Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-07-06
FROM the Louisville Journal.

AN OLD EIEcTIoNEERIEG ToPIc-AN Int
RESTING REMIN1sCENcE.--There is one matter
of which every man, Wing or Locofoco, who
was politician during the Harrison and Van
Buren, canvass in 1910, must retain distinct
and vivid recollection. We allude to the me-
morable Locofoco charge against Gen. Harrison,
that, whilst he was Governor u tie Territory
of Indiana, he signed bill of the territorial
Legislature, providing that idle and thriltle
persons refusing to work OF to provide for IL ;f
families should be hired out for services to the
highest bidder by the proper authorities.
II is true that Harrison did sign such bill,
and we all remember what use was made of the
fact by the Locofoco leaders in the campaign
of 40. 1t was the great eleetioneering topic
of the campaign. Fierce and terrible were the
denunciations that were uttered in regard TO it.
For months and months, in every Locofoco
speech that was made upon the stump, in the
preamble and resolutions of every Locofoco
meeting that was held, ineyefy Locofoco news
paper that was published, and In every Loco
foco handbill that was circulated among the
people, the charge was made and diiated On In
language of the bitterest ferocity that the
"heartless old miscreant' had actually signed
bill for selling a1hite men into .bondags. Let
Wing go where he would by night or by day,
sure TO greet his ears and eyes at every corner
of the streets. 1t was inscribed upon Locofo-
co banners, it was shouted from Locofoco
places of reyei, and it was bawled from Loco
foco professions.
And for all this retribution has come al
last. 1t has been eight years in coming but
1t is here. If 1t has been slow, it has also
been sure. These Locofoco leaders have now
can didate for the Presidency, who as Govern.
or of the Territory of Michigan, signed an act
precisely like that signed by Harrison as Gov
ernor of Indiana, except that, in the Michigan
lsw, the punishment of stripes upon the white
mans back as well as the sale of his services
to the highest bidder was provided for. We
take from the Baltimore Patriot the following
copy of the Michigan law. Let the Locofoco
demagoges read il and let every word scorch
their eye-balis:
IAN ACT for the punishment of idle end dis.
orderly persons.
Section 1, Be 1t enacted by the Governor
and Judges of the Territory of Michigan, that
any justice of the peace, on conviction. may
sentence any yagrant, lewd, idle, or disorderly
persons, stubborn servants, common drunk
ards, common night-walkers, pilferers, or any
persons wanton or ''liciencious in Speech" in
decent behavior, common railers or brawlers,
such as neglect their calling and employment,
mis-spend what they earn and do not provide
for themselves or families to be aUhipt not cr-
ceeding tea, lashee, or to be delivered over to
any constable, to be employed in tabor not ex-
ceeding three months, by such constable to be
hired out for the best acdges that can be
procured; the proceeds of which to be
applied to the use of the poor Of the county.
Made, adopted. and published at Detroit, the
9th day of Jnly, 1918. LEWIS CASS
Gov. of the Territory of Michigan.
A. B. WOODWARD.
Presiding Judge of the Territory of Michigan.
J. WHITEHALL,
JOHN GRIFFIN,
Judges of the Territory of Michigan.
And now to the honest men of the Locofo-
CO party, TO the rank aud file, who were con-
scientious in opposing Gen. Harrison from the
conviction, SO industriously implanted in theil
minds by their leaders, that a man, who, as
Governor, had signed bill for selling the ser
vices of white men, or, as it was then express
cd, for selling white men into bondage, was
unfit to be President, we would make brief
and pointed appeal. Should they, cap they,
sidency, when they know that he, as Govern
or, signed bill containing not only precisely
the same provision as that for which they so
relentlessly opposed and prosecuted the Ia
mented Harrison, but also provision far more
more revolving to freemen's sensibilities?-
Can they with the facts before them, follow
their leaders in the support of Gen. Cass with
out sacrificing their consistency, their pride
their self-respect, and their claim to the res
pect of their fellow-citizens.