Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-10-05
A Forclble Reason Torclbly Tut.


Ed Bee : l have voted many times il
Perrysburg, and believe l was legal
voter whenever deposited my ballot. Ir
1875 cast straight Republican ticket
from r. b. Hayes for Governor, to John
Muir for Infrmary director. Mine, with
the other votes cast at Perrysburg, was du.
ly returned to the clerk at Bowling Green
to be there, with the other votes OF the
county, canvassed, tabulated and forward.
ed to the Secretary Of State. The clerk, as
required by law, called to his assistance
two justices, of whom E1rl w. Merry was
one, to.aid him in performing this duty
The Supreme Court stated, in deciding the
case of Phelps VS.. Schroeder:
"The duties OF these officers ~ canvass
era, are plain and unmistakable. In max
ing the abstracts oil votes rs aforesaid, the
justices and clerk shall not decide on the
validity of tho returns aforesaid, but shall
be governed by the number of votes stated
in the poll books" S. & C. $50, Sec. 81
These officers with full knowledge OF
this "plain and unmistakable" law before
them, deliberately threw out the vote Of
Perrysburg. and refused to canvass it,
The court in commenting on this fact says:
1--WE are all of the opinion that the &C.
tion OF the Clerk and Justices, in reject
ing the poll-bOOk and vote of Perrys6urg
Township, was wholly unauthorized and
illegal"
Mr.. Merry, in uniting with his associ-
ates in the commission Of this "unauthor-
lied AMI Illegal" act, knowingly violated
his official oath, and was guilty OF the far
greater wrong-lhat of dirfranchising,
substantially, eveIy legal voter in Perrys-
burg Township. Ii there had been fraud
committed upon the ballot box in Perrys-
burg, the statute provided ample means
for righting the wrong"
II is neither just nor fair to hold the
clerk alone responsible, as many seem to
do, for that great outrage upon the legal
voters of Perrysburg. Had Mr.. Merry
stood up, az an honest and independent
man should have done, and said: mo,
gentlemen cannot certify to falsehood
can not violate my oath can not aid
in disfra anchising the legal voters of Per.
rysburg; | cannot commit brca h Of n
plain and unmistakable' provision of law
l have sworn to observe; | cannot debase
my manhood )" then would the seditious
and law-bresking promoters Of Bowling
Green have been stayed in their mad
career, and the rights of Perrysburg vo-
iers maintained. But he did not do il,
aud, if he is not misrepresented, he was
one OF the advisers to the great wrong, and
the motive being personal interest.
find no fault with Mr.. Merry because
he voted to retain the county-seat at
Bowling Green. Doubtless should have
done the same had resided and owned
property there. So far rs the county
question is concerned, it is n dead issue,
except in 30 far rs the courts may deal
with it, and I have voted, and can and
aad will vote for fit citizen Of Bowling
Green, as cheerfully aS of any other part
of the county. With Mr.. Merry, it is diff
fcrent He refused to count my vote when
il was legally cast he Spat upon my rights
as citizen; lie treated me, in the dis
charge Of his official duty, as If was enti-
tied to no more consideration than n dog,
and ask, in all candor, how can veto
for him and mrintain my self.respecti III
| did so, should not thereby stultify my
manhood, and prove myself worthy of the
treatment he bestowed upon me two years
ago?
speak for myself only--other citizens
who hold the elective franchise, may look
at tho matter from different standpoint
and support him. ] cannot. Hs refused
TO count my vote in rs because it did moi
suit him; It cannot be counted for him in
IT. He ought not to expect it.
And what assurance have that he
would not, il elected Senator, again disre'
gard his otficial oath, and the righs Of the
public, II they stood in the way of his in.
dvidual interests? The nominatiun oi
unfit men for important Offices, by and
through the manipulationS, trickery and
fraud of the rings, and the rousing Of par
ty preiudices and the application of the
party lash in support Of these unworthy
nominations, have done more to demornl
ize our party politics than all other cause'
combined, and will not, knowingly, give
cOuntenance TO conduct OF that charac ter.
CAD.