Geroge I. Bergen to Richard Yates

Gatesburg Oct 25th/ 64

Dear Governor

 I wish to call your attention to a matter which I am of opinion is very important and I fear is being overlooked.  You are aware our State is filled up with about 30 000 Refugees from Southern States 99 out 100 are McLelan men. Traiters Many of them have been the Southern Army. I give you one instance of a man in Gatesburg. Doct Helm this man is cheif in the Lodge of th Golden Circle of our place, has acted " (illeligble) Extraordinary for the Aile Vanlandinham during his Visit to these parts.  And has said to persons who will qualify for the Statement the he was in the Rebel Service & that all his sympathies were there.  Can not Gen Hooker made and Order that will bring such to time on Election day.
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I do not know who is the proper Autherity to see that our Ballot Boxs can not stuffed with notes by such men.

It seems to me some special Oath should be required to meet the Emergency.

This is no idle prattle you need only look at the enrollment of/63 & then of /64 to find a very strange fact. An enormous increase then add the number enlisted during the interim & the incidence is that we are flooded with these " lice,

This large increase of population has not come by emigration from foreigh countries. Nor from New England

Not only that there is not a township in our stat that has not repredentatives of this kind. Please gie this matter you considerate attention,least we make up Nov 9th to realize that many thousands Elgesh votes have been cast that can not be accounted for in haste

                                                                           Yours Always
                                                                                       Geo I. Bergen

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                                                                     CIRCULAR TO TOWN COMMITTEES.
      
      If, when an illegal vote is presented, the Judges will permit you, as the following questions:

      1st. Where did you reside before moving to  Illinois?
      2d.  Where did you reside first in Illinois?
      3d.  What month did you come into this State, and what year?
      4th. What month did you come into this township, and what house did you live in?
      5th. What house do you reside in now?

      If he persists in voting, and you believe him still an unlawful voter, state the penalties of the law.
      Challengers will vote as soon a th Polls are opened.
      This Committee is instructed to cause every legal voter's name within their election Precinct to be enrolled in a Pass-book in alphabetical order.
      The Clerk of the Committee will, on election day, occuupy a seat near the Judges of Election, and remain there during the day, and check against the names in his book when the vote is cast.  This will enable him to know when an Illegate vote is presented, so that he can inform the challengers, and also to notify the other members of the committee of any Union votes it may be necessary to send for.  Challenge no man that you know to be a voter.
      If any persons offers to vote who is not a legal voter, challenge his vote and compel him to furnish the evidence of his legality to vote according to the law, and if his vote is taken by the Judges, take his name and place of residence on a separate page of the Passbook, and inform the person so voting of the fact.

    Section 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That to constitute residence, under the constitution and election laws of this State, a permanent abode is necessary, and all elections, general or special, held in any town, city, district or ward, every person offering to vote, who is not personally known to the judges and inspectors of election to have such a permanent abode and to have  resided in such election district for the space of sixty days immediately preceding such election, shall, if his vote be challenged, take the oath now required by law, and in addition there to swear or affirm to his place of residence, specilyinng the particular place and house in which he residence, specifying the particular place and house in which he resides, and stating how long he has there resided, and his business or employment; and if he has not resided in such house for sixty days immediately preceding such election he shall state where and in what house he has resided for the last sity days; and in addition thereto such voter, so challenged shall be required to produc two witnesses, both of whom are personally known to said judges of election and resident in the precinct, district or ward, or shall be proved by some legal voter or voters is offered to be voted therein, who shall be known to daid jusdges and each of whom shall take the following oath, to be administered by one of the judges of said election: " I do solenmly swear, ( or affirm as the case may be, ) that I am a resident of this election district and entitled to vote at this election, and that I have been a resident of this election district for one year last past, and that I am well acquainted with the whose vote is now offered; that he is an actual and bona fide resident of this election district, and that he has resided in this State for one year last past,"
 2.  If any judge of any election shall pemit any voter to vote, whose vote is challenged, without the proof required in the first section of this act, or shall knowingly and willfully permit any person to testify as a witness, contrary to the provision of this act, he shall be deemed guilty of high misdemeanor, and, on conviction theoreof, shall be fined in the sum of one thousand dollars and imprisoned in the county jail for six months.
 3. If any witness or voter, whose vote is so challenged and sworn under the provisions of this act, shall, knowingly, willfully and corruuptly swear falsely, he shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and, on conviction thereof, imprisoned in the penitentiary for any time not less that three nor more than twenty-one years.
 4. If any person shall vote more than once at any election held under the authority of the laws of this State, or shall vote at any such election, who is not a qualified voter at the place where he so votes, or shall offer to vote, after having once voted at such election, he shall on conviction thereof, be confined in the penitentiary for any term not less than one or more than five years.

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 I have had these Cam p apponited in every Township of our county & have ploaced this circulars in their hands but since this was issued have learned of general othe unusual exepncies, I have sent instruction further explanitary.
 Then has been a large class of men acustimed to vote in our place & all over our State who have got out protection papers from foreign powers, and we are gifting them out. 

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Bergan Geo I

Gatesburg Oct 25/64

Calls Govn' attention to the fact of the presence in this State of about 30000 Refugess who will perhaps want to cast their votes.

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