The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-06-09

and comparing the POLL More recent evil
dence may be discovered nearer home, and
our local elections in this section of the |
state have already given us an earnest of
what awaits us in the fall, and old South
wark, in her recent election, and Moyamen-
sing in her commissioners election, have
indicated what they mean to do with the
enemy in the coming contest.
Another reason which must satisfy all
who are doubtful as to what will be the re-
suit of the contest for Governor, is found
in the character and principles of the candi-
dates who are presented for the suArages
of the people, Joseph Ritner has been
proved and tried, and is shown 10 be desti-
tute Of all the requisite qualifications which
fit him for an executive station. He has
been intent only on the keeping of power,
and has suffered himself. to be controlled
and led by desperate and adventurous poll
ticians and pedlars from other states. In
order to retain the station into which acci-
dent has thrown him, he sanctioned the
districtng of the state in such manner as
to secure a misrepresentation of the senti-
ments of the majority, and enable a minOri-
iy to rule, by apportioning the members of
the legislature in palpable and direct oppo-
sition to the number of taxables. Besides,
to use the language of the 9th of March
conventon-"For more than a century, the
election laws were uniform throughout the
state, and every citizen enjoyed the same
rights and privileges under them.-On the
day Of election, the suhrages of the people
in the east were regulated by the same
laws as those of the west; and the people
of the south on that day, knew that their
brethren in the north were as free and e.
quail as themselves. But it became the bu-
sness of the present governor and his first
legislature, to restrict the people in one
section of the state, in the exercise Of their
right of suffrage; to except the people of
the city and county Of Philadelphia, from
the uniform provisions of the constitution,
and the general election law, and to impose
upon them the odious duty and disgrace of
having their names registered for some days
previous to the election" Can then, the
people Of Pennsylvania, and especially the
citizens of Philadelphia, lend their suff'ra-
ges to a candidate who has thus impaired
the dearest right which freemen can enjoy,
and rendered the election laws of the state
a by-word and reproach throughout the
land !
Besides, Joseph Ritner has violated all
his principles and all his professions. A
vowing himself to be an anti-mason, he has
continually appointed masons to office, thus
showing his Hypocrisy and want of princi-
pie, and has exercised the veto power in SO
arbitrary and tyrannical manner as to
make it the instrument Of executive oppres-
sion. He has used it for the purpose of
lecturing and reviling the representatives
of freemen, and has shown that he consid-
ers veto in the light of mere negative
vote, and supposes he ought to use it in all
cases in which he would vote in the mega
tive, were he member of the legislature.
His supporters are also equally inconsistent
with himself, for you find that all the anti
masons in the senate of the state voted at
the last session for an open and avOwed ma
son for speaker. How base and hypocriti-
cal, therefore, must be the conduct of such
men, and how clearly does it show that an
timasonry is a mere delusion, and a trap
for the unwary. 1t is certainly time that
| party so recreant to profession and princi-
| pie should be removed from power and their
places filed by men who are honest and
capable: and who will exercise the innu-
ence of their stations to promote the inter-
ests of the community.
The present position of our opponents is
such that no man can view it without being
| sensible Of the truth of a remark often made,
that it is composed of the fragments and
factions Of parties-of parties which have
changed tileir principle just as frequently
as they have changed their names. That
the antimasonic portion of the party is hyp-
ocritical and insincere, has already been
shown, and that the whig portion Of the al
lance is just as little guided by dignity and
adherence to principle may be readily dem
onstrated. After a National convention of
wings had assembled at Baltimore, and no.
minated Henry Clay for President, and
John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, for Vice
President, the wings of Pennsylvania aban-
doned their support of these candidates,
and cast their votes for the candidates of
the antimasonc party. How fragrant an
instance of violation of principle. and of
desertion of long-tried political friends. And
yet this was done by the boasted whg par
ty OF Pennsylvania. Ever since then, the
wings have been following in the walks of