The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-13
THE THREATENED DANGER

How often have we heard the political
axiom that the "ballot box is the palladium
of our libexies' 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 hoarse 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 concealng 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 a
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
1t as only confined to certain localities. All
this time, we have knowingly suffered as
great 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 than one attempt
made to "stuff" ballot box in Vermont.
Happily, in that case, of the proof the fact
was clear and positive, although, we be-
lieve, the actual perpetrators were never
known-that Is, there was not sufficient
proof against any one to warrant a 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 were voters, yet there was no
election. On the second the excess was
eighty votes. For whom these fraudulent
votes were cast was easily ascertaincd, but
that individual, although declared elected
and receiving his credentials had not the eff
frontery to claim his seat as the represent
alive from Chelsea. His competitor, how
ever, on proof of the facts was admitted
to his seat in the legislature and served
through the session, and was reelected the
next year. The disclosure aroused such a
storm of public indignation, that the at
tempt has not since been made, and the
man who was expected to benefit thereby
concluded to emigrate to western state.
But this is of the past We refer to il
to show that with all our boosted purity,
we are exposed to danger from which only
the vigilance of the people can guard u.s.
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 somC
of these few are to be found in official pc
sitions. We still more regret to say thai
some of them are men who stand high il
reputation, and are regarded as moral
christian men. We have no fear of ballot
box stufing. That can be almost entirely
guarded against, or discovered soon enough
TO prevent any advantage being derived
therefrom. That which we do fear is
tampcring with the sacred right of ballot
by the exercise of a system of intimida
tion and terrorism over the voter VIVA
we further fear is that elections may b.
controlled by such course. We know
that such has been the case in times past
We know of certain individual bein,
elected to an office In Rutland, by the bal
lot-box being opened, the votes examines
and counted, the result being sent to hin
or his friends and, in consequence thereof
additional voters hurried up TO the polls
Ii so happened that he was good Officer
and would, probably, have been elected o