Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-02-06
THE movement on the part of DIR. Wag-

THE movement on the part of DIR. Wag-
enseller and Mr.. Lovett, to contest the cleo
ton of last fall, is creating considerable eX-
citement among some Democrats IN tins
county. The editors of the Democrat and
Watsontown Record are terribly exercised,
and even threaten to prosecute the signers
of the petition, and those who made affida-
Wits that they believed illegal votes had
been polled. Whether these threats are
intended for tie purpose ofintimidation to
stop proceedings, we are not prepared to
say. 1t is, however, certain that legal pro-
ceedings, as urged by these editors, would
bring their friends TO grief and would
90 a great way to induce people to believe
The statements correct, and that 1t was
done through fear of exposure. III, then,
these editors were shrewd they would ad-
wise an investigation into the matter, so as
10 vindicate their friends from such
charge. If the charges are incorrect, an
investigation would give an opportunity to
proye their innocence, but if the proceed
incs are stopped through threats, or even
prosecutions. it would show as though an
investigation was Stunned. In all pro-
ceedings of con;esting elections, it is ne
cessary that petition be signed by GER
tain number of voters, who pray Tor an In
yestigation, and who assert that they be-
lieye fraud had been committed. In this
case the petition was signed by some ol
our most reputable men in the county
and we opine that parties who are innocent
could very readily prove their innocence
aud be fully yindicated as TO their integ-
rity.
As to the contest of the seats for Senator
and Representative, we have no interest in
the matter further than if fraud has been
committed, we should like TO see the par
ties who are guilty receive the punishment
they deserve. If fraud was committed,
and these gentlemen have been deprived Of
their seats by few unscrupulous indivld'
uals in defrauding honest voters OF thelI
rights, we think the matter should be in
yestigated, and the perpetrators punished
Ifno frauds were committed, then 1t GER
iAinly would be a satisfaction to the dis
;ric!s where it is alleged frauds had been
committed, that they are fully vindlcateo
from any such accusations. We do moi
pretend 10 say that there was actual fraud
anywhere; but if there was, there are none
who would know more about it, and are
better acquainted with the manner it is
usually done, than the editors OF the Dsno
crdt and the Record. We remember vel
when these two aspirants were looking al
ter Office, and were considered too small
FRY for the King politicians, and were
consequently beaten by little legerdemalr
and wire working. Ballot-box stuthnG
was then supposed to have all been done
IN the coal region, and the citizens of that
district held up TO scorn, when 1t might
have been that others were equally guilty
When the knights of the Golden Circle
were in operation, the Democratic majority
was immensely swelled in some districts
where they now boast of belonging to the
court House Ring" and where no Re
publican election officers were then allowed
10 participate in holding the elections. II
those things were done then, could it not
. be possible that the same might be repeated
10y those parties at time when their party
had become desperate at its rapid down
fall? As the editors of both the DemOcrd
and the Record accused their fellow Demo
Gratis of defrauding them out of office, they
should not blame others for doing the same
thing, but should urge an investigation Sc
as TO vindicate the honest portion Of theil
party and expose the rascals that helped
10 cheat them.