Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-09-06

and after free interchange of opinion,
unanimously reported the following
Address to the Democracy Of Union County.
FELLOW CITIZENS 1t has become our duty
to address YOU, briefly but plainly, on the sub
ject Of your political rights aad the present
posture Of your political affairs. We are Dem
ocrats, deeply attached TO the principles and
usages OF the democratic party; but we have
witnessed an attempt in this Commonwealth to
crush these principles by the power of money,
and perVert by low, corrupt intrigue, the time
honored organization OF the democratic party
into an engine which shall destroy the sacred
rights of the people.
The faction which has attempted and is now
endeagoring to perpetrate this political fraud
has been for years laying its plans, drilling its
forces, and pertectng its organization-an or
ganIzation which, if successfully established,
must result in the complete destruction of the
democratic party. The first manifestation of
It's designs, and mode of accomplishing them,
was seen in the year 1915, when the organiza-
ton of the democratic party was broken. and
its regular nominee defeated, and Simon Cam
eron was elected to the United States Senate
by Wing votes-he being democrat in name
but false to the spirit and obligations of demo.
Williamsport Convention furnishes another
illustration of the operations and spirit of this
same faction. Does this fsctiCn still exist
Look at the late delegate election in Philadel-
phia county, (see the Pennsylvania of August
l2th,) where VIM. b. Rankin, of Williams
port notoriety, acted as inspector, and tried to
cheat democrats out OF their votes and that too
for the apparent purpose of betraYng the pollt-
ical power and influence of that district into
the hands OF this same faction. Lool; too al
Milllin county, where intrigue mas been trium-
phant, and where allegiance to Simon Cameron
is arrogantIy proclaimed as tie true test Of
democracy.
But, feIlow-cltizens, our more important
and immediate business is nearer home. Here
in Union county this same faction has sattempted
by dIsrepuabe means TO override and suppress
popular opinion, and defeat the peoples will
But they have taken one step too many, and
over-reached themselves; they have added the
final weight to burthen that had already be-
come oppressive, and will now no longer be
borne in silent submission. We have arrived
at crisis in our local political affairs when it
behooyes US to be on the alert, and firmly to
resist encroachments upon ourrights and Liberty.
This combination OF desperate poticians-a
leading branch of which is located in this coun-
ty-is evidently prepared TO sacrifice every
principle of democracy, in order to accomplish
their selfish and merccnary purposes Not
satisfied with enriching themselves with the
spoils of office and official influence, they now
turn around and use the very means and lnfu-
encc thus acquired to destroy the purity and
value of the delegate system, suppress the
voice of the people, and subvert that great
democratic party through which they obtained
such large emoluments Their own selfish
interests is the exclusive object Of their pursuit
They do not, in reality, profess to regard the
principles and usages of the democratic party
any further than they can use them for their
own purposes. Priding themselves (at least
the Chief of the faction in this county, upon
their pecuniary resources as the only political
or social principle Of any value, aud practically
disregarding all others, they seem to consider
themselves entirely above, and independent of,
the rights, and opinions, and interests of the
masses Of the people, and look down upon those
rights and opinions with cool and oontemptuous
indifference, and trumple upon them, when it
suits them to do SO, with se-proud, reckless
insalence. These same men, as is we'll known
have for years past exerted every means in theil
power TO control the elections Of our State fel
sinister and mercenary purposes, and have in.
variably opposed the nominees of the party
| when such a9 could not be controlled and used