Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-03-26

"a IL l...a L. a-s.---.x Ia zz.m r..
bRSDAY MO1sNINt n
Z go..s Isslisalfss ! lzasT b asusss1; fxss
~ = $500 ! = ----F-z ~ = g. -
i thus electisg wisaieohbs by'6 = ~,
i oe sevss votes. Tie gtsln16orou G<kd
=. che ssIsegion of Wid1ssouke = 800 =,
!, ere . foilovS:s1 sSs ts1as frsNs -
aa lN. Tbs4 said slsetim vssbsgeo -.
ted IN 80 manssr dsiesa6s1 ~ tn6(Sn-
ssitssios ssa Lsws. of MsrJSa1d. !
4 "a. That owing 10 inli6i1sl1oo ~.
ily qualified voters awsres pssvsAG11 -
4 votiak q said elscsioa.s I .s1ntasksas|
p "a. That legally qssii6ed vseesp tsu
Iprevensed from voting q I'D sloSlio1 ~
other causes. sT'H~ 20 aAi - "a -
| 4sh. That minors were allsvsa - Jxuls
at said election. as3s 7stilnH ass
5th. Thss snpardossd eeoBsiss 1ees
permitted 10 vo&e as Hsaid election.
t1s 9Th. That Ios-sesidents Of sid Su1o
land county wore Psrnisssd 10 vossstl ~
-kelerticm 'Gsgs stsfxslsssu s1fs .~s-ss " 80
4 To- That the sssurns u saii go
were not made out. returned and certified
Iaccording to the laws of this State.
9Th. That through the unlawful inter-
ference Of candidates aud others 1t said
election. legally qualified voters were de-
ceived aud prevented from voting for him.
the raid contestant. E'*. fr-i
The seventh objection wss not insisted
upon BY the contestant. and as no reasons
were shown TO your Copmittee upon which
to sustain it, il msy b considered -
waived. NJ '.t tfr r'
The first, second. third and eight OBJ
jcctions may be considered together. The
Constitution Of the State, Article 6rst,
section 6rst, provides that all elections
shall be BY ballot; and Article thirty five,
section twenty-three, OF the Code Of Pub
lic General Laws, declares that il any ean-
didate or other person or persons shall
practice force or violence, with intent to
influence unduiy, or to overawe, intercept
or hinder any election. he ehali, on con-
viction thereof in any Court of Criminal
Jurisdiction in tho county where the Of
fence was committed. suffer such fine. not
exceeding two hundred and City dollars,
and such imprisonment. not exceeding ff-
~ days, as the Court shall adjudsc.'
The very foundation Of the exercise of
the elective franchise by ballot, As con-
tradistinguished from ripa roce voting. is
secrecy. and the purity Of elections de-
ponds upon the freedom aud untrammel-
led choice with which the voter can ex.
p. css his preference for the respective c,u>
, aila,es.
In Marlboro District, where Mr.. Wild
dicombe is known to have been during
election day. although he did not vote
there. the evidence clearly shows that the
election was not conducted in = proper
aud legal manner. aud in mode which
secured full, free and fair expression of
sentiment, as between Messrs. Brooke
aud Widdicombe. While open violence.
riot aud bloodshed did not occur, yet
scenes were enacted which. if permitted
to take place. would naturally lead to dis
order, and that no violence or bloodshed
occurred. seems to hsve been occasioued
by the patience aud forbearance Of the
Democrats.
A negro was speaking. while the elec-
tion was in progress near the Court House
door. where the voting was going on !; n
cclored man. dcputized to act rs special
Deputy Sheriff to preserve order on the
day of election, stationed himself ut the
inside door Of the courtroom. where the
polls were held. and wearing the badge Of
authority. told the colored voters he had
a right to examine their tickets-that he
was stationed there at that door for that
purposc-to see all the tickets that went
iu-and obtained their tickets when they
had refused to show them until they were
tod they could not vote unless they
showed their tickets. Six or seven tick
cts headed Democratic Tickets" and
with Mr.. Brookc's name upon them. were
thus torn up. and Republican tickets Civ
en- the voters in their stead, before this
was stopped. Mr. Widdicombc is proved
to have taken three Democratic tickets
FROM the voters as they marched up iu
file to vote, and given them Republican
tickets before they were allowed to vote
He is shown also. upon another colored
voter. to have foisted Republican tick.
ct. when the voter supposed be was voting
\ Democratic ticket. And without re-
counting the evidence of all that trans.
pired at these polls. your Committee is
satisfied that If the election had been fair
ly and legally conducted, the result Of the
election would have been different. The
evidence further shows three cases where
the parties were prevented from voting
for Mr. Brooke. and voted for Mr.. Wild.
dicomhe. BY reason Of intimidation, fear
aud threats Of personal violence. These
are Washington Johuson, James Shorter
and Abram Coates. '.i
Under the third objection. that minors
were allowed to vote, while the evidence
is conflicting in reference to whether Am
brcse Carroll and Hamilton Carroll were
minors. Henry Holland Is clearly shown
TO be minor, and We think the evidence
is sufficien, to leave no doubt on our
minds tha, he voted for Widdicombc.
Uudcr the fourth objection. that un-
pardoned convicss we're permitted to vote.
the evidence shows that three uuparioned
ccnvic:s voted, and from the fact that the '
were identified wi,h the Republican par
ty, and other associating circumstances.
your Committee believe they voted for
Widdicombe. vis: Mack johnson, con-
vie,ed April 26sh. 1870. and George Loc.
ker. convicted April 2srb, 1863. aud
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