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What A Mess-The Strange 1864 Vote Count...

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Norman Wiard to Abraham Lincoln, Wednesday, November 02, 1864 (Vote of New York soldiers)
From Norman Wiard to Abraham Lincoln [With Endorsement by Lincoln], November 2, 1864

Washington 2d Nov 1864

My dear Mr Lincoln

An Officer from the Army Lieut De Kay aid to Gen Butler and Brother of Drake De Kay whom you know I believe informs me that New York Soldiers in the Army have the impression that they have voted almost "to a man" for the Union ticket

This is so contrary to the information conveyed in the lists I once forwarded to you that I take the liberty to suggest that about ten radical republicans among them Capt Drake De Kay shall be sent to the Army to see and converse with the men and obtain from them a frank statement of how they did vote as in as many individual cases as possible and also who was appointed their proxy as well as their district in which the vote was to be cast. Then have these Commissioners furnished with affidavits in blank in which the voter makes oath to his statement.

By this process the scoundrels who have undoubtedly changed the ballots in many thousand votes may be detected at the polls.

These affidavits should then be placed in good mens hands on election day to attend and challenge the votes.

And even if but few such affidavits are obtained by making it public that some were would deter the rascals from offering doubtful votes and so would have a good effect.

I do not know that you will see any thing in this suggestion and I do not know but that all that is proper to do has been done.

I do know that I have a strong desire to defeat the machinations of that party of political felons who hesitate at no act of villainy to carry their points So I am entirely at your service.

Respectfully

Norman Wiard

[ Endorsed on Envelope by Lincoln:]

Wiard

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David UPton

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The Strange 1864 Vote Count...
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Babes with Cigars-The Strange 1864 Vote Count...
What A Mess-The Strange 1864 Vote Count...
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LOL! *NM*
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