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Rutland Herald
Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont
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A leaked letter from 1840 reveals a Massachusetts postmaster's scheme to register young Democrats, assess non-voters, and fund their poll taxes to secure votes for the Democratic Party in upcoming elections, exposing alleged federal interference in the presidential race for Martin Van Buren.
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The following letter from a post-master in Massachusetts, has just come to light.
Salem, March 7th, 1840.
Dear Sir. I have just heard of your brilliant success at your election. You have managed grandly, and I have no doubt but your success is paramount, and that you or some other good democrat will be chosen representative next fall. Allow me to suggest to you the propriety of finding out all the young Democrats who will become of age before the election. Also the names of those persons who are not assessed for any reason whatever, and have them assessed by May. Your select men can make the poll tax 25 cts. which, on being paid, constitutes the man a voter, and at the elections if there are any who cannot pay his tax I will see that you are provided with the means. Make every man a voter you possibly can. We must carry the district and county the next election I think from this and the last fall election you can give us 20 or 25 majority. Call and see me when you come in town.
Please DESTROY THIS LETTER, and believe me to be,
Sir, yours truly.
C. W. WOODBURY.
R. A. Dodge, Esq. Wenham.
We trust that the Whigs everywhere will see the necessity of vigilance and exertion on their part, since the office holders of the federal government are thus secretly at work 'to provide the means' for carrying the presidential election. We trust that the people will ponder upon the fact herein contained, of the existence of a government fund for securing the re-election of Martin Van Buren. 'Pay the poll tax of all persons who cannot pay themselves,' says this hireling of Mr. Kendall's, and I will see that you are provided with the means.' Who wonders that our national expenditures are trebled under Van Buren rule, when such means are employed to carry elections? who wonders that a yearly emission of ten or twenty millions of treasury notes is required when every post master is provided with a fund to purchase loco foco votes? And who wonders that instances of detection are rare when these dangerous missives end with the injunction, 'PLEASE DESTROY THIS LETTER.'
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Location
Salem, Massachusetts; Wenham
Event Date
March 7th, 1840
Story Details
Postmaster C. W. Woodbury writes to R. A. Dodge advising on enrolling young Democrats as voters, assessing non-assessed individuals, and funding poll taxes for those unable to pay to ensure Democratic victory in the next election, with instructions to destroy the letter. Commentary exposes this as federal government vote-buying for Van Buren's re-election.