The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-23
PENNING VOTES IN WAKE
AN INCIDENT OF ANTE. BELLUM ELECTION
METHODS.
How the Wake County Democrats Secured Fifty
Votes in the Holly Contested EIec-
ton OF 1853.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
So much is now being said by all par
ties about election frauds and ballOt-box
stuffing that it has occurred to the
writer to give an account of the very
heated election of 1858. The direful
events of 1861 were even then casting
their shadow over the land. There Were
two brothers in Wake county who, he
longing to the old Wing party had lately
Joined the Democratic or States Rights
party. And it was determined by the
| Democrats to run one of them for seat
| i'm the lower House of the Legislature
| This excited the wrathful indignation OF
| the Wings, from whom he had so lately
parted company, and it was agreed that
he should be beaten at any cost. The
campaign was hot and acrimonious
money was spent freely on both sides,
| the result was doubtful In the country
now included in House Creek and
Neuse River townships were many
Wings, and the brothers above referred
to had great influence there. Both sides
were exertimg their utmost in this sec
ton. for it was conceded that if the NJ
brothers and their Democratic friends
could control the floating vote there they
would carry the day.
So it was at last determined by the
leaders ON the Democratic side to give a
big barbecue the day before the election,
which was then the first Thursday in
August. and rally the voters. And such
feast was prepared as Rome but men
Of wealth and generous notions could
get up. The writer was them had of IA
and well remembers evening of the
first political meetin, ever attended.
The long rows of tabdes in the grove by
the spring loaded with barbecued shoat
and lamb, great caldrons of Brunswick
stew, and everything that the most gem
erous hospitality, backed by sufficient
wealth, could command, including, of
colIire. two tubs filled with apple brandy
teddy and barrels of cider.
Or course, there was much speech
ma king. but the writer doesn't have a
very clear recollection of THAT part of
the programme, except that it was the
first time he ever heard the late Gov.
Holden on the stump. Dinner was de-
layed until late hour, and about sun
set some one suggested that it was use
lase for the company to go home; that
they were near the polling place, and
lets all stay here, and after supper
have stag dance in the gin house" No
sooner suggested than agreed to. Fresh
tubs Of toddy were provided, half the
negro women on the plantation set to
work to get supper, and the negro fid-
dlers and banjo men from two or three
of the neighboring plantations sent for
Quilts, blankets and bedding were taken
up stairs in the loft of the gin house
and the fun soon became fast and fu-
rious. Picketts and videttes Of the most
trusted were kept on the lookout for
Wing emissaries and spies.
At last even the zeal of the voters was
forced TO give in to the influence of
heavy fddling and drinking. Between
midnight and day all was quiet, the doors
locked and trusted guards placed around
the house to keep off the Wings. At the
crack of day fires were started, an ample
breakfast prepared, including, OF course,
toddy galore, and soon after sunrise
wagons and carts driven up to the gin
house and hundred or more half
drunken men hauled off to the polling
place to exercise the highest duty OF free
men, And the old gin house still stands
not far from the line of the Raleigh and
CASTOR Railroad.
And this was one of the ways of in.
Auencing honest elections before the
war. Z. T. DEVEREUX.