OSHKOSH COURIER

George H. Read, Editor

Wednesday, February 25, 1857

 

Waupaca County Election Frauds

             

            Hon. David Scott of Waupaca, in a letter to the Madison Argus & Democrat fully exonerates the Democratic party from any participation in the election frauds alleged to have been perpetrated in that County during the past two years.  His testimony is direct and to the point.  It makes out an ugly case against the Shanghais.  He says:

            “Believing that silence and forbearance have in this case ceased to be a virtue, I do, not only in my own behalf, but also in behalf of the Democratic party of which I am a member, deny any and all participation in any frauds enacted or practiced either at Waupaca or Weyauwega at the elections of 1855 or 1856.  No doubt exists but that there were most flagrant, illegal, and in some instances the most foolish exhibitions of ignorance, folly and rascality imaginable, perpetrated at both places, both years.

            The upright and well disposed citizens of the County have seen with regret Waupaca County placarded as the very center of rascality.  For the information of the good people of Wisconsin; and more particularly all abolition Know-Nothing editors and their allies – such pseudo Democratic editors as train in the same company, I give it as my decided opinion – and I think I am well posted in the matter – that not a single Democratic ticket at the late election was in any way connected with the above mentioned frauds.  And further, every individual known to be active in perpetrating and carrying them out, did at the late election, vote the whole or some part of the Abolition Know-Nothing, regularly nominated ticket.

            And further, that in the present contest between Perry and Phillips for the Assembly – both of whom are Shanghais of the purest breed – frauds fully equal to those of 1855 have been re-enacted.”