hasn't been found. So
+ IRREGULARITIES OF TUE oFFICERs.a-, q
The causes OF contest a. set forth ir
the Judges motion before the Board OF
Canvassersswi DO noticed in their con-
secutive order, condensed as much IS
possible, and such comments added as
are necessary to a FULL understanding Of
the whole matter. There are six Of them:
l. Because the Board holding the
election did not continue in session at
the place of holding the election until
the votes were counted out That is
true as already stated. u Nor did the
Board III the north precinct continue in
session at the, place of. holding the cleo
ton, for they adjourned to room in the
second story of the Hall, and counted
out the votes there. The differance in
distance is the only difference in fact.
The law is. chat the Board shall continue
in session at tire place of election till all
the votes, shall have been ,canvassed. f..
#'P 9. Because the Board proclaimed the
result OF the election before they had
canvassed the votes cast for all the Off
GERS voted for. "ap1 eDEetJa5'5 7iit ] =
8 Because theoB Board proclaimed the
res ilt Of the vote for Governor before
the,s hati9eounted the votes cast for any
other candidate. Both these causes are
substantially the same, but amount TO
nothing. Fl The fteenth section of tho
election lawsdirects that the polls shall
be closed at six o'clock. The twenty
sixth authorizes the, judges to open the
box and commence counting at any time
after four O'clock; and the twenty eighth
says: mo clerk or judge of any elec-e
ton shall vote after commencing to
count the votes; nor publish any state
ment of the result Of their counting until
the election is closed mot after the
counting is closed. There are some lea
sons Fer withholding the result between
four and six o'clock, and,e before the
polls are closed; but after that there 10
either law nor reason for it, but sup
pose the law by close 1of the election
means the final proclamation of the re-
suit. At each poll, after the officers had
adjourned from the place Of holding the
election. as already stated, the Republic
an and Democratic tickets were first sepa-
rated, counted, and the result made
known to the anxious outdoor crowd.
4. Because the Board removed the
tickets out of the precinct, and there
| counted them. That is true, as already
stated But should the whole poll be
new provision of the law requiring them
to count the votes at the place of election
/! efore adjournment Should it be rejec.
ted without some evidence of fraud? Is
the mere fact that certain favorite can
| didate did not receive as many votes as
some over Jealous but deceived friends,
supposed he would? After all, is the
question not, was the count honestly
made? And il so, should it not be sccep-
ted? =.
s.. Because 70 separate registry Of
the south precinct was made and pub
lished That is also true, but equally
so as to the north precinct One registry
only was made OF the voters Of the entire
which was published, and a
copy posted up at. each place of holding
the election. =
g. Because the officers shol.iinQ tho
election resided in another precinct.
| q The Statue is, that in each township.
with more than one place for voting,
there shall be appointed three freehold