The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-06-10


If and throwing Princps cut OF the contest.
, hey show II by their log cabins. cider bar
tes. pteheIs, canoes, balls, banners, pictures,
and parade, riot, and drunkenness; fl only 10
amuse, II they did not disgust, London psp-
uaoe or Pari.;sian mob.
They show II by their ineessant and mon
sirens misrelrsseuia;ions Of the acts Of the Ad
miplsralon, aud their eauseless abuse Of the
men who compose IT,
Where rs the uc-he,ried American who
would not be ashamed of his county. il she
could by such means, be induced TO abandon
hef right to question can9liatps Tor office, and
throw herself Internationally into tho arms Of
President and party which has 20 principles.
or dare not avow them
From this contempt Of the people springs
the opposition of the leaders cf ths party 10
the extension OF the rc ht OF snilrsge and their
steady attempts TO corrupt it when extcpded,-
Not believing the people it for self government,
they Will not trust thcm with power when they
can avoid It: aud whenever the opportunity
prcsen,s itself, take from them that " bich they
posses. They do not scruple TO compel their
dependents 10 vote their will. nj elections, IN
stead OF their own, and 40 to manage their pri-
Nas affairs as TO reward or punish mere hun-
bic men for the surrender OF assertion of tho
ighl Of suffrage. Upon the same prIneipls,
they do not hesitate tn cheat ~ elections and
chest III the returns Recall few facts of re-
cent occurrence, snd 1t viii be seen that do
them no injustice.
In 1888, the leaders OF the present il,uisoD
party had possession Of tho Gnysrnmen ~ of Penn
sylvsnis, in all It's legislative and executive
branches, by false regisiries, and the intro
duction Of thousands of voters from abroad.
they stro,e to elect Governor and ma oiny
oi the House OF Representatives, but were de
teatrd. Instead of submitting TO tho d-oisi.n
OF the people, they determined to disregard Il
and obtain possession of the Government OF tho
State NJ every hazard. From the county u
Pb'ladelpb,a, two Democratic Senators md
eight Representatives had been elected. and u
was so certified by majority oi the Judges Of
the election yet. thoush the Democratic ma
Jofiiy was several hundreds, minority Of the
Judges sent n csuifcate 10 the office Of the Sec
retary oi State, falsely showing that the Barr-
son candidates had a msjoriIy. The change
nj these eigh; members rom one side to The
ether would give them majority sf the
House Of Representatives. Fortified by this
false certificate. aud supported by the Govern
or nnd majority oi the Senate, the Secretary
OF State publicly advised his party 10 treat Ne
election OF Governor rs if u hsa never been
held, although the Democratic candidate had q
= ma joriiy Of thousands On the meeting oi the
Legislature. hs sent in the false returns. and
, Withheld the true ones. The SeDsts imme-
:, dlatsly admitted the usurpss. When the
:, . Democrats Of the House resisted theiy ia,rs-
ducton into that body, the Harrison party pro
:, ceefed separately, in conjunction with jho
nsurpers, To organize = Hsuse aud choose their
officers. The Democratic members did the
same. in injunction with the iruo Representa-
lives from Philadelphia county. But as the
:, Governor and msjority Of the Senate were of
= = the Harrison party. al power was in their
. hands and IT beesIno syidsnI that they intsbd-
', cd to create, by arbitrary power, majority ~
tho House, and set aside the eleetisn. not only
Of several Senators and Representatives, but
that of Governor also
The design. more bold. considering the peo-
pie and the age. than the most daring usurpa-
'ions Of Cnar Cromwell. or Napoleon. ronsed
the spirit Of '7G; Indignant muliitudes poured
into the capital; they org aDized Committee Of
SAFETY, and prepared to assert The rights OF
l the people. The adrigh'rJ Governor aud his
guilty c"unssllors. inb,ead Of iccedi0g from
their foul de.ign, denoHnced tho people as
rebels and Determined 10 tarry OUT the usurpa-
ton by force Of arms Troops were called out
provided with "buckshot and ball cartridges"
the capital of the State resonnded With the din
OF arms and tue peace Of tho Conmonvealth
seemed to be suspended npon hair. Lest the
militia Of the State might show some reluc-
tancs to shoot down their own friends. and sob
vert their own rights the Governor had the au-
dacny to request the aid of body Of United
States regulars. then IN the vicinity. aud TO de-
n,and Of the President the Md Of te army OF
the Union.
What IA this case. did ia. people ask =
| Nothing but tho installation Of their public Off
Gers, duly and constItuIionaly elected by large
ma jontiss. And Why did not The Harrison par
~ proceed "a their insorirons design TO deprive
them of this dearest right Of Geemen. 10 treat
tho election. ~ II it had NOT been held. and re
tain tho Possession Of pewer at the point Of the
bayonet! Not because they ieleuied OF repca-
: ted not because they were not ready for blood
aud carnage. to put down the rights Of the peo-
| ple but because two of their number. and t'r0
oniy. refused " act out the scene. snd recrding
I from tho usurping House Of Repfcseot'tlves.
left II without quorum. As bold, unpune'-
/ pied pnd uuserupulous AZ thsy we're, they daC-
I ed not proceed when they could no longer
shield their usgrpaiion under constitutional
iofms.
! Whist, on tb,s occasion, was the conduct o'
those who constitute the Harrison party IN 9th
| err Stsfesl Did they deGonbce the nshrpefs
and take ths side Of The people No almest
to man, they sustained, encouraged ana ae-
! Tended Governor RfDer and his daring asso-
/ elatss. The people received from them but ie-
rosl lons abuse, with the epiiheis Of traitors and
rebels. The attempt to clssrc down by tho
,usrd the most precious rights Of iresnen. was
every where spplauded by them, showing that
the same contempt for the people psrvades that
party thrsbg bout the Union.
/ And .hai havr we seen at the present session
ofConprsss, The llouse Of Representatives
kept in state Of disorganizatisn for weeks. by
nm attempt ia force into II, as members, i've
men from New Jersey, when five other men,
noioriously and conlsss'dly. had majority OF
the votes gwen at the election. The "broad
seal Of the Governor. though covering known
aud acknowledged irsud, was held by 'oem
more sacred than the peoples right Of subr'ee.
and was considered y better title TO seat '"
CONGRESS than 4 majority Of The peoples vo'es.