The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-19

alton, with Its ''executive committee" app
pointing subordinate committees through
out the Unions raising money by tens of
thousands to support presses, to magnify
their mock here, libel the Administration.
and scatter delusion through the country;
practising the Most unheard of abuses,
getting subscribers 10 newspaper under
promise that they shall receive it under
frank, violate the law by actually ranking
1t, and devoting their money, their talents,
their privileges, and their time, not to the
Business of Legislation for which they
were elected, but to an INSCRIPTIONS and
uneeasltg warfare upon another depart
ment of tie Government. The public
business is delayed, the public faith VIC.
lated, and the ordinary operations of the
Government obstructed, that the session
of Congress may be protracted; thus fur
nishlng the influence CT public station, the
facilities OF frank and money from the
Treasury, to carry on their electioneerlng
operations. In some cases electioncering
tracts, ranked by members of Congress,
weighing more than they had right to
frank, have been falsely marked "public
documents" to insure their free transport
tatlon; and in others, the frank of men,
bers has been boldly forged! VIVA,
would be said of the Executive officers
here, if they were to form such a club,
| appoint such committee, and resort TO
such means! Would not the very men
who are now committing abuses and out
RACES thousand times, more aggravated
than any they charge against the Admin
istration, sound the tocsin of alarm upon
thousand hills, and startle the country
with the threatening danger! And are
these combinations less alarming, less COR
rupt, less dangerous. or less criminal. in
one department of the Government than
in anOtheri
CONTEMPT FOR THE PEOPLE
lies at the bottom of this whole scheme of
electioneering.
The Harrison party showed this con-
tempt in presenting "a military chieflain"
as their candidate, after having for years
denounced the elevation of such men as
worse for the country than "war, pesti-
lence, and famine, or any other scourge."
They show it by presenting a sham
hero to the people, and endeavoring to
persuade them that he is a real one.
They show it by asking the people to
vote for gagged and guarded candi-
lutte, who "will answer the questions of
neither friends nor foes"
They show it by abandoning all argu-
ment, and throwing principle out of the
contest.
They show it by their log-cabins, cider
barrels, pitchers, canoes, balls, banners,
pictures, parade, riot and drunkenness;
fit only to amusc, if they did not disgust,
London populace or Partisan mob.
They show it by their incessant and
monstrous misrepresentation of the acts
of the Administration, and their causeless
abuse OF the men who compose it.
Where is the rue.hearted American
who would not be ashamed of his coun-
try, if she could, by such means, be in
duced to abandon her right to question
candidates for Office, and throw herself
into the arms of a Presi-
dent and party which has no principles,
or dare not avow them!
From this contempt ofthe people springs
the opposition of the leaders of this party
TO the extension Of the right of suffrage,
and their steady attempts to corrupt it
when extended. Not believing the peo-
pie fit for self government, they will not
trust them with power when they can
avoid IT; and whenever the opportunity
presents, take from them that which they
possess. They do not scruplc to compel
their dependents TO vote their will, a,
elections, instead of their own, and so
to manage their private affairs as to re-
ward or punish more humble men for the
or assertion Of the right of free
suffrage. Upon the same principle, they
do not hesitate to cheat in the elections
and cheat in the returns. Recall few
facts of recent occurrence, and it will be
seen that | do them no injustice.
In 1898, the leaders of the present Har-
rson party had possession of the Govern
ment Of Pennsylvania, in all its legisla-
tive and executive branches. BY false re-
gistries, and the introduction of thousand.iI
of voters from abroad they strove to eflfsis7
a Governor and majority of the House
of Representatives, but were defeated.