Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-10-04
THE PEOPLES RIGHTS.

of those high privileges guaranteed to them
by the Constitutions privilege enjoyed
by but few nations Of the earth, and though
regarded lightly by many, is in realty ule
superstructure on which is based our no
critics. our rights. and our safety. That
opposing parties should exist IN iaha
whore ali are entitled to think, act and
e,,ook for themselves, so long as actions
t and words are kept within the compass OF
the great document which binds Conied-
Grafton OF thirty States into one, is natural,
and that they should differ in sentiment
and hold contrary opinions as to the pro-
per means of effectng the greatest good 10
the greatest number, is also natural. As a
consequence of such a state Of things,
usages spring up, which, though without
sanction of law, are recognized as obliga-
tory, and a violation Of such usage, whether
effected by taking an unexpected advantage
at primary elections, by open and direct
fraud, chicanery, or deception OF any kind,
is always regarded with distrust by all
right-thinking men. Another consequence
! generated by the causes we have alluded 10
above-and especially among the dominant
party in State, district, or county-is the
formation Of cliques, comprising in most
eases some half dozen individuals, who
gradually work their way into favor by
rendering political service here and there
a loan OF money in another quarter-a
particular condescension to some honest
farmer or mechanic residing in the country
until the whole political machinery ol a
county is vested in their hands, and the
voters become mere hewers Of wood and
drawers of water to carry ont the will and
measures, the schemlngs and speculations,
of this combination. Through such means
men are frequently thrust forward as the
first choice of 4 party-to the astonish-
ment it is true of hundreds who do no;
and cannot understand the machinery by
which it is effected-and under the drill
established by the regency, are elected to
offices which they could never attain if
left to their own efforts. Continued sue
cess renders these cliques less cautious at
times than sound policy would dictate, and
in jumping at the object of their ambition
4 little too soon, or in attempting TO put
down some one who may be in their road
to the attainment of a certain end, OF little
moment perhaps to the party but of much
importance to the wire-workers, the SovE-
REIGN PEOPLE now and then take it into
their heads to teach their would-be-masiers
a useful lesson.
We ask our readers, we ask the voters
Of Mifilin county, whether we have not
given truthful portrait Of clique which
has for years led the so-called democratic
party of this county, more for their own
advantage and that of the favored few.
than the good of the public Let every
unpreiudced and untrammeled man who
values the right of suffrage. ask himself
whether the ticket headed by John Ross
was dominated in that impartial manner
which ought to characterize the doings Of
men who claim to have been the represent
atlves of the democracy Of Mifflin county.
BY usage, we might almost add by right if
usage can make such claim, ninety-nine
ont of every one hundred will admit that
another was entitled 10 the nomination.
How comes ii that Il change was made
Can those who effected it tell Can
single delegate TO the convention that made
il assign even one plausible reason, give
one palty excuse, for the course adopted !
Can the organ Of " democracy" tell It's
readers why this is 50 If it can, 1t new
ertheless will not Appeal upon appeal is
sent forth calling upon the faithful to sup
mort the ticket, because it is the ticket, as
If that in itself were sufficient cause first
to perpetrate and then to justify wrong
The truth may be disguised and distorted
in this case by artful words, and a multi
tude of promises, never intended TO be full
filled, may willingly blind some into the
support of the inconguous ticket noni-
noted by the clique, and rafiied by ma
jority of the county convention because the
matter was all understood bcforchand-but
if the people of MifFlin county give their
assent at the ballot-box to this fraud upon
their rights, their sayso hereafter IN all
things relating to Offices and appointments
will be Of less account than il ever was