Burlington Free Press

From the St. Albans Messenger.

MR. SMITH AND THE NEW JERSEY OUTRAGE,

For the first time in our History, President Van Buren and his partizans attempted to Pack the House of Representatives so as to secure a Loco Foco majority, but as the Calhoun coalition was not entirely consummated, they did not succeed in their nefarious scheme until the matter of the New Jersey Outrage. That outrage is doubtless fresh in the minds of the people and but a brief allusion to the facts is necessary. At the Congressional election in New Jersey the votes of Millville and South Amboy were rejected on the ground that gross fraud was practiced at the polls-that the meetings were illegal and a great number of raw and unnaturalized persons were permitted to vote. But notwithstanding this, the Whig candidates obtained a majority and received certificates of election from the Governor and Council with the broad seal affixed. And yet they were refused their seats in Congress, because there was not a majority in favor of the Sub-Treasury which the Loco Focos were determined to pass. The Whig claimants offered to resign and carry the question to the people. The Van Buren claimants rejected this honorable proposal, for they dreaded the voice of the people and determined to FORCE THEMSELVES INTO CONGRESS SOME OTHER WAY in ORDER THAT THE SUB-TREASURY MIGHT BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND!! The question was submitted to the House and Mr. Johnson of Tennessee, moved that the Committee on Elections report "all the proceedings and papers with a statement of the names of the individuals who received a majority of the votes." Mr. Fillmore, a Whig from New York State, moved that the word "Lawful," be inserted next before the word "votes" so that the resolution should read "Resolved, That the Committee on Elections be instructed to report forthwith which of the ten individuals claiming seats from New Jersey received the greatest number of LAWFUL votes &c."

At any other time and by any other but a Loco Foco party determined to pass the Sub-Treasury, no voice would have been raised against this amendment. Yet-the amendment was opposed!! Ninety six Van Buren members-among the rest THE Hon. JOHN SMITH, FROM ST. ALBANS- voted against inserting the word "LAWFUL," and Ninety six Whigs voted in favor of it. The Speaker gave his casting vote in the affirmative and, good whig as he was, thus secured for this time the Liberty of the People and the Right of Election. What do these facts establish? That Ninety six Loco Focos inscribed their names in favor of FRAUD, ILLEGALITY, PERJURY, BRIBERY, FORGERY, or any OTHER outRage Upon the elective franchise! Can this be denied by Mr. Smith or any of his friends? is not his name among the ninety six Loco Focos who opposed deciding the question on the strength of LAWFUL votes. It was not denied at the last congressional election and it cannot be denied now.

We said that in exhuming old facts, we should have a loathsome job and it has proved so. We have found that a Representative from this quarter of the Union, sacrificed a great principle when he gave his ballot on the "lawful vote question" and rendered himself very obnoxious to censure for his participating in "The New Jersey Outrage." Remember this fact on the day of election. By ALL MEANS REMEMBER THIS STARTLING FACT.