Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-07
POLITICAL FRAUDS.

It seems to be quite clear to the apprehension
of our Locofoco conte mporaries, that the Wings
desire to practice fraud upon the people in the
approaching Presidential election, by running
candidate whose opinions upon the great ques-
ton of the day shall be wrapped up in mystery
and doubt. These Democratic organs accordingly
raise their patriotic voices, warning the people
not to permit themselves to be humbugged and
deludedin the next canvass, as they were in 1910
and 1846. 1t is the peculiar boast of the Democ-
racy thatthey ''place their trust in the popular
intelligence" but if their declarations are to
be believed, the people of the United States have
been repeatedly duped and led astray by the most
garing political impostures that were con-
trived, and Notwithstanding they have in every
instance subsequently discovered the cheat, still
need the guardian care ofLocofoco monitors to pre-
serve them from the wies of the Wing serpent.
This insensate and stereotyped slang about ''Whig
frauds" has always been the favorite weapon of
Locofoco warfare. In every political canvass of
which we have any recollection it has been the
parrot cry of their public presses and stump
orators. From the symptoms of virtuous indigna-
ton which Democracy exhibits in reference to
this subject, those unacquainted with its past his
tory might be led to suppose that its garments
were as free from every faint of fraud as yestas
robe, and that the crime of deceiving the people
and of obtaining power under false pretences had
never .'stained the plumage of its sinless years."
We shall not stop to refute for the thousandth
time. the many absurd charges which Locotoco-
ism has so often preferred against the Wing party
of practising electoneering frauds, and thereby
stealing into power But would demand, even
admitting these charges to be true, what right the
Democratic party have to raise clamor on the sub
ect in view of their notorious antecedents? If
we recur to the early history of the Democratic dy
nasty in this country, we shall find that Gen. Jack
son was first elected President by being represent
ed as protectionist at the North and antipro
tectionist at the South as aninterna improvement
man at the North and the opponent of that policy
atthe South. His election was also advocated upon
the ground that he would introduce economy and
retrenchment in the management of the govern
ment and correct the wasteful prodigality of Mr..
Adams administration, These three were the most
important and exciting questions involved in the
Presidential election of 1928, and in respect to
each of them the people were deceived either
in whole or in part as to the opinions of the De-
mocratic candidate. So far as the Tariff and In
ternal improvement weresconcered, gross fraud |
was practsed upon one-half of the country; and as
regards the question of ECONOMY and retrench-
ment," the whole nation was viely deceived and |
betrayed. 1t was by means like these that the |
baeful dynasty of Democracy first established,
and it was by like system of humbuggery and |
imposture, that its ill-gotten power consoida-
tedand maintained, nam imperi tdcile refine
tar lis artibus quibus initio partuns est"
Gen. Jacksons successor, Martin Van Buren,, |
also owed his election to a fraud, having been
palmed upon the South as Northern man with
Southern principles when, his previous ca
reer was sufficient to have shown, and as his sub
sequent conducs did actually show, he was in fact
an abolitionist This successful imposition upon the
Southern people protracted the sway of the De-
mocratic party four years longer, and secured to
them the ndisputed possession of the public
plumber during that period. History tells that
they made the best of their opportunities having
been warned to do so, no doubt, by the mighty
shadow of that coming event." which in 184o
overwhelmed them like avalanche.
The next Democratic ruler with which our hap
Ply country was blessed, was Mr. Polk who owed
his election to Of the most unbushing and noto-
rous political frauds of which the annals of party
prohigacy furnish record. Whilst this gentleman
was held up in the South the bitter enemy of the
protective policy, and the unfinching advocate of
free trade, Mr.. Buchanan was engaged in demon
strating to the people of Pennsylvania that he
was better tariff man than Mr.. Clay, and his par
tisaps ipthat State We're marching under banners
hearing the device of Polk, Dallas, and the Tar
if of 1912" The Kane letter was relied upon
there to prove that Mr.. Polk was protectionist,
lust as it was quoted 10 Virginia and other South
srn States, to prove that he was a frse-trader-