Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-09-11
THE LATE FRAUD.

TIE LATE FRAUD
A fraud, not having itscqual probably
III the history Of any country, has been
developed in the late canvass Of the
vote on the Capital Law at Virginia
city. The official vote Of each and
every county If the Territory was pub,
lisl,cd some weeks since, giving ma
jorority for approval Of 457. The SUI
prise of every enc may be imagined
when the news was received here Fri
day evening per Noxtaniax Extra, that
the Board of Canvasscrs at Virginia
On the I'd inst. had declared the vote
in favor Of '.djsapp,Oval" By MAJOR
~ Of L.. 1t was ascc,tained that
shisrcsuls wasarrivcd at by a transrosi
ton Of the vote Of Mcaghcr Co., which
had given jCo votcsfor approval and 20
for disapWeva', 1t was still further
a matter Of surprise to right thinking
,ncn here who had voted on both sides
Of the question. with tho facts before
thea that Meagher county had cast al
most solid vote for approval, that
the Canvassing Board should certify
to returns bearing upon their face
plain and palpable evidences Of fraud
or an egregious clerical blundcr, with
ont some investigation into the mat
ter.
Marshal Wheeler deserves credit
for asking and insisting upon short
delay 10 inquire into the subject. and
Secretary Cal,aw:y the CT n formation
Of every honest voter in the Territory
Ter not conceding to the reasonable
and just request Of the Marshal, and
Gov. Potts, in whose presence the vote
was canvassed as the law requires. is
but little less to blame than the Sec.
rotary in giving coantenanco to what
he mast hare knowa was either an I'M
mistakable fraud or clerical blrntler,
thereby wrestling from tho people Of
the Territory their most sacred right
their will as ex messed by and throl gu
their elective franchise.
Besides the great wrong attempted
mon the voters of Montana in this
ma 'er, it has been tie means of bring
ILg to the surface state of moral de-
pravity which should not be tolerated
in such places by the people, at whose
discretion it virtually stands or falls.
We aludc to the newspapers of Vir.
GINA city, which have glorifcd in this
villainl US transaction, and have incit- !
"l the people to wallow with them in
the mirc Of their corruption. They
laugh to scOrn the sacledness of the
ballot box, and strip it Of every safe
guard. They extole forgery as a vic
tory worthy Of the most patriotic ell
thusiasm, and as a signal for IL
Illuminating their town, and the march. !!
ing Of professions through their streets
and public avenues.
Tie conduct of Major Blake, editor
of the Montanian, in this matter has
surprised us. Ichas heretofore borne
. character for honesty and nnim,
peachable integrity. enjoyed by few
men; in fact, lie has been regarded as
All honest man, nothing more; take
that from him and there is nothing
lelt.3 BY his, own volition, no La
stripped himself Of these noble attri-
.butcs and covered himself with igno-
:ininy.
The course of the Madisonian in this
matter is accounted for; it is natural
aud the more corrupt and vitiatcd the
subject, the more natural for it to
find warm and enthusiastic cha.npi-
on in that sheet. From it VIC clip the
following i'll regard to the dcmonstra.
ton in Virginia over tho discovery
that fraud had been committed in
manipulating the Meaghcr county re-
turns, whereby it was hoped to retain
the Capital at that place:
Wednesday evening, after the canvass Of
the Teri itorial Vctc had been made and GER
Si1ed to the male portion Of our community
began TO manifest stirring exhibitions of pure
patriotism. Men who seldom partakc of
iiuiu Intended for onthusing purposes became
Ublivious to the doctrines of Father Mat |
thew, and by the time the shades Of evening
had fairly enshroudea the Capital. the streets
we're alive with men whoae feelings wero
running rampant with strictly patriotic eli.
thusiasm. At half past seven O'Clock p. H..
= large procession was formed at the North
Park. willie the heavy artillery on Arsenal
Hill roared forth Capital salute that shook
the granite buildings on Wallace street to
xleir very foundations.
The evening wound up with appropriate
ceremonies, AID nany there were who got
tiel,t-which was iawiul aud admissible on
such an extraordinary occasion.
We are glad to know that no sober
men engaged in this nefarious bust