The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-05


they did not disgust, London popuace or Pa
risian mob.
They show it by their incessant and mOnstrous
Misrepresentation of the acts of the Admnsira-
ton and their causeless abuse of the men who COM
pose It,
Where is the true-hearted American who would
not be ashamed of his country, if she could, by
such Means be induced to abandon her right to
question candidates for office, and throw herself
Internationally into the arms of Il President and Il
party which has no principles, or dare not avow
them?
From this contempt of the people springs the OPP
position of the leaders of this party to the extern
sion of the right of suffrage and their steady at
tenrpts to corrupt it when extended. Not believing
the people fit for seli-govenment they will not trust
them with power when they can avoid it and
whenever the opportunity presents itself, take from
them that which they possess They do not scgu-
pie to compel their dependents 10 vote then will
at elections, instead of their own, and so TO manage
their private affairs as to reward or punish more
humble men for the surrender or assertion of the
right of free suffrage. Upon the same principle,
they do not hesitate to cheat in elections and cheat
in The returns Recall few facts of recent occur
renee, and it will be seen that do them 10 MUS
ticc.
In 1888, the leaders fthc present Harrison party
had possession of the Government of Pennsy lyanla,
in all its legislative and executive branches BY
false regsires, and the introduction of thousands
of voters tronrabroad, they sirove to elect Gov
ernor and majority of The House of Representa-
tiveS, but were defeated Instead of submitting to
the decision of the people, they determined to dis
regard it and retain possession Of the Government
of the State at all hazard From the county of
Philadelphia, two Democratic Senators and eight
I , b,J ala
certified by majority of the Judges of the election
vet, though the Democratic majority was several
hundreds, minority of the Judges sen; certificate
to the office Of the Secretary of State, falsely show
ing that The Harrison candidates had majority
The change of these eight members from one side
TO the other, would give them majority of the
House of Representatives. Fortified by this false
certificate, and supported by the Governor and Il
majority of the Senate, the Secretary of State pnb-
cly advised his party 10 treat the election of Gov
ernor as if it had never been held, although the
Democratic candidate had ma jorily of thousands
On the meeting of the Legislature, he sent in the
false returns, aud withheld the true ones, The
Senate Immediately admitted the usurpers When
the Democrats of the House resisted their introduce
ton into that body, the Harrison party proceeded
separately, in conjunction with the Usurpers, to or
ganiZc House and choose their officers The
Democratic members did the same thing, in con-
Junction with The true Representatives from Phla-
dolphin county. But, us the Governor and ma
oily Of the Senate were Of the Harrison party, all
power was in their hands and it became evident
that they intended to create, by arbitrary power, II
majority in the House, and sci aside the election,
not only of several Senators aud Representatives
nul lnaT Of duSutnur uno
This design, more bold considering the people
and the age, than the most daring usurpaiions of
Caesar, Cromwell, or Napoleon, reused the spirit
of 'T6 indignant multiiudcs poured into the cap
ito they organized a Committee of SAFETY 4,
and prepared to assert the rights of the people,
The uliighcd Governor and his guilty counscllors,
instead of rcccding from their foul design, dcrounc
ed the people ~ rebels and determined 10 carry out
the usurpaon by force of arms Troops were
called out provided with " buckshol and ball cart
ridge - the capitol of the State rcsoundcd with
the din of arms aud the peace of the Common
twcalth seemed to be suspended upon hair Lest
the militia of the State might show reluctance
To shoot down their own friends and suhyert their
own rights the Governor had the Hudacy TO re-
quest the aid Of body Of United States regulars,
then in the vicinity, and to demand of the President
the aid of the army Of the Union
| What, in this case, did the people ask Moth
ing but the installation of their public officers, duly
and cOnstituiionay elected by large majorlIies.-
And why did not the Harrison party proceed in
their monsrous design to deprive them Of this dear
est right of rcemcn to treat the election as if it
had not been held, and retain the possession OF
power ut the point of the bayonet Not because
they relentcd or rcpented not because they Were
not ready for blood and carnage, to put down the
rights of the people but because two of Their num-
her, and iro OaIy, refused TO act out the scene, and
recedrng from the usurping House of Representa-
tiyes, left it without quorum. As bold, unprnci-
pied, and INSCRIPTIONS as they were, they dared
not proceed when they could no longer slleld theI
nSorPatioh un.er cohS'H"'i"h0l 'ori"S' r.,
"hat on tlils occasion was me cohh"c' OF 'h1Se
VINO now constitute me harrison party III o'hei
states: Dldihey denounce the usurPerS ana ,aEe
the SIDE OF the people NO almost 10 man. 'hey
sustained, encouraged, ana defended Governor
l'liner and his daring associates. The people re-
ceived from them but lerocious abuse, with the ep
thets ct traitors and rebels. The attempt TO ceavc
down by the sword the most precious rights OF Tree
men, was every where applaudcd by them, show
ing that the same conieDIpt for the people peryade,
that party throughout the Union.
And ,vhot b,ve ,ye snan ot tho nrosnnt session nj