Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-08-23
For tie Richmond Palladiam.
IN Investigation Of the Duties of "a Chris
tiaM Citizen. in regard to Voting.
w. w. SULLIVAN Sec v.


tiaM Citizen. in regard to Voting.
coNrINuEp
The object of voting is not to produce a magic
effect by all unsuccessful number votes, hut to
elec, u person, or persons, to fill particular Of
flee, Offices If we had expectation Of this
kind, we think the for,naiity of baiio,ing would
be soon abolished, and voting would become but
a name and by V ord, and cussed with the things
which were, but are not
This third party movement reminds me very
much of an annecaote | once heard tell of: A
certain inebriatc, who had run through his for
tune, returned home one night from II liquor gro
Gerry, highly intoxicated He looked around the
room and his wife sitting in one corner-but
table was set or supper prepared for him.
He ASK ed her why supper was not ready She re-
piled that they had nothing to eat in the house,
WELL" says he, 'put the dishes on the table
and let go through the motions any how
SO it is with then-they know they cannot elect
their candidate. but they want to ''g" through
the motions any 1t will do them and the
country about much good as this mans supper
did him.
But it is said, they must have a beginning
that the vote must necessarily be small al first -
that it will gradually increase, and after nwhil.
they will be the dominant party. This is like
counting chickens before they hatch. II orery
hnnr inns 'i,A,n thar ..iif i.a"- ",.r"-i'u"--
But if they make concessions, or rather de part
from their original position rapidly for II few
months hence, as they have during the last few.
they will loose their identity entirely the lib
erty party, ana become merged into their oriei-
nal elements again. They have abandoned every
mn i,,le ISM far : in, ,I,.
canvass, which they formerly held as sacred and
have fallen upon Il new issue whi-h has occurred
since the last Presidential election, and which
could not have originated if they had supported
the wing nominee then. mean this question OF
slavery slavery in the territories Of New
Mexico and California. In n they declared il
would be sacrifice Of principle 10 vot, Tor II
man who not Of their friih on all the qncs-
tons Of slavery, Now it is not considered ii
sacrifice OF principle, but on the contrary just
and righteous act. do not consi.e this change
as sacrifice Of principle myself. but the result
of reflection. They now take more Rational
view of the matter, that is. If it is done in good
faith and not merely f.int TO catch disaffrct-
ed wings and democrats. Should it be discover
ed that such is the sniste motive. the dece ,ion
will recoil upon them with double force. But
DO not believe that suc;. is the case. arr almost
inclined to beliey. that the pr"digal is
turning to his fathers house again--,o the good
CID plsifortn--tI. Constitution Of tbs United
States IL such is the fact IN. will embrace
them-kif the fatted calf, and eat, ami be merry.
But fear they will stop the way side, and
be like the good seed which fell among thorns.
There is a material difference between reil-
g'ous denominations and political parties. Ia
religion there may he thousand shades of opn-
ION aud many diffe rent ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
one adhearing faithfully 10 its creed and teners,
and no very serious consequences would follow;
but large number Of political parties would be
in conflc, with the genius and spirit Of our gov
In such President could not
be elected, for II requires a ma jorify Of all the
votes TO elect ana ii II went 10 the House the
d difficulty would still exist as each party would
have its quota of Represe natives there, who
" ould vote respectively for their party can
iidaies II there were but three parties Of ne sfIy
equal strength, the same difficulty would exist
We would have 10 do without President, I'M
less the Constitution were changed so as to salt
his condition Of things The largest faction,
though but a very small minority Of the people,
would have the coatroll Of government. These
sctionai governments would be alternately
verihrown by the Combination Of other factions
Mexico Is melancholy example Of the fatal
consequences Of factious, from which we should
earn a lesson .g"
To be confiaued