The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-09-08

l. will discover, therefore, fellow-citizens, tina
5. difficulties innumerable surrounded us q
! every step, Of which citizens at distance
II by their own firesides, uninfuenced by tn,
= exciting scenes, can have no just concep
5 ton. Tied down to our seats in that Leg
Q islature, being in a palpable minority, ant
If utterly powerless, with a prospect that the
j whig claimants from Cincinnati would be
admitted to seats, and the infamous Ap.
portionment fraud sanctioned and ratified
in our very presence-you may well imag.
: inc that we were but little inclined to per.
init the consummation of that outrage. The
vacating our seats would not have preven.
tedit, for quorum would have been left
and to sit with folded arms, resting upon
, principle or dignity, and witness its con-
summation, was too humiliating for human
nature to endure. What could be donel
The limits of this address, will not permit
me to narrate in detail all the propositions,
transactions and arguments, with a ten
+ dency to effect the admission of Pugh and
Pierce, and the passage ofa new, fair and
constitutional Apportionment Bill. The
editor of the Banner charges, in his last
emission, that the concert of action be.
tween the Democrats and Townshend and
Morse, was for the "spoils of office'' It
seems almost unnecessary that should
denounce such charge as false as it is in
famous! And envy not the heart of a
Democrat who could conceive and utter
such charge against his political friends.
he may be mild and bland, and courteous,
in his manners but an adder turks within!
There was not democrat in that body,
who would not most willingly have sacri-
feed himself, and all his prospects of po-
litical preferment, if thereby he could have
established the principle ofequal represen-
tation! That was the principle at stake
it was the prize for which we were strugg-
ling, in our endeavors to obtain new ap-
portionment, and new Constitution
And for one, would have given all the
temporary offices in the State even if with
in my grasp, for my personal use--to have
established that great principle. the first and
most vital principle in free government
equal Representation! Every step we
took, every move we made, was with an
eye single to the great objects for which
we were elected-a new apportionment,
and new Constitution.
The editor of the Banner endeavors to
make our action with Morse and Towns
end, the same in effect and principle, as
the union of the Democrats and Free Soil
ers in Vermont. But that is all wrong
In Vermont, the Democrats gave up their
organization and name, and united with
the Free Sellers. We did no such thing.
The Free Soil party in the legislature had
nominated Joshua R. Giddings for U. S.
Senate, by their regular caucus. The t
Democrats, did not, and never would have t
voted for him. Nor did we unite with the g
Free Soil party! Two members of that i
party came over, on certain condition, and
acted with us! We sacrificed no princi- e
ple-we disorganized not our party-but C
we asserted, and in the House maintained, "
The great principle which formed the issue "
in our election! The testimony clause of
he Black Laws was repealed, and Pugh o
and Pierce admitted to seats. "
If we erred in this respect, submit, fell ii
ow citizens, whether it is such an error as ft
o justify the denunciations of the Banner, if
and our accommodation from the great s.
Democratic family! =
Having organized the House, and the v
wheels Of Legislation having been put in "
notion, became necessary that Morse d
and Townshend. should continue to act n
With us, or the Democrats would have '
'een thrown into minority, by the exclu- il
ZION of the Democratic member from Por. L
age, who held his seat only by certificate, d
he whig candidate having majority of ii
he votes actually polled. And why should 81
hey not act with us. They differed with to
Is only on the great question of slavery, d
md the rights of the free negro-and were NJ
opposed to the whig Apportionment law, m
md the national whig Administrations fo
The next question about which our con-
tituents complain, and in the settlement al
If which great difficulties were encounter Sc
ID, was the election of officers-United s;
states Senator, Supreme Judges, &c. The to
Democrats had not the power to elect a ST
ingle officer without the aid of whig or b'
rec soil votes. And there were six or al
light democrats elected from federal dis til
lets, by the aid of Free Soil votes, who n
ere pledged to vote for Free Soil can n
idate for U. S. Senator. Hence the elec- m
on of Democrat was out of the question, W
Mess by the aid of Wing votes! And
ere assert, as my honest and solemn con- m
ction, that undern circumstances could W
William Allen have been elected. It is dt
Of necessary that should in this public ht
anner announce all the reasons for these dt
would hazard nv rep by
alton, aye my life, on their correctness. OF
ut will state one fact which seems to me vi
inclusive. The various overtures from d
Vhigs to Democratic members. for the e. tn
ction of Democratic Senator, were or
ere ruses, to draw off all communication tn
,tween Morse and Townshend and the tn
emocrats, when the Free Soil wing ofthe or