Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-13
Altering Returns from Democratic
Towns.

If any one had any doubt that there was
plot to steal the State government, the doings
in the county must remove it. The returns
were not opened legally until Nov. 18th, and
yet we now have conclusive evidence that
prior to that date the records and returns of
democratic towns in the county were exam
incd and amended This could only have
been done through the collision of the Sec'y
of State and Governor and Council. and yet
| it is beyond all question now, that before the
returns were legally opened, and weeks be-
fore any republican was allowed to see them,
they were examined in the inter-
est of democrats, and corrected. The
Globe should send its ''commiss-
Toner" thro' this county again. He would
find that in Jonesboro, a strong democratic
town, the returns were wrong in not having
the number of votes for Senator written out
in full. This error could only have been known
to the Sec'y of State or Governor and Coun-
Gil by secretly opening the returns, but Mr..
Drisco got word Of it and went to Joncsboro
and had Il new and correct return made and
sworn to as having been made election
day, though in fact it was over two
months later! We trust the Union will
explain this kind of reform and honesty.
About the same time Mr.. Drisco also got in
formation that Addison needed fixing, "and
he accordingly went over to amend the re-
turn of that town. At the same time Hon.
James X. Talbot sent to Mr.. Peavy, at Whit.
ing, to have corrected return made from
that town, and while all these reformers were
thus at work, +. X. Smart, Esq, fusion can
dididate for County Attorney, was up to Mar
ion to correct the returns of that town 1t is
needless to go through all the towns. These
are sufficient to show that before the returns
were legally open, they were systematically
examined and corrected in the interest of the
democrats. No one can now doubt that the
plot was to correct their town returns and
prevent republicans having chance to dis
cover and correct errors, and thus the Coun-
ell would be able to throw out enough repub.
lican towns to give the fusioRists the county
by defects in republican town returns 1t
was a mean scheme for any one, to attempt
to reverse the will of the people by means
of technical errors of town officers, but for
the highest officers of the State of Maine to
be accessories, if not principals, in such
crime, is almost too outrageous to be believed.
The facts we have given. however, and MANY
similar cases equally susceptible of proof
leave no room for even the most charitable
to doubt that our State officials have dis
eraced themselves by seeking to reverse
the result of the election in the underhand
and sneaking manner we have described. 1t
will surprise many to know that Mr.. Talbot
had even the slightest connection with such a
disgraceful plot to defeat the will of the peo-
pie, and to obtain a seat in the Senate which
the people of the county had refused him by
a large majority, for it has generally been be-
iiesed that he would refuse seat il counted
In by the proposed frauds.
We expect the Union in its high moral man.
ner will explain Mr.. Drisko's connection with
this attempt at the reversing of the peoples
VIII OF which he pirates so much, but his zeal
IN the plot only adds one more to the long
list OF acts, which render so ridiculous the
Unions denunciations Of fraud.-Caiais Ad-
eeytiser.