Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-03-16

The Perrysburg Township vote was
counted slowly, Bowling Green having
made every possible effort TO ascertain the
exact number of votes cast, her anxiety
creating suspicion that should she get tic
desired information prior to tho last hour
OF making returns, foul play would be re-
sorted to for the purpose OF defeating Per
rysburg.
This delay in counting the vote of Per-
rysburg Township led to developments con-
cerning the Senatorial situation. It was
discovered that the vote Of Perrysburg
would defeat Swan and elect Mcdonald.
This created something of a panic among
the expectants at Columbus. Wikof,
Chairman Of the Republican State Execu-
tive Comm htee and chief campaign fngle-
man, had his heart set on the Railroad
ComniHsionership, and then there was
quite swarm Of hungry fellows with eyes
turned towards the offices connected with
the penitentiary, asylums, &c, and the UNI
limited pcrqustcs connected Herewith.
They thought Swans defeat would give
the Senate to the Democrats which would
prevent Governor Hayes from removing
ALIENS nppointees, and thus leave those
anxious seekers out in the cold for another
two years. This was not All inviting pic
tnre Tor them to gaze upon, and they be-
came desperate
Finally consultation was held, and II
was determined that an effort should I've
made TO throw out the vote uf Perrrsburg
Township, which wonld elect Brown nnd
Swan, notwithstanding the cutting whichihe
former had received ut the hands OF Bowl
ing Green. A iRidnight dispatch was sent
IN Rev. Robert McC CHnp, e.{ Toledo, Chair
a 81
Appraiser of Merchandise, and nj that fate
hour of the night hc routed few Of the
faithful out Of bed. held secret cOnsuitn-
ton, and the conspiracy OF the Columbus
office seekers was iudorsed. There is no
telegraph Mt Bowling Green, so n courier
was dispatched to that village the next
morning, where Swan was found lnboring
to secure his election BY disfranchsing Per-
rysburg township. The Clerk OF the coun-
~ was thus advised and urged to throw ont
the vote of that township and certify to
the returns from the other townships MS
though they constituted the entire vote Of
the county.
1t is understood that the Clerk had MS
surnnces that the Supreme Court would
snstain his action, and as the statute pro-
vided no penalty for such an olfense, the
Green, obeyed the orders OF his partisan
masters. The vote of the county, exclusive
OF Perrysbnrg Township, was made up by
the Clerk, certified rs the full vote OF the
county, and at midnight he went to Toledo
in buggy, and by 8 o'clock in the morn
ing certificates were issued to Brown and
Swan.
Immediately after the consummation OF
this villainy, parties who had been consult
el relative TO the Acknowledgement of Per-
rysburg township, in Toledo and at Bowl
ing Green, spoke as though they had au-
th0rity for saying that the Supreme Court
would sustain the action of the Clerk.
These remarks were of such n character
that they attracted the attention Of disn-
tercsted parties, some of whom expressed
surprise that any one should pursue n
course so we'll calculated 10 cast suspicion
upon the members OF the highest Court in
the State.
by the vote of Perrysburg township the
Democratic candidates for Probate Judge
and Infrmary Directors were elected by
casting out that vote, the Republican can
didates were successful. Mr.. Wetmore
Democratic candidate for Infirmary Direc
tor, first commenced suit to compel the
record of the Perrysburg vote, but the Su
prcme Court, instead of making haste IL
place the seal of its condemnation upOr
the action OF the Clerk, evaded the issue
and directed that he should seek his RENE
6y in n contest. The Democratic candidate
Tor Probate Judge mkt commenced suit
The case was decided in his favor in Tho
Common Please and District Courts, but
when it reached the Supreme Court, thai
body reversed the decisions OF the CourtI
below and held that where there is strong
presumption Of fraud, the Clerk may reiusC
to record or count the vote OF q township, /
being competent for the voters OF sucl
township to establish their right TO vott
and to prove that they did vote at the elec
ton so set aside by the County Clerk with
out the shadow of legal or any other aII
thority. In other words, the Supreme
Court held that where man is presumed
to be guilty, he must be considered guilty
until he establishes his innocence. The,
decided that official returns OF township
election, made by sworn officers, may b,
set aside and declared fraudulent upon tn
Nero suppo~i,ion of some idiotie COUNT
Clerk. This is substantially the decision
oi the Supreme Court of Ohio, and this, il
connection with other facts, can not fail L
excite strong presumption that the wors
suspicious aroused by the remarks as t,
what would be done by that Court immc
diately after the conspirators had accom-
plished their work, were only too vel
| founded.
But il is said two members OF the Conr
were Democrats, and, of course not in tn
conspiracy to disfranchise township il
order to secure Republican State Senate
How can this he reconciled with tn
fact that the decisions IN both of the case
were unanimous? Another fact or twt
right here may throw little light upol
this point. Singularly enough, the broth
er-in-law of Judge Rex was employed a
an attorney by the consprators-wh
on account Of eminent legal ability, or TO
other reasons, IL is not for me to say. Wha
influences were brought to bear upon Judg
Gilmore, the other Democratic Judge,
can not say, although dispatch sent owe
the wires to a Bowling Green lawyer within
the past few days, warming him OF danger
BY notorious lobbyist and dealer in po
iitical and other crookedness, in Cincin
natl, may throw light upon that point.
IL remarked as somewhat singular tina
these two Democratic Judges should hav,
been selected to announce the decisions il
the two cases to which reference has beel
made. IL looks very much like the olt
story OF the monkey, the cat and the ches
nuts. L do not say that it is so, but that j
looks that way. In other words, according
to the decision OF the Court, the facts rails
strong presumption Of crookedness, an,
the burden Of proof ia with the Judges
have deemed tins detailed statement o
facts due to the people of Ohio, since unde
the decision OF the Supreme Court Count,
Clerk may disfronchise the people of an,
township, whenever his personal interes
or partisan prejudice may dictate such
course, and there is no law on our statute
book to punish him Tor the outrage Tn
laws OF Ohio provide punishment for lille
gal voting, for stuffng ballot-boxes, &c.
but 1t was never for moment contempm
led that County Clerk could conver
himself into despot to count or cas. on
votes legally returned to him for recor
TO suit his own caprice. 1t has never beel
claimed that there was the slightest irree
nlarity connected with the official return
Of the votes east in Perrysburg. The onl
objection made was that said vote did no
elect the right men 10 office That was III