Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1836-05-06
Address
IO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.
FELLOW CITIZE EMS;

chiefly through the medium Of his indepen
dent and Anblased vote, that the free cili.
zen ora republic, is distinguished from
the subject Of a Monarch. Nor is there
any duty so sacred, or imperative, in the
political relations which bind us together
as . people, as that Of expressing delibe-
ratelg by our votes, our opinions in rcIe.
renee 10 all public measures, which may
affect the honor, or prosperity OF our be-
loved coHa,ry; aud especially 10 the seec
tion Of those high officers 10 whom the
larger share of power Is delegated by our
system, and whose acts and counsels, cX
c.cise aa important influence, Tor good or
for evil, not enl y on our national charaC
ter, but also on our pubic aud private en-
terpriso aud prosperity. Such however
Is the great confidence Ot the American
people IN each olaer aud the efficacy Of
our Republican Institutions, aud 50 hay
PLY have we thus been preserved from
any great national misfortune, that many
of our best, and most respectable citizens
have grown careless in the exercise ottbe
suffrage; and thousands either absent
themselves from the polls, or vote with
little reflection, the ticket prepared for
them by others, The power Of eIecting
10 olii3e, thus neglected by It's rightIuI
possessors, is eagerly graapcd by dema-
gOgucs, aud by ambitious menj who un-
der the pretence Of superior patriotism,
seek po'iica influence by saving the peO
pic from the labor Of thinking tor them
selves, aud by exercising for them all that
Is valuable in the right Oi suffrage. The
many sullar the rights 10 sleep, from
mere indifference; and the lew possess
themselves Of those rights, by means OF
their superior Industry; aad IN a great
multitude otcases, the exercise OF the high
duly OF suffrage, resolves Itself into The
mechanical act OI obeyIng party n"mI-
nation, or confirming The dcc.cg u mlJ
uIght Caucus.
on le years, The lenders Of the par
ties have assumed 10 themselves the pow
CT of the peop c. Az lri.toc 'acy ot the
most udlDus character hts UreR cstaOIls,.
ed; and few men Iii each state, have IN
duriaken TO constitute themselves CIec
lulS, ~ place OF those to Wnlm the right
OF suffrage otIong, i'ney have chosen
the Candidates for whom TIC people shall
vote, and required the latter 10 confirm
their nominations, They have, III effect,
elected tie nr1h officers oI the govern
moui, aud called upon tue iawtuI eicc-
tors. merely TO give legal sanction tO
4huIr acts OF usnrpauon. hose especial
~ who ho,d offices, have been particular
ly active and forward IN taxing upon ihem
selves The rights aud duleS Of their lei
low 'cllH ns, and IA endcar0rlng TO ere
ate in lhc hands OF il prvlIrgcd lew, ii
MoN,P LY Of political power aud official
patronage. Alemhers oI Congress, hhSk'
aug ia lAo sunshine o! Exc, uIvu favor, as
well as Office holders, have arrugated to
tnem-eIvcs the high lrl"'l' g et deciding
who shall bc candidates IVr ImpoFtan! sla
ions; aud Of dlYidtng among themselves,
The influence Of patronage, and 'lhe sPoiIs
OF vIclury;' of Il victory gained by lhe
people over each other. Thus have The
sulirases oi Ihc uany Teen perverted 10
TIC benefit Oi the lew.
Iadignlnl at these abuses, large por
tions ol tho people have teierunaed, III
the approaching eIcctioa OF ChIei MAglS
lratu Of this Uulon, to select candidate
tom among m.elvcs, independently
of aHy dlclauUn from iii g holders, par
ty leaders, or political demas"gucs
ThJV have resolved 10 chose an Ia iYldu
al lOl President Of this great Nation,
whose bahCs arc not Sound by party tIos
and political obligations; one, who has
stood aIoOI from the recent struggles tor
power, and is free from ..rc cnormilics
and alliances, III. n...rucnl to such warfare
They ...ayc determined to take man,
whose interests, anl feelings, are dohIi'l
cd with hose Of the great republican lam
ily. In coming to this conclusion, The
nin,le have not asked permission from
.h,ar owa servants at Washington nor
sou.ht advice from the holder OF office, or
Ihe leader of faction. Ihey nave
thought for themselves aud Consulted
with each other. -,
The result Of these unbiased de'lOcra'
tons, IN The primary meetings o, inc w
tiers, in numerous places, aud III dt'l'tCn'
Sta!cs, has been seen III the nomlnal'o"
Of our distinguished fellow clIlzen, Will
LIAM HENRY HARRISON, OF ONO ii
suitable candidate for The office OF Pres
lIent OF these Uuicd States. Tho lIrsI
public indication uI the preference oI The
people lor that lIos'rl"u' pa'r'o'' states @
man, and soldier, va. exhibited IN primo
nv meetings. composed of citizens wI'I
out Jlsuncuon OF party, III The 0'a'e 0
Pennsylvania. So decided aud Tespecli
hIe testimony Of the wishes OF inc re
pnblicrn votels of iho Common"oa,'h-
IhcKo, Stone state of the federal O"'oI o!
--second to none OF her SISTER s'ateS' II