The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-05
From the Easton Democrat Lately ,chig Paper
WHY DID WE LEAVE THE WHIGS


We have already given our readers
an outline of our reasons for having
embraced the good cause of democra-
cy. We are notashamed of this cause,
for truly it is the cause of the people,
agains partial and unequal laws, made
for the benefit of the few. We
do not wish TO disguise the fact, that
three years ago we operated with those
who tried to trample this good cause
under their feet. In our youth, we,
like thousands of others, were deceiv.
ed and imposed upon by the good
promises and democratic professions
of old iederalists, who had assumed the
name of whig, without having chang
ed their principles. In the contest Of
l94O, in order to carry the elections,
they professed to be "pure democratic
republicans of the Jeffersonian SCHOOL,
and, as we thought, faithfully and hon.
estIy promised, s'to rectify all the evils
under which the country suffered, and
restore the Government to the pure
democratic principles of Jefferson and
Madison. they loudly declared that
we must have change in our rulers,
and inscribed upon their banners that
we must choose Harrison and prosper
ity, or Van Buren and adversely. Lay
ing their hands upon their hearts, and
looking very honest, they said if we vo-
ted the democratic whig ticket" the
people should be blessed "with high
wages, plenty of work, good times,and
strict economy in the public expendi-
tures." By this, and such like means
thousands and tens of thousands of
honest democrats were induced to
vote with the whigs--and we went
with the throng. The election came
STip, Ty, and Tom" were victorious.
The wings had a President, Vice Pres
ident and cabinet of their o own choice;
a whig majority Of 46 in the house Of
Representatives in Congress. The
wings carried the elections their own
way, according to their desires. They
thus obtained the power in their own
hands to redeem their good promises,
and prove that they were squire demo-
cratic republicans" But when they
had obtained the offices, they forfeited
their pledges" In fact, they have
shown by their acts that they are OPP
posed TO what they profess to be-that
they were political hypocrites in $40.
We know of no way Of judging tree
but by its fruit.
During the mad campaign, specu-
ator, as we heard stated, said he ex-
pected itto be ten thousand dollars
IN his pocket, if the wings should be
victorious. We could not imagine up
pom what foundation he built his expec-
tations. Many men smiled at the idea;
they did not believe that honest men
would pass a law to put that much mo-
ney in one mans pocket. But they
were mistaken. The wings, at their
famous extra session, passed bank
rupt law, by which they authorized that
man to pay off a much larger sum with
no othing. He had obtained the benefit
of that whig law. We have been in
formed that he does not feel himselfun-
der the least moral obligation to pay
OF his debts, because he has paid them
with the bankrupt law! He may now
sell dover rights in farms he never
paid for, accumulate riches, and ride
in his fine carriage, while his honest
creditor suffers for the want of what he
justly owes.