Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-05
The Duty of Citizens.

Governmental relations has long been a mat,
ter Of deep interest TO me. Some Of the anti.
slavery friends, whose devotedness and con.
scientiousness / highly respect, eschew our
National Constitution as a compact with Sa.
tan, and denounce all who acknowledge its
authority as doors Of evil. Others, who ac-
knowledge the imperfection OF the Constitu-
ton, think it their duty 10 act as citizens Of
the Nation, believing thereby they can effect
greater general good. The question at issue
between the Disunionist and the politician is
in substance this-"Is it the duty of all who
have a right 10 vote, to exercise that right
judiciously under the present Constitution +"
| claim to have given this subject as deem
and candid an investigation as | am capable
of, and have been forced to the conclusion
that it is my duty, with judgement and dis
elimination, to exercise this right-to vote
under the present Constitution. Gould / find
that by so doing | give my support to slave
ry, to war, or to any other system of wick
edness, my opinion, ard Of course my action,
must change.
That we can exert a stronger influence
against slavery and war by voting than by not
voting, seems to me clear. A mans politi-
cal influence is in proportion to his political
power, all other things being equal. Thus, the
President of the United States has m ore po.
litical power than any other man in the Ma
ton, and his political influence is greater than
that Of any other man-hiS character, men,
tai abilities being equal to the character and
abilities Of any other man. The Vice Pre-
sident may be supposed next in order Of po-
litical influence, and SO on down to the voter;
and the voter can and does have a greater po-
litical influence than the man who has not a
right to vote, or the non-voter.
The following will give force to the truth
Of this position. Some years since a number
of Scotch families settled in Washington CO.,
O.. Their intelligence and morals were as
good as that Of their American neighbors, yet
they were despised, and politically without
influence, because they were aliens; but in
time they availed themselves Of the right Of
citizenship and took their place among a self
governing people. Politicians soon discover
ed that there was a new element in the body
politic-a fine lot of Scotch, enough to turn
the election. ''How will the Scotch vote!"
said a Wing 10 a leading Scotchman, "Whig
or Democrat" ''The Scotch will 90 for that
party that goes for them," replied the Scotch
man. | scarcely need add that The Scotch
did not now lack political influence, but were
looked upon by politicians as a band of voters
of, and commanding respect. From
all of which | infer that our political inau-
ence is in proportion to our political power,
other things being equal.
But do we retain our political power when
we pledge ourselves not TO exercise it!-
What would be the effect if the President OF
the United States should pledge himself not
to exercise the powers conferred on him by
his office, if there was no law to supply his
place by another | cannot say. But the ef-
feet of such a pledge by a member of Con-
gress would be to make one less effective sup
porter of his principles when a vote was 10
be taken on an act in which his principles
were involved. lie could exert no more in
luence than a person not having the power
conferred upon him, and the effect would be
about the same as if he had resigned his Of
fee. And such would be the effect Of sim
liar course in a member Of any corporate body
organized in like manner, even down to the
voter. BY pledging himself not to use his
political power, he in effect resigns that pow
er, and with that his political influence as
has been before shown. That a non-voter has
some indirect political influence no one dot BITS,
but that this influence cannot be made SC eff
ficient by a person not in possession of poll
teal power as by one that is, is a truth that
might easily be shown.
1t next remains to be shown that we may
rightfully exercise political power, accept Of
fee, or vote under our present Constitution;
which | will endeavor TO do in another num-
Der. VIM. HEALD.
New Garden. Feb. 2s, lS47.
FRIENDS JONES:
Having observed in the Bugle one or two
notices Of commentator of the American
House kept by Isaac Webb of this place
and as Anti-Slavery men generally prefer pa
tronizing temperance houses, | deem it nv
duty to them and to the public, to state tue
following occurrence that illustrates the treat.
,n,-s d. -.