Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-06-13

gIayaied Than any they charge against the Ad-
minlstratlon sound the locsln Of alarm upon a
thousand hills and staue the country with the
I threatening dagger And are these combinations
less all;uln, less corup, less dangerous, or
less criminal, in one department Of the Govern
ment than IN uotherl
/ CONTEMPT FOR THE PEOPLE lies O;
/ the bottom d ;hls whole scheme OF eleCtonser-
ing
! The Hanson rariy showed thls contempt IN
/ presenting "a military chieiuan' as then caudI-
/ date, after having tor years denounced the eIeya-
/ ton Of such men as worse for the country than
"war, peslleDce & famine, or any other scourEe.'
/ They show II by asking the people to vote for a
I gagged or guarded candidate, who "Wi.l answer
/ the questions OF neither friends not foes
! They show 1t by abandoning all argument, and
/ throwing principle out Of the contest
/ They show 1t by presenting sham hero 10 the
people, and endea, orng, TO persuade them that he
Is a real one.
They show it by Their log-cabins, cider-barrels,
pitchers, canoes, balls, banners, pictures, and pa.
raae, not, and drunkenness; fit only to amuse. if
they did not disgust, a London poPuIace or Pa.
rISj an mob
They show it by their ncesSant and monstrous
Misrepresentation of the acts Of the Admins.
trahon, and their causeless abuse oil the men who
compose it,
Where is the true-heared American who would
not be ashamed Of his country, if she could by
such means, be induced 4 abandon her right to
question candidates for Office, and throw herself
Internationally into the arms Of President and
party which has no principles, o. dare not avow
Ihem1
From the contempt Of the people springs the
opposition Of the leaders of thus party to the ex.
tension Of the right of suffrage, and their steady
attempts TO corrupt il when extended. Not be.
llavlng the people fit foI self government, they
VIII 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 scrupIe TO compel their dependents TO vote
their will at elections instead of their own, and
to manage heir private affairs US to reward OF
punish more humble men for the surrender or al
soiiion OF the right Of fee sufliage. Upon the
! same principle, they DO not hesitate to cheat in
elections and chea, u the returns Recall few
facts Of recent occurrence, and it will be seen
that do them no injustice.
In 1888, the leaders Of the present Harrison
party had possession Of the government Of Penn.
| sylvdnla, in all its legislative and executive
branches. BY false registrss, and the Introduc.
ton OF thousands OF voters, from abroad, they
stroye TO elect Governor and minority Of tbc
House Of Representatives, but we're defeated
! Instead Of submitting to the decision of the peo
pie, they determined to disregard it and retain
possession OF the government Of the State a,
every hazard. From the count, Of PHILADELPHIA
two Democratic Senators and eight Representa-.
ttVes had been elected, and il was so certified BY
a majority Of the judges Of the election; YET
though the Democratic majority was several hun
dreds, minority Of the Judges sent a certificate
to the Office Of the Secretary of State, falsely
showing that the Harrison candidates had ma
Jorty' The change Of these eight members
from one side 10 the other, would give them a
majority Of the House Of Representatives. For.
tilted by this false certificate, and supported by
the Governor and a majority of the Senate, the
Secretary Of State publicly advised his party tc
treat tho election Of Governor as if it had never
been held, although the Democratic candidate
had majority Of thousands Ga the meeting
OF the Legislature, he sent III the false returns
and withheld the true ones. The Senate iume
dtately admitted the usurpers When the Demo
Gratis of the House resisted their introduction in
to that body, the Harrison party proceeded so5a
ratey, in conjunction with the usurpers to organ
lze House and choose their officers The De.
mocra,c members did the same thing, in con.
junction with the true Representatives from Phi
ladelpha county. But as the Governor and
majority OF the Senate were Of the Harrison
party, all power was in their hands, and it be
came evident that they intended 10 create, by ar
btrary power, majority in the House, and Sc
aside the election, not ouly Of several Senator.
and Representatives, but that Of Governor also
This design, more bold, considering the people
and the age, than the most daring usurpatons 0
Cesar, Cromwell, or Napoleon, reused the spin
Of 10; indignant multtudes poured into the ca
pta they organized Committee Of SAFETY
ard prepared 10 assert the rights Of The people
The afrghted Governor and his guilty counsel
Tors, instead Of recedlng from their foul design
denounced the people as rebels and determined
to carry out the usGrpatlon by force Of arms
Troops were called out provided with " buc ksho
and ball cartridges;' the capital of the State re
sounded with the din Of arms and the peace o
The Commonwealth seemed to be suspended up
on hair. Lest the militia Of the State might show
some reluctance to shoot down their own friends
and subver, their own rights, the Governor hat
the audacity 10 request the aid Of body Of U
States regulars, then IN The vicinity, and 10 dc
mand of The President the aid Of the army Of th'
Union.
What in this case, did the people ask No
thing but the installation Of their public officers
duly and constitu,ionaIly elected by large major
ties. And why did not the Harrison party pro
coed in their monstfous design TO deprive then
of this dearest nigh, Of freemen to Heat the cleo
ton as If it had not been held, and retain the pos
f session Of power at the point Of the bayonet
Not because they reenled or repenied; not be
cause they ere not ready for blood and carnage
to put down the rights Of the people; bu because