The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-01-29
HOW MAINE GOT HER JUDGES.
Grandfather Lickshingle's Reminis-
oence Of a Last century's
Electoral Decision.

Electoral Decision.
The keen sighted oracle of the
Cincinnati Enquirer, Grandfather
Lickshingle, relates the following
reminiscence, apropos OF the present
political situation in Maine:
"Along in the early part of eigh-
teen hundred, the year / cast my
first vote, we had jes' such another
squabble over the countin' NV the
ballots at a town election. The
jedges of the election counted the
votes according. to the dictates NV
their consciences an, the require.
ments of the constitution NV the
United States. The defeated party
however, squealed like stuck pigs
cried fer ''blood, Yeargo, blood y
run aroun' with pistols in theil
hans an butcher knives In theil
teeth. The disputed question was
finerly submitted to a board NV the
justices NV the peace fer settlement.
The questions nv the jedges an the
answers given by the board wuz,
viz, to- wit:
"'Question !. When it is foun'
that o double han'ful NV tickets
have been deposited in a lump in
the ballot-boX, is 1t not the duty Nv
the jedges NV the election to throw
out the tickets so deposited, and il
so, how many%
"'Answer. The jedges nv cleo
tion air to count the votes as they
fin them (Jones VS.. Mulligrub 1869
an ask no questions. That is what
they air paid fer. The returns are
not to be strangled by idle techni-
calities, nor is their meanin' to be
distorted by carpin's an captious
criticism. Dye hear thatp
"'Question 2. If jedge of elec-
is detected in the act of chewin' up
all the ballots offered for certain
candidates, and is occasionally OBJ
served to cram into the box q ham
full Nv tickets which he takes from
his coat-tall pocket, should the re
mainin' jedges an inspectors Nv
election count the votes 80 deposi
ted as if all wuz squar' an proper,
and make an estimate nv the mum
ber chawed upP
"'Answer. 1t is the unanimous
opinion NV the board Nv justices Nv
the peace that iedges hev no color
NV right to refuse to count and
make return NV all the tickets foun
in tha hallot-box. If any persor
or persons want to jeopardize theil
health by chewin' up great wads uN
paper (the very beasts NV the fielG
KNOWN that paper contains arseni'
and prussic acid J, that's their owl
affair. This is a government of th'
people, by the people, an for tn,
people, an if administered in th'
spirit of its founders it shall NO
perish from the earth. Put that II
your pipe an smoke it.
"'Question 3. If man livin' il
another state, an not a citizen o
the United States, attempts co vot
an is refused, an he then retires
loads dou ble- barrel shotgun will
tickets, and takin' deadly aim, fire.
them into the ballot box, is it thu
duty of the jedges to count sait
votes, an if SO, how manyp
"'Answer. This question is fully
answered in the reply TO question
No. 2. The jedges Nv election hey
no right under heaven to inquire
how or by whom certain ballots hey
been deposited in the box. Their
duty, as laid down in the statutes
is to count the votes (25 Kalama.
zoo, At 8 10), an forever after hold
their peace. You might as well at
tempt to dam up the waters Nv the
Nile with bullrushes as to fetter the
step of freedom, more proud an
glorious than the tread Nv the war
horse at county fair
"Then the action of the judges
was not sustained by the boardT'
suggested one.
"Not to an extent to create en-
thusIasm in their ranks" replied
grand father. "On the contrary,
they clothed their brows with thun'
der an swore that the next time
they submitted political dispute
to a commission of the opposite
party they hoped to be diddledy
dog g-nabbed to thunder and light
nin'."
"what happened to the board OF
Justices of the peacer
"They moved with their families
up into Maine," said grandfather
with sigh, "an' the hull caboodie
NV them wuz placed on the su
preme bench nv the state"