Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-01-22

SOME KNoTTY AND PECULIAR POINTS DE.
oIDED IN AN EARLY ELECTION DISPUTE.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The opinion ofthe Supreme Judicial
Court of Maine, in answer to the ques-
tions submitted to Governor Garcelon,
was under discussion, and Grand
father Lickshingle narrated the fol-
lowing reminiscenee
"Along in the early part of 100,
the year cast my first vote, we had
jes' sech another squabble over the
countin' Nv The ballots at town elec-
ton. The Jedges of Election counted
the votes accordin' to the dictates NV
their consciences an the requirements
of the Constitution NV the o.. S. The
defeated party, however, squealed like
stuck pigs, cried fer Blood, Yeargo,
blood ! an run aroun' with pistols in
their hans an butcher knives in their
teeth.
"The disputed questions wuz fnerly
submitted TO Board Nv Justices NV
the Peace fer settlement. The ques-
tons NV the Jedges an the answers
given by the Board wuz, viz, to wit
"'Question /. When it is foun' that
double han'ful NV tickets have been
deposited in lump in the ballot-box,
is it not the duty Nv the Jedges Nv
election to throw out the tickets so de-
posted, and if so, how manyY
"Answer. The Jedges NV Election
air TO count the votes as they fin them
(Jones VS.. Mulligrub, 1850 an asst no
questions. That is what they air paid
fer. The returns air not to be stran-
gled by idle technicalities, nor is their
meanin' to be distorted by carpin's an
captious criticism. Dye hear that =
"Quesiion 2. If Jedge of Elec.
tion is detected in the act of chewin'
up all the ballots offered for certain
candidates and is occasionally observed
TO cram into the box a han'ful Wv
tickets which he takes from his coat
tail pocket, should the remainin'
Jedges and Inspectors Nv Election
count the votes so deposited as if all
wuz squar' an proper, an make no
estimate Nv the number chawed upY
"Answer. 1t is the unanimous opin.
ion Nv the Board NV Justices of the
Peace that jedges hev no color or right
to refuse TO count and make return Nv
all tickets found in the ballot-box. II
any person or persons want to jeopar
die their health by chewin' up great
wads Nv paper (the very beasts NV the
field KNOWN that paper contains arse
mic an prussic acid, that's their own
affair. This is a Government of the
people, by the people an for the peo-
pie, an, if administered in the spirit
of its founders it shall not perish from
the earth. Put that in your pipe an
smoke it,
"Question 3. If a man livin' in
another State, an not citizen Of the
United States, attempts to vote an j:
refused, an' he then retires, loads O
double-barrel shotgun with tickets and
takin' deadly aim, fires them into the
ballot-box, is it the duty NV the jedge'
to count said votes, an if so, how
manyY
"ADewer. This question is fully
answered in the reply to Question No
2. The jedges Nv election hev nc
right under heaven to inquire how OF
by whom certain ballots hev been de
posted in the box. Their duty, a:
laid down in the statutes, is to count
the votes (25 Kalamazoo, AZ 3-10)
an forever after hold their peace
You might as we'll attempt TO dam up
the waters Nv the Nile with bullrushes
as TO fetter the step NV freedom, more
proud an glorious than the tread Nv
a war-horse at n county fair"
Then the action of the judges was
not sustained by the board p suggest
ed one.
"Not to an extent to create enthu.
siasm in their ranks" replied grand.
father. "On the contrary, they cloth
ed their brows with thunder an swore
that the next time they submitted a
political dispute to a commission OF
the opposite party they hoped to be
diddledy dog-nabbed to thunder an
lightnin'."
"What happened to the Board OF
Justices of the Peaceg
"They moved with their families up
into Maine" said grandfather, with a
sigh, can the hui caboodle NV them
wuz placed on the Supreme Bench NV
the State"