Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-06
From the Aroostook Sunrise.
The Aroostoolk SepatorshIp.

The Aroostook SeDatorshIp.
The contest between Hon. p. P. Burleigh and
Hon. +. Madigan, for the seat from Aroostook in
the Senate, is exciting a good deal OF interest
not only at Augusta, but all over the State. The
general interest in the matter arises from the fact
that Mr.. Madigan's claim ia the seat, as re-
4 vealed by the evidence in the case, is based upon
the fact that he received large number OF votes
| from aliens, persons who by the laws of Maine
have no right whatever TO participate in our cleo
| tons.
1t has been outstanding practice in NADIA
wasl to allow every one to vote who offered his
ballot. Probably many of the town and plantation
officers OF Msdawaska are not very well qualified
to decide who are and who are not legal voters.
Men who are candidates f Off &c ill not be like
ly to object TO vote for Themselves, if throw
| by an alien, and hence everybody in Madawas
has voted for years, without let or hindrance. AS
| long such votes did not change the result in
| the State, County or Congressional district, no.
body took any pains to look into the matter, and
so these bljene, located away in corner Of the
| State, County and Nation, have voted whenever
they chose to, or were requested 10 by candidate
| for office.
| 1t Is well known there have been occasionally
persons elected IN this county by these votes; and
vet little has been sale about it, aud less done.
| This year, however, the democrats made desper-
| ate effort II carry the county: Mr.. MadEan hav
ing been twice before defeated candidate for the
senate, was Tins year very hungry Tor the place
| He accordingly went up there some ten days be-
| fore the election made all his arrangements, was
there on The dav Of the election, AID having coll
icctcd what he called the returns, came down
clau ng II at he had seven hundred majority in
Madawaska.
MIR. Buileigh had a few less than seven hun
bred (>ome $50 majority in The American portion
of the county. OF course, if he had any 700 ma
| jlrty IN the Madawaska towrs, he was elected.
But everybody that knows any thing about NADIA
wa-ka, its population and its voters, knew he had
| no such honest aud legal ma GRITTY there
When the letdrns OF votes were opened by the
Governor and Council, itfoamalities and lregu-
ltrie. were found III so many OF the returns that
they deci led that Mr.. Burieigh had "A majority OF
! the votes but silly objection was put IN by Nh
Madi9an, that Mr.. Buleigb i, not eligible be
| cause not a II -idett Of the county; upon which
the council divided 10 OPT iion, and 80 neither of
the candi lat mad the ceIt hcate Of elet ton On
the met lin If the legislature howe yer, the Sem
at promptly voted Mr.. BurItigh his seat, a. tav-
ing the highest number of votes according to the
finding of the Governor and Council, leaving all
other qnt Il to be ecided IN the usual manner
by the COMMITTEE on Elections.
About seventy five sihiav + have been taken Of
men who 1--we 10 the Matawaska settlements, who
say they were born 10 Catada New Brunswick
| and elsewhere, out-de of the United States; have
never been naturalzed, hat voted the last election
the democratic ticket, aud for Mr.. Madlgan. 1t
time this Wholesale voting ty foreigners at our
elections should he ended.
II is NO use to have laws defining the qualiiica-
tons OF voters unless t1ey tan be adhered 70 and
regarded. II II goes on unchecked It may make
Governor for Maine, on even President of the
[ nlted States GA member IN CouRr,s, may be
chosen ty fraudulent votes. Fraudulent votes
may choose members OF the legl, stlre, they
undoubtedly ave more tuau once in Msdawss-
ha, and the vote Of that one fraudulent member
elect a Senator IN CONGRESS and - on. An inhn-
/ tie number of evils will tiuaHy grow out Of this
mar "a. s,f ba