The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-24

Of Ohio had no representative in the 9th Congress
Of tieir choice. N. G. Pendleton, Esq, Of Gin |
cinnati, bore the governors certificate, with the
broad seal Of Ohio; and by virtue ofthat certificate
and broad seal he appeared and took his seat here;
but he was no representatives, the people oil the
district which the bro14 ssal represented him to be-
He was the representative of minority OF the peo-
pie OF the LIST congressional district of Ohio, and
ruffians, thieves, and cuthroats of Kentucky, and
of other States and counties without the district OF
his residence; and if Mr.. Pendeton held seat
here knowing those facts he held it in the guilt OF
treason and in the crime Of perjury. He may not
have known them, though every body else In The
world beside knew them Mr.. Pendleton, in all
the frauds, peruries, brberies, and treasonS which
characterized the elections Of 1910, all over the
Union, but more especially il. the Ohio stcon-
gressionAl district may have been political auto
maton, or mere man-maehine, and, like balaam
ass, moved merely as he was kicked INTO passive
action and obedience. Ifso, he must be discharg-
ed from any mputation ofimmoraity or CRIME ana
the charge placed to his stupidity, undertake to
saw there was not one dollar short offty thousand
expended H. land out of Hamilton county, to secure
the election of the whg candidate of that district;
and no man who has character for truth and vera
CITY, and who wishes to maintain that Character
and who is acquainted with the circumstances, VIII
undertake to deny that assertion. That vast sum
was expended in consumation of the frauds which
H. Mr.
ton NAV not have advanced one dollar, nor one
mill, of all that sum. Though one OF the richest
men IN the city of Cincinnati, or the State ohio'
himself, and more Immediately interested than all
others. he NAV not have advanced one dollar to Sc
cure his own election, which was secured by sys-
TEN Of swindling which no agency but money
would have secured, and no sum less than that
which have named would have been sufficient;
vet, repeat, he may not have advanced one dollar
for such an Infamous purpose, to secure such an
Infamous end. The liberality of his federal party
friends, in their zeal to overthrow the democrauc
party, and to defeat the democratic candidate, may
have done all without his knowledge, and without
his pecuniary assistance That position is hard to
believe Mr.. Pendeton was in the centre OF al
the cavalcades, coon conventions, and drunken
csgies which disgraced Hamilton county, demoral-
lied society, and debased the character of civilized
man and it is difficult to believe (and almost IRE
concilaby so, } that he could have known nothing
of the frauds and the means by which his election
was to be secured.
Mr.. Pendleton is in a dilemma; he may hang to
which horn he pleases, on whichever his friends
please to hang him. He must either stand charged
with jackassical stupidity, which, if true, render
ed him unfit for seat in this hall, as the represen-
tative of any party anybody, the cut-throat'
thieves and ruffians of Kentucky; Or on the other
hand, if he knew of, and participated in the frauds
by which he was elected. or gave counteDance te
them, or aided them by pecuniary means, he wa;
unfit to hold place here or elsewhere. except on
the eibbet, due to the traitor or in cell within the
gloomy walls of penitentiary, due to perjury
invent nothing; have presented the evidence as il
came TO meas received it from the highest tr
bunal our State. | drew no other conclusions
than every person, bound and governed by correct
principles ofmorality aud patriotism, must draw
For myself, declare, in presence of my Maker ano
this assembly, to whom am responsible here, ant
to whom must answer hereafter for every idle ahc
profane word spoken, that know OF no CRIME Of
crimes in nv State which would consign me hand
cuffed and shackled TO the penitentlary and to eer
nal infamy, in the commission OF which wou'e
feel more degraded in that estimation OF man, NOR
wounded in my own conscience, and more often
sive before God, than those by which believe Mr
Pendleton held a seat in this hail. l mean th'
crimes ofbrbery and treason by which his certlti
cate was purchased, and the perjury which wa
committed 10 the oath which he took at the thresl
hold of his representative duties, to support tn
Constitution, which Constitution he violated b.
taking his seat here, and which he continued to VIC
late every minute-every moment-while he oc
cupied it. Still, Of all this, repeat, Mr.. Pendle
ton may have been innocent. 1t not for me t
Judge, nor do feel at liberty to judge. Huma
Judgment, I suppose, is voluntary act, and tn
power under our control; or why should the Su
preme Judge OF the Universe have ordered us L
"judge not lest ye be judged?" knowledge
founded on the evidence Of things seen, and there
fore is not to be controlled by either the mind o
fhe will. Faith and belief are conclusions W
draw from the evidence Of things not seen, and ar
irresistible Faith and belief are not controlled b
the will, hence the maxim, "we are bound to 6e
Eeee'' So it is with those who witnessed the elec
ton frauds Of 1910, in Hamilton county, 70 secur
the certificate of election to Mr. Pendleton The
are bound, irresitibly, to believe that he had som
hand in them, and consequently guilty to the sam
extent of the moral and political crimes which
have attached to him, or any one holding seat her
under such circumstances.
Let no onc charge me with taking advantage
parliamentary privilege, or of the high mountains
broad valleys, and wide rivers which seven hui
dred miles distance interposes between me and M
Pendleton and his friends. have taken no sue
advantage. l hold myself responsible in my ind
yidual capacity for all | say here or elsewher
whether in private representative capacity; al