The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-11
THE THREATENED DANGER.

How often have we heard the political
axiom that the ''balot box is the palladium
of our liberties How often has this been
taken as the text for speech, essay and
newspaper article. While enforcing the
abstract principle, are We not losing sight
of the practical application thereof We
have cried ourselves hOarsc in reference to
the election frauds, the stufling of ballot
boxes, the bribing, intimidation and cajol-
ing of voters, and the system of "repeat-
ing" in New York and Philadelphia. We
have seen Massachusetts compelled to pro-
vide for concealing the voters ballot in an
envelope, so that fair expression Of
opinion on the part of her voters might be
obtained. We have seen Congress send
committee to New York city to investigate
alleged frauds in the election, and we
know, from sworn testimony, that more
than one election was carried in that way.
We know that Tweed retained his power
by the use of money and repeaters. We
have seen and known all this, we have been
aware of its danger, and have talked about
it rs only confined to certain localities. All
this time, we have knowingly suffered as
great a crime against the freedom Of the
ballot and the sacredness of the ballot box
to grow and increase in Vermont, and is
now bearing its fruits We are not aware
that there ever was more shan one attempt
made to stuff a ballot box in Vermont
Happily, in that case, Of the proof the fact
was clear and positive although, we be-
lleye, the actual perpetrators were never
known-that Is, there was not sufficient
proof against any ono to warrant n conyic-
ton This was in Chelsea, in 1850 in the
election Of town representative. On the
first ballot. forty-siX more votes were cast
than there We're voters, yet there was 40
election. On the second the excess was
eighty votes, For whom these fraudulent
votes were cast was easily ascer;aned, Int
,hat individual. although declared elected
and receiving his credentials had net the cf-
irontcry to claim his seat as the represent
alive from Chelsea. His competitor. how
ever, on proof Of tue facts was admitted
TO his seat in the legislature and served
through the session, and was reelected the
next year, The disclosure aroused such
storm OF public indignation, that the at
tempt has not since been made, and the
man who was expected to benefit thereby
concluded to emlgrate to a western state.
But this is of the past We refer 10 it
% show that with all orr boosted purity.
we are exposed to danger from which only
the vigilance of the people can guard us
The mass of the people can be relied upon.
1t is the Vaccinations Of the few which we
have to fear We regret to say that some
of these few are to be found in official po-
sitions. We still more regret to say that
some of them are men who stand high in
reputation, and are regarded as moral
christian men. We have no fear of ballot
box stufling. That can be almost entirely
guarded against, or discovered soon enough
to prevent any advantage being derived
therefrom. That which we do fear ia n
tampering with the sacred right of ballot,
by the exercise of a system of intimida.
ton and terrorism over the voter. What
we further fear is that elections may be
controlled by such course. We know
that such has been the case in times past.