Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-05-04

the bill rs declared odous because it provides to
Go away that which Is prasewor,hy; and the
whole argument Of the report goes TO thia result
But to the extract:
''fhe obise, OF the render wha, i. lawful and
and IN strict conformity with
aud sp' OF our institutions, for all citizens, criminal
particular eass, who have been honored confidence
of the People of the whole 1t punish
TO punish bribery and eoupton robbery baIo.
box the suppression forging of returns usurpason
J'ry in eetons, hu the d,suasion
TO control or influence voters by that
are lawful and right ia Others
The very terms (said Mr.. p) which are used ia
the bill OF the Senator from Kentucky, and this
,ntermeddiing ot these officers the precise thinv
which the gentleman calls prai.eworthy.
Sir, let us pause a moment II is not, says the
gentleman, NAHUM IN Sc an offence in itself. Sir,
the gentleman is a lawyer, and let me ask him.
Is there no political offence subject to legislation
but what is mulum in sec? Is there any one in
the whole catalogue of political offences which is
nahum in Sc? If the gentleman should find out
that tho ballot box has boen distracted after the
polls were fully made up, is that NAHUM in sci Il
to offer or take bribe malum in SET Is il thing
at which Nature revolts criminal in itsclff Sir,
all these are but creatures Of the law, conveu.
tona crimes, depending broad and general
principles; and yet the Senator from Kentucky
Is censured because this thing is not maIwm in &C.
But the report proceeds:
= ",
sa'on and every other means of acquiring knowledge,
understand the theory and principles of institutions
TO ascertain the best mode OF administering them their
true spirit good
number, and to render himself capable OF dscharging
trust that may DO conferred him by his fellow czons
1t their duty to do all; TO agitate, 10 discuss,
to enter into interference iliimitable, in direct
contact with elections, is declared not only TO
be praiseworthy by the committee, and good in
itself, but they simultaneously announce that it
is no, only right and prasewor,hy, but il is du-
ty To make use OF patronage and power in olec.
tons, TO take the lead and control them (for tho
very word control is used) And now, sir, will
the honorable gentleman tell me that he does
not rally the offco-hoIdees TO interference in q
lections? That he is not contravc ning in terms
the purpose and object Of tho bill by declaring
1t the duty of Federal officers TO control the cleo
tons? And is not this using power Of inter-
terence IN elections, against which they ought to
be free?
3 But further, sir, the report says:
SIT is well his right his duty dismiss and pro-
nudge freely measures any and IN.
support oppose it, a.
control them by the censorship of public opinion
subject them to tho test of the Constitution"
If To control them by the censorship Of public
e opinion! The public officer il bound TO advo-
cate or contest against the and measures Of
y an administration, thus controlling them, and
t working themselves up into a censorship of pub
y Inc opinion which may be held by the Office
s holders OF the country for that by the committee
e 10 sshuo suo StduudIO 10 WnlC0 the 0Ct0 and tho
g character Of an administration be referred
that Is, to the public opinion which they mako il
the duty Of the Office holders to establish.
c. The report says further, ain doing he may
ie win the confidence Of his fellow citizens''-an
20 enumeration FROM and dependant on, the Exc
:. cutive-"by his declared opinions, or may be-
i. come identified with some great principle which
N. conciliates their support"
al Sir, the report not only declares il his duty,
no but furnishes reason and arguments why he
tcho -
n himself with some great principle; and what
no will that principle be in fact? The principle Of
p' selfpreservaion--my bread, my Office, my sup
is port-they will be led by that principle, and .
control over the elections Is the great end sane
=, tifying this principle Of selfpreservation.
- But the gentleman denies that he has vindica.
ted this interference, while in his report he Gays
ed "AIl this is innocent and praiscworthy." Yes
nd SIR, all this interference in every possible way
h, and to every possible ex.eot is only innocent
in but praisewor,hy And further, and moro than
this, have adverted to the usual motive Of the
interference, as n reason why it should not take
place; and why? Because that motive 10 selfish
inc having direct seference whatever to the pub
,ad lie good But this reason the gentleman has re-
. j. jected. He US, FIRST that the motive 70,
of interference is such, and then he vindcates the
m proceedings on the ground that the motive is cor
rs, rupt Hear him:
ing Gan this prai.swort,y, even IL the mo
tive 10 the acquisition Of ohce beca promotes pub
Hc gooo.' lLaoghtefI
in All this the gentleman encourages and stimu
ates to it, for Ill he says is not only innocant
ms, but praiseworihy, even If it IL done with mo
the tive but the acquisition Of Office. Sir, this cours
Of argument would revolt the mind and cuu
-. science of Machiavel.
or Sir, what is the purity and absence Of cosrur
re- ton in institutional What 10 the great safe
ich guard Of our rightsf What - the broad prir
10 cpies Of suffrage which lies at the bottom Of OF
,el institutions? Its purity Of motives, patriotism
ac the public good, moving and directing the vos
to Of every citizen. And yet this report, with Ut
his appalled, step, enters the very penetrsa of ii
,il temple Of Freedom, and gives this cup Of poll,
his ton to the officers themselves, and says This
full the sacrifice; take no care 70 your polite.
motive, which by adnission u known to be n
asa worthy to exist. for though Il Is the corrupt
h., tive Of oce-seeking, II IS not the less to DO
- ceived, and is even more to be valued than
-. regard for the People.
Ma, And now, Mr.. President, have rightly cha
nee acter,zed tins repor,s have used perfect Ere