Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-09-01
TO THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
OF RACINE COUNTY.

The undersigned, Democrats of the town
of Southport being opposed to the election
/ of Moses NJ. Strong, feel constrained, by a
sense of duty to their fellow Democrats Of
! the county and territory, and also to iusti-
| fly their attitude of opposition to the nomi-
nee OF 1.-The party" to give briefly the rea-
| sons for their course and position. And we
! feel that we can give reasons, which will
entirely relieve us of any charge of person.
al or private luminosity but show that we
could not hold our peace consistent with
! the public welfare. If we use strong Ian
| guage it is because the facts warrant it and
! the occasion demands it, for we cannot
choose our terms, nor gloze the plain Ian
guage of truth, on an occasion so important
as the present. We do not deem it worth
! while to argue the question as to how far
the convention which selected this man,
consulted or violated the known will of the
people. We consider it immaterial how
he got before the people. as candidate for
the delegacy. We are now called upon in
the sacred name of democracy to support
him, and we wish only to show to all right
thinking democrats, how incompatible such
support would be, with what we consider
true Democracy.
We hold, in the first place, that party is
worth nothing except so far as it conduces
to carrying out and establishing certain
principieS.
We hold that the essential principles of
true Democracy, are good 0rder, sound
morality anj religion, and that when these
il the nominations of our conventions are
entirely neglected, that the true objects of
party organization have been lost sight Of
We contend that this state of things has
arisen in the nomination of Moses NJ.
Strong, for the highest office in our gift
Because his whole history, in the territory
proves him entirely devoid of moral prin-
ciple.
tie is known as notorious gambler
lie is known as a common drunkard.
lie is known as most profane swaerer.
and his name has been connected with
scenes of rowdyism, not only in the capitol
of the territory but in almost every county
in our boundaries.
Is the proof called for! 1t is within the
knowledge of every man conversant with
the history Of our public men.
Ask members of our territorial legisla-
ture, of cur late constitutional convention, i'll
he was not again and again brought from
the gambling tables in the IiELL.S of the
capitol to attend to his legislative duties.-
Refer to the records OF Dane county, and
find there an Indictment against him for
gambling, found by the Grand Jury of that
county, when he was engaged in the high
duties of framing our constitutional law.
Ask these same men, if he has not again
and again been seen in a condition of intoxi-
action,n both public and private life-in the
legislative chamber, and in the social hall. (
Indeed, so fixed and shameless has this
habit become that even when before Us So
Letting our influence to procure his nom /
nation, he appeared in a state of manifest !
intoxcation. And it is known also that so
far from these vices being matter of regret
or remorse to him, he makes them his |
boast and declared publicly with an oath !
his defiance of all who objected to his hab-
its in this respect.
We ask in all candor brother Democrats
how can ,ce, how can you, with any regard !
for our sacred principles sustain this man ?
If these vices are the opposite of Democracy
land are they not how can we be under /
any obligation, in view of party to sustain
him. If we are compelled by our party
obligations 10 sustain a man who reckless /
" violates one law, and that law highly I
necessary for the welfare of society, why /
not one who violates all law. If we NAV /
sustain one crime, why not the whole cat
alogue, and take to our embrace a man gull /
ty of petty larceny, of burglary. of arson, or
even of murder. The idea is monstrous, /
but can it be denied that the reasoning
which would compel us to sustain this man
would lead to that end.
We do not deem it necessary to multiply
words in the premises. What we say as to
the character of this man is TRUE, be-