The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-11-07
SHALL VOTE? HOW SHALL VOTE !?

SHALL l VOTE? HOW SHALL VOTE j?
BY Gods authority am freeman, and, by
mans law, my God-given rights, freeman
are recognized and protected. By the acknowl-
edged and publicly declared right of freeman,
am voter. An election is at hand of no com
mon importance. The honor of my country, and
the interests OF humanity are deeply concerned
in the votes which freemen shall put into the
balot-box this day. This Is truth which no
man disputes. Who, then should vote /? Am I
bound to vote The duty is somewhere Is it
with me? Is my vote worth anything? Why
not my duty' My vote is as good and as effect
ual as the vote of any other freeman. How,
then, can | have right not to vote
If voting is moral act for moral end, then
am bound to do that act, for that end. II some
special Providence of God has not overruled nv
duty, then my duty is the same as that OF nv
fellow freemen. He may have more wealth than
|, but he holds not richer or mighter vote in his
hand, thaR | in mine. The poor mans vote is
his power, his wealth, his protection, and what
ever is such, implies not only right but dutu
"a double duty, duty to himself and to his
neigh6or-especialy that neighbor, who, in his
AFFECT condition is denied every right eta free
man-eUery right Of man.
To vote, then, is a duty, whether perform it
or not. The act may be matter of choice but
the duty to act is independent of my choice
Duty is not mine to make, but to do, and to do
it in political concerns as truly as fn any other
He who has no morals In his politics, has none
any where. must not vote to crafty my neigh
Dor, but to satisfy my conscience. Hs.Gaane,
hold me responsible, but to satisfy my conscience.
He cannot hold me responsible, but my conscience
will. II, then, l answer my responsibilities,
am safe; If not, my neighbor cannot save me.
But, if vote, am certain, or is il possible that my
vote will decide all influence the election The
election may not depend me, but the doing Of nv
duty must, and upon other. Besides if do not ee>
vate the man, do my principles strengthen them in
my own bosom, and encourage them IN others and il
is only BY TO strengthening asd SO encouraging them
that they can ever do the good which cannot be done
without them see plainly that principles haze made
progress, and see as plainly that all that pro.
gress has been made, not by accident-not by
Gods government without mans agency, but by
design, by resolution, by earnest eadeavors on
the part ofindiyiduaIs like myself
May say to my neighoor, you do the poting,
and will do the talking? But there is no talk
ing, like voting. Voting Is talking to the pur-
pose, and men who will listen to nothing else,
will listen to votes. He who praises fire edom
and refuses to vote for it, is either very blind or
more than half hypocrlte for he refrain's from
hat political act which is the most significant,
mpr essve and effectual power OF freemen-the
power by which, il freemen shall use it, they
will triumph.
But If acting is the way to promote principles
ind to insure their Triumph, must act today
May not defer my vote for principles till 1852
that year may not be mine, and if do not aid |
ny principles by my vote nOs0, may not have
he opportunity to aid them then. Waiting Tor