September 3, 1867

MACDONALD BUYING THE ELECTION?

The Globe has charged Prime Minister John A. Macdonald with entering a branch of the Bank of Montreal in Toronto, withdrawing money, and then handing that money over to one of James Beaty’s canvassers for the purpose of purchasing votes in East Toronto.

The Globe provides no more detail than that with respect to that particular incident but they have a detailed account of how and when votes are bought in the various ridings during the course of this campaign.

With voting happening over two days, the Globe asserts that corruptible voters hang back until the second day when they know that campaigners will be about with pockets full of cash in search of votes for sale. In South Ontario, votes were said to be had for between $40 and $200, depending on the voters negotiating skills. One man is said to have received $300 for his vote.

In East Northumberland, votes were far cheaper ranging only from $20 to $40.

The Globe charges that this is how the election will be won by Macdonald and company and explains how candidates such as Beaty and others were able to win their seats despite trailing by large margins after the first day of voting.

William McDougall, the minister of Public Works, is reported to have said that the money generated by the construction of the Intercolonial Railway will be enough to keep John A. in office for ten years.

If even one of these reports is true, let alone the most scandalous accusation that the prime minister himself is distributing cash for votes, it is hard to reject the argument made by the Liberals that voting ought all to take place on one day so as final results not be influenced by partial ones.

CONTROVERSY IN NIAGARA

Voting began under a cloud in Niagara yesterday as two candidates objected to the voters’ list being used there by election officials. At the opening of the polls the Deputy Returning Officer announced that the election would be conducted using the 1866 voters’ list as this was the list he had been given by H. F. Whitelaw, Returning Officer. This is despite the fact that an 1867 voters list had been certified and filed with the Clerk of the Peace two months prior to the issuance of the writ for the constituency. The election law states that if the current year’s list is on file one month prior to the issuance of the writ that is the list to be used. Angus Morrison, the Conservative candidate for the Commons argued for the use of the 1866 list. He currently has a 22-vote majority after the first day of voting.

REPORT FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND

After last month’s excitement over the American acquisition of Russian America and the belief in some quarters that it would lead to the annexation of British Columbia by the Americans, calmer heads are prevailing, not least because of the arrival of HMS Zealous, a first-class armour-plated frigate commanded by Admiral Hastings.

Hastings has been ordered to Esquimalt the fleet headquarters and to maintain British interests in the region. It is believed that British Columbia will be brought into Confederation but that it cannot happen until the Red River Colony is first made a part of the Union. This is necessary to ensure one united territory from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific so that transportation across the Dominion can be maintained.

GEORGE BROWN IN SCUFFLE WITH RAILWAY EMPLOYEE

It is reported by an eye-witness that defeated Liberal leader George Brown has been involved in a physical confrontation with an employee of the Grand Trunk Railway. The man is said to have heckled Brown who then grabbed the man “by the coat collar and {gave} him a good shaking.”

In other fallout from the South Ontario election it is reported that at least one voter received $300 for his vote although other reports suggest that most votes that were bought went for a price between $40 and $200. Employees at a factory in the riding were told that a vote for Brown would be interpreted as notice of resignation.

DAILY ELECTION REPORT

Partial Results

Dundas

Ontario Legislature

• Simon Cook (Liberal) 159 vote majority
• John Doran (Conservative)

West Hastings

House of Commons

• Dr. H. Holden
• James Brown (Conservative) 414 vote majority DECLARED ELECTED

Ontario Legislature

• Ketchan Graham (Conservative) 432 vote majority DECLARED ELECTED
• J. D. Farley (Liberal)

North Norfolk

House of Commons

• Aquila Walsh (Conservative) 55 vote majority
• Dr. Duncombe (Liberal)
• C. J. Dulles (Independent) — withdrew

Ontario Legislature

• James Wilson (Conservative) 59 vote majority
• M. H. Foley (Liberal)
• Mr. Wallace — withdrew
• Mr. Clarke — withdrew

North Oxford

Ontario Legislature

• George Clark (Conservative) 195
• Thomas Cowan — withdrew
• Robert McLane — withdrew
• George Perry (Liberal) 349

Brockville

House of Commons

• F. W. H. Chambers
• James Crawford (Conservative) 165 vote majority
• John McMullin — withdrew

Ontario Legislature

• William Fitzsimmons (Mayor of Brockville) (Conservative) 10 vote majority
• Christopher Fraser (Liberal)

Niagara

House of Commons

• Angus Morrison (Conservative) 22 vote majority
• W. A. Thompson

Ontario Legislature

• James Currie (Liberal)
• Mr. Geale
• Donald Robertson (Conservative) 14 vote majority

West Peterborough

House of Commons

• Mr. J. Gordon 481
• Charles Perry (Conservative) 495

Ontario Legislature

• John Carnegie (Conservative) 473
• J. Walton (Liberal) 499

North Brant — No results reported

House of Commons

• Dr. John Brown (Liberal-Conservative)
• Joseph Clement

Ontario Legislature

• William Turnbull (Conservative)
• Hugh Finlayson (Liberal)

Hamilton — No results reported

Ontario Legislature

• J. M. Williams (Liberal)
• Major J. E. O’Reilly (Conservative)

DAILY NOMINATION REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2

North Waterloo

House of Commons

• Isaac E. Bowman (Liberal) -- Elected by acclamation

Ontario Legislature

• Moses Springer (Liberal)
• John Zoeger (Conservative)

West Middlesex

House of Commons

• G. Billington
• Angus P. Macdonald
• Dr. Feguson (Withdrew)
• C. H. Mackintosh (Withdrew)
• W. Elliott (Withdrew)
• J. Gardiner (Withdrew)
• R. Brown (Withdrew)
• D. McKellar (Withdrew)

Ontario Legislature

• M. Campbell
• Nathaniel Currie
• G. W. Ross (Withdrew)
• Dr. Ferguson (Withdrew)
• Dr. McKellar (Withdrew)

South Grey

House of Commons

• Mr. Dagleish
• George Jackson (Conservative)

Ontario Legislature

• William Flesher (Liberal)
• Abraham Lauder (Conservative)

North Simcoe

House of Commons

• Thomas D. McConkey (Liberal) -- Elected by acclamation

Ontario Legislature

• William Lount (Liberal)
• Mr. Morrison (Conservative)

New Brunswick

Carleton (New Brunswick)

House of Commons

• Charles Connell (Liberal) -- Elected by acclamation

York

House of Commons

Hon. Charles Fisher (Liberal) -- Elected by acclamation

Québec

Hochelaga

House of Commons

• Hon. Antoine A. Dorion (Liberal)
• Mr. Laviolette

Québec Legislature

• Louis Beaubien (Conservative)
• Laurent-Olivier David (Liberal)

For a full report of members elected please click here.

For a schedule of nominations and polling days please click here.