Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-07-14

voted in their own names; and this
prostit ution of the ballot box was
open and notorious, and made mat
ter of ribald boast. -
After remaining about two hours, |
returned to Mineral Point, where ar
rived about noon, and reported to the
voters assembled at the polls the treat
mentI had received at Do1geviile and
the manner in which the election was
being there conducted. ! was told
there had been no illegal voting, and [
advised that there should be none,and
after depesiting my own vote went
home and remained until about the
time the polls were being closed. Can
dor, However, compels me to say that
| believe my advice was not needed,
rand that there was a considerable
amount of illegal;voting, and general
| ~ In the same fashion as had been
practiced at Dodgeyille. Isl z
No good citizen would have sane
toned or will now justify these viola
tions of the purity of the ballot box.
But they do not vitiate the election,
and ought not to defeat it's lawful re-
suits, so far as it was honestly con-
Quoted. 7ts.s19ja- ~iss53 I'D ...}se4.l. :sfri /
1t was notorious that there was il
legal voting at both poles; at Mineral
Point in favor of the r. r.. proposition,
and at Dodgeville against it; but the
extent of it could not possibly have
been determined, even then, and it
would have been still more difficult to
astertain six years afterwards when it
| was attempted to be urged as defense
to suits on the bonds. Andin this con-
Inection, it is proper to advert to the
suggestive fact, stated in the certificate
of the canvassers, that the poll-list Civ
ing the names of the voters at Dodge
ITllle was not returned, so that the
means of investigating the illegality Of
the election at that poll did not exist,
land any investigation would have been
fruitless. 1t is therefore impossible to
say, after making all reasonable allow
ance for illegal votes, that a ma erity of
| the legal voters who voted upon the
question did not vote For the Rail
road proposition" But this may be
faid to be matter of opinion, and my
bopinion may not be correct. Whether
Ecerrect or not is not material to the
question under consideration; which is,
| whether in legal investigation with
the doors for the proof of fraud thrown
wide open such legal evidence of un-
lawful voting could have been produc-
| ed, as, so far to impeach the return of
was not "a majority Of legal votes for
the proposition. He is a bold man who
will affirm that it could have been done.
I have disposed. of all the specifca-
tions Of misrepresentation or fraud,
which are alleged to have preceded the
election, and it only remains for me to
consider the specification that the I
OFFICIAL SIGNATURES OF THE CHAIRMAN
( AND CLERK WERE OBTAINED BY DECEP. z
- TIoUs, AND INFAMOUS INFLUENCES. +
! The Clerk of the Board of Super
visors was James B. Gray, worthy
citizen of Mineral Point, who felt as
much interest in the Railroad as any
other citizen He had voted for the
Railroad proposition, and was warmly
in favor of the issue of the bonds, and
there was no more necessity that be
should be !" handled or manipulated y.
or that "deeeptious or Infamous infu-
ences" of any kind should be used to
lobtainI his signature, Ethan there would
have been to obtain mine, or John
Bracken's, or Farley Eaton's, or John
J.aRoss' or that of any R.R. Director.
John Messersmith, ESQ.,, was Char
man of the Board of Supervisors, and
was differently situated. He had pre-,
sided at the gDodgeyille polls as chair.
man of the town board at the late cleo
ton, and must haveg BEEN cognizant of
theIilfegal voting there; and the R. r.
Directors thought 1T doubtful, from re.
ports they had heard, whether he would
sign the bonds. After the canvassers:
had1made, certified, signed and deposit
bed with the CLERK Of the Board a Ger.
1tlficate of the result Of the election, I
had an interview with the Chairman in
the'9ofiee of the Clerk; who Showed
him the certificate Of the canvassers.I I
called his attention tocthe3proYision in
the 4tli section of the law authorizing
the ieleetion2l these words: 'ttsueh GER:
tifcateeshall be Conclusive Evidence Of the
fact, as to9the nnmbertof' votes cast for
or againstfsuch proposition and also
of theifae tCthatlsuch election was rega.
lovzy held and conducted iaccordtrs to- laa9. ~
Also to the 5th section of thelaw which
made it his duty to- sign the bonds /
alsoain6ormed9 him of the reports I had
heard y a1id1 asked him to inform me
what he intended to .domdHe told me
frankly that-he5 had entertained9doqbts
as Il to What he ought to- do andfIdthat
many personshhad attempted to per.
suade him not togsigntheF bonds on &C.
count of the .illegalTotes said to have
'been5east at Mineral Point in favor of
the proposition, but that it now APP
fpeared plain from, examining the law:
that he had no discretion, and that the
certificate Of the canvassers was i'con =,
elusive evidence that Chat the :telec-I
3tionwas regularly held and conducted
according to law" He said, however, ]
that he wished to take some further
advice upon the subject, and expressed
a strnr1ts wish RI net lthr o11i nj On IF TJay