Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-10

DAY, DECEMBER 10, 1S45.
to make the necessary additions to
the buildings. As it is ihexpedient to iI-
crease Che debt of the State, and as PEI /;
chniafy connection of the State with any
company or local institution, is founded on
an erroneous principle, and proves pred]u- I
dicial - the interests Of the State, sub {
nit % osr consideration the proprety Of
making the REIMBURSEMENT mentioned.
+ III government like ours which origin
ates from and is governed by the popular
/ will, and must acknowledge the necessity
| Of guarding the free and unbiased exer-
oise Of The elective franchise and the puri-
;lty of the bsllot box. In the heat of party
lexcienhent snd the severe conflicts of pop
.Ehlar sediment which occur at our general
4 4elections n is not surprising that practices
fshouid bs Occasionally resorted to, esacula-
ted to defeat proper and free expression
of the popular voice through the medium
Of the ballot box. So far as laws can cor.
rect this evil, it is the duty Of the Legis-
latare to provide efectual remedies. Much
has doubtless been accomplished by the
election law Of l64l, to preserve the pu-
rity of elections; but there still remains
avenues Enclosed, through which at a time
Of popular excitement, illegal votes are
|conveyed into the ballot box. The regis
try law passed at the last session, which
operates only in some of our cities and
large towns, has been salutary in its ope-
, ration.
| respectfully snbmit to your eonsdera-
ton the expediency of extending the proVls'
ions ofthis law in sume form, to all The e'
lection districts in the state. There is no.
, thing connected with the political insttu-
! ton of the country which should be guard
ed with more sanctity than the proper ex-
> ercise of the elective franchise Legislation
9 on this subject should never be governed by
. party views. Should one party adopt meas,
I ures when in power, TO change the local and
, fixe inst tutions of the people, for arty adj
vantages, it may be made precedent for the
. excesses of another party when in power
. pethaps less scrurulous and conscientious.
It is an un deniahle fact that the practice O
l. betting on elections has become an evil of III
g inconsiderable magnitude. The practice Ii
j. jdemoraizng in Its tendency, and c"rfrpln
e in its influence. ltbrlngs the considerable
,rl of property 10 bear directly in its intiu
- ence on the elective franchise. 1t is true tha
l." one of the great purposes OF governments
y to pro, ect the rights OF property, but prop
al ertv under our institutions is not made an e
OF ement of political power. The practice OF bel
n ting upon the elections not only brings tn
r. influence uf property to bear upon the consl'
H. h,,k h1 icf
~ ss TO have the effect of bribery, and to be
~, H. fact indirect bribery in Itself. Nothing CT
:! be more degrading to the enlightened and FRI
D. nractice of corrupting The elective franchis
d, and poisoning TIE fountain head of polite
IS, mower. The penal enactments already mad
r. rnon the subject have been wholly unavai
of inc and utterly disregarded. The Graad Jr
~, ries of The State have become derelct in the
W dutv in relation to this offence. The d
d Grading practice has been carried on wi
or impunity, openly and upon broad scale.
to The moral feelings of community ha
ms been yielding to the inroads OF TINS base pra
he tice, and public sentiment in this respect
ID, travelling the downward road to cofrupllo
,N | earnestly solicit your attention to this gro'
nd ing evil. If mild penal enactments be inefee
h. ual in correcting the evil, respectfully su
'ns ~ mtt to your consideration, whether bettlr
INV as well as every other species OF bribery at
no lec,ions, should not be made crime, and t
ms perpetrators of theact,upon convIctlon'disfr
eat chissed If it be proper to punish man by II
ing prisonment inthe penltenllary VINO knowing
Of and unlawfully puts an illegal vote into
an. ballot boz, (which is the case IN this STAT
" there certainly can be no injustice IN
y" iAictlon of similar punishment upon an IN
oV. vidual who procures votes through the c.
ana rptuing influence Of betting or any species
the bribery. .L;. G.,
i'm A difficulty has arisen between tnls o''
igh and the State of Virg ginia' which deem pc
er to bring to your attention. In the MOI
of July last, three citizens OF ONO, alleged
nd have be n engaged in aiding the escape
stl- some fugitive slaves, were captured III
la county Of Washington in this State' wlth'
tie, the authority of law, by company OF arm
ons men from the State Of Virginia. and forcl
abducted from OHIO and incarcerated 10
~ iaiI of Wood county Virginia, to answer tt
o' criminal charge. This open resort 10
'ses lance and invasion of the rights OF citizens
'er- our State. was calculated to produce m
nts, excitement, and endanger the peace and h
veil mony of the two States. Pains were take
,ra- olIay The excitement, and prevent any iurt
rent disturbance of the peace, on the ground
no :. The transaction, althoug h an outrage u
@ the rights Of citizens, and upon the civll
!" thorties Of this State, was the act OF la"
ION individuals without the sanction OF the s.
lies Of Virginia, and that an ample redress Gu
ave be obtained by peacable resort to judi
ter proceedings. Accordingly the case was
in seuted to the Grand Jury OF Washing
oca. county, at the September term OF the 20
Of and indictments regularly returned aga
,he m the offenders. A special agent was despas
'n1 :n ed to Richmond with a requisltlon, mad'
's.o- due form, on the Governor OF virginia
IN their surrender as fugitlves from the Jus1le
Sc Ohio, and regret to say, that aIter s
weeks delay, the Governor Of Virginia de
I'M. cd 1t proper on his part to refuse Inc orae @
49,. the arrest and surrender OF the aggtess
M IL; " The proceedings under the requlst'on ca
VIVA VIVA more fully seen by reference 10 col
'hal pondence on file in the execut We once. &c.
e is Anything calculated TO endanger the
the r,onv and Friendly intercourse OF adjacent