It was a cold wintry night in early January 1793 in Upstate New York when a trio of political operatives reined in their horses at the home of John Van Alen. The two story wood framed farmhouse stood in newly formed Rensselaer County on the east side of Hudson River.
One of the men, John Van Valkenburgh struggled with a box and several canvas bound books. Once inside the house, the weary Dutchman was approached by Van Alen’s wife, lugging a large chest. Anne Van Alen suggested the chest could be used to store the important items Van Valkenburgh was manhandling. [Read more…] about Stuffing the Ballot Box: It’s Nothing New in American Politics