The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-04-04

speCulatOI hn oppOllhIliy ol cHIiChiuk nlHi-
self. by purchasing The house and The home
Of this poor settler over his head and thus
depriving him of the fruiis'of his homes, la
Dor No, sir, no the aboring men of the
county know TOO well which party is theft
true friends to be persuaded TO enlist under
the Wing banner by the Senator Of Massn-
chusetts.
The right of suffrage is the most sacred
political right which the cllzens Of free
Government can enjoy. Like the right of
conscience, it ought ever to be regarded as
a question between the individual man and
his Maker, with which no human power
ought to interfere, unless Ivy convincing the
reason. This is the very foundation upon
which our Republican institutions rest
All men are regarded as equal in the sight
of the law; and they ought all, therefore,
to be equally free when they approach the
ballot box. ask, has this principle been
respected in regard to the laboring man in
our extensive P,anufuctories Have they
never been tod that unless they voted ac-
cording to The dietation of their employers,
they should be Immediately discharged p
Have they never even been accompanied 10
the polls by their employer or his agent, to
see that the tyrancal mandate should be
carried into execution! The man who
would act in such manner, and thus abuse
the little brief authority which his station
has given him over his fellow men, is at
heart despol and aiyrant. These things
have never Witnessed myself, but have Of
ten heard.
now come TO answer the question pro-
pounded to me by the Senator from Mas.
sachusetts Mf. WEBSTER in regard to the
political prospects in Pennsylvania and
permit me here to say, that although do
not complain, should not have been the
first to introduce such topcs'upon this floor.
Unlike some Of my friends in the Oppos-
lion, have made.no predictions here which
the result has noI verified. ain, therefore,
entitled to some lllle character as a proph-
ct, which, small as it may be, should be
sorry TO lose. The smoke which was rais-
ed by late Wing National Conveation has
had time 10 vanish away; and we can now
see objects in their true rolors and Just pro-
/ portions. have endedvoted to view the
! party struggle in my own State in the light
Of truth, SO as not TO deceive myself or olh.
ers; and have had the best opportunities
ul acquiring correct information. | now
! declare that firmly believe the Keystone
State will remain true 10 her ancient politi
cal faith; and from present appearances, nc
! future event can be more certain than lha
she will sustain the present Chief Magls
trate and his principles, by a triumphan! ma
] 'Ihaey Ia
opinion, renderP the result absolutely Ger
tam 1t was onr misiaIMne. to. Ihaxe, bRfia;
during the administration Of Governor RiL
ner. In what manner did that adminis,ra
ion treat the laborng men EMPLOYED upor
the public works (! No laboring man wa.
permitted TO remain in the employment o
the State, unless he would pledge himself
TO support the re-electou of Governor Rit
ner. lie was deprived Of the means o.
earning his bread by The sweat Of his brow,
unless he would abandon his right to fee
aud TO think and 10 ACT, as free and inSe.
! pendent cltizer OF the Commonwealth. In
many instances, the superinlendents on oui
railroads and canals marched up to the
! polls at the head of numerous bands of the
laborers, to culorce compliance with the
pledges which had thus been exiotled from
them, and TO see that ,hey voted for Gov.
ernor Rtner. Theelection came, and Gov.
ernor Rnner was defeated al the polls by a
handsome majority. Immediately after.
wards. il was announced from high official
authority that this election should be treated
sif il had never taken place. The attempt
to carry this mandate into execution pro-
dnced what has been mos. unjuslly called
the mob. revolution was threatened. but
the leaders fed from the fearful responsible.
lty which they had assumed, at the first mo-
ment OF iancied danger; and what had be-
gun in tragedy, thus ended in broad farce.
No. sir, shall not say one word to the
prejudice Of General Harrison. 1t is hi,
misfortune in Pennsylvania to be identified
with the leaders of The party which have
de cribed. They are his chief and mos
prominent supporters, and were the mos
active and influential in procuring his nomi
nation; and they are sufficiently heavy "a
drag down any candidate for the Presidency
in Pennsylvania to whom they are political.
ly bound. This very fact will lose Gener.
al Harrison thousands Of independent Who
votes in Pennsylvania. trust have now
sufficiently answered the inquiry Of The
Senator from Massachusetts
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