The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-11-07

gupan uEApY ArrER Tnnm.

bribery and corruption, when Legisla-
tures, Executives, and even the Courts
are often most willing tools Of de-
signing, graspihg and tyrannical Ad-
ministration, it is indeed gratifying
to see the judicial ermine worn by
one who knows his full duty under
his sacred oath, and knowing dare
perform it.
It is a well known fact that for the
past four years certain parties have
sought to control the elections in Or
egon-and not unsuccessfully, either,
by the expenditure of large sums of
money, in the interest Of the railroad
and federal Office ring; and that in
many cases by these corrupt meas
ures the will Of a majority of the hon
est citizens has been overridden and
men elected to high position who
could never have attained such emf
nence by fair means.
In 1870 the corruptionists confined
their villainies mainly to Multnomah
county, where they succeeded in elect
ing an entire ticket made up of will
ling tools in the hands of conscience
less masters. In the Legislature of
that year the railroad magnate and
his plant gang succeeded, by the aid
Of bribery and villiany, in securing
the passage OF several thieving bills,
designed TO fleece the people; but
through the prompt veto of an un-
purchasable and unfinching Governor,
they were deprived of their anticipat-
ed pelf In 1872 they extended their
corrupt operations throughout the
State, and thus secured the election of
Congressman and a majority on joint
ballot in the Legislature whereby one
Hipple-Mitchell was elected to the U.
S. Senate Again, in the special Con-
gressional election last month the same
base means were resorted to in Multi
nomah county TO override the wishes
of a large majority of the honest peo-
pie of the State, by the election of a
known tool of the Ring to Congress.
That they failed was not for want of
exertion on their part but because the
requisite amount of purchasable vot.
ing material was not at hand.
On the day of election several men
were arrested for repesting and other
wise illegally voting, but because of
the Partially of the courts or the in
sufficiency of the testimony all save
one were acquitted. Knowing the
source from which his punishment is
to come we can safely predict that its
severity will not be a marked feature
Of the enterprise.
In this view of the case it is indeed
gratifying to the order loving-citizens
of the State to know that Hon. M. p.
Deadly, us. District Judge for Ore
gon, has taken the matter in hand and
is determined to forward the ends of
justice, bring the guilty ones to pun
ishment and thus assist in preserving
the purity of elections in the com
nonwealth.
We present below extracts from
his charge delivered to the Grand
Jury in his Court last Monday, After
citing the Jury TO the Congressional
law regulating elections for members
Of its body, and adding that it is pub
licly charged that votes were illegally
cast at the recent special election for
Congressman in this State, His Honor
addressed the Grand Jury as follows:
The success of Government based
upon universal suffrage and frequent
elections, presupposes that the elector
will give his vote upon considerations
of public policy and the fitness of the
candidate for the Office to be filled,
and not otherwise.
When this condition of things
ceases TO be the rule and votes are
given or withheld by reason of "torce,
threat menace, intimidation, bribery,
REGARD, or offer or promise thereof"
the days of the Republic are number.
ed, and it will not be long ere it dies
in its own stencil.
A representative Government, Sc
lected and sustained by the tree and
unpurchased votes of honest and in
telligent citizens, is, probably tic
most desirable state of civil society
known to man; while on tho other
hand such government, resting upon
and rejecting the result of corrupt
and dishonest elections, is an organized
anarchy more intoerable and unjust
than any other. 1t is the triumph Of
vice over virtue-the means by which
''eyil men bear sway"
TO preserve the purity of elections,
and thereby secure the integrity OF
Congress, this law has been enacted.
You have been chosen and sworn to
inquire, among other things, if there
has been any violation Of it in
this district. You cannot keep
your oaths and neglect or overlook,
this duty. If you find that any one
has voted more than once, or in the
name Of another, or at q place where
he was not entitled to, or anywhere
without having lawful right to do
80, IL 10. your duty to present him for
trial. And further, If you find that
any one has aided, eoaaseIed, procured
on ddUised any one to do any of these
. A