The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-06-04
Correspondence ofThe Cecil UMg.
Letter from "Old BcrkS."'
READING, Pa, Nav 80, '53.

READING, Pa, May 80, '53.
And now
about Alt 3erks' county; known as the
strong hold of Democracy, where "tbe
nun goes oround to tell them nor 10
rote," and they jump after him like
sheep going over fence. This charge
Of following the lead of politicians,
though published in the papers now
merely as a political sIuib, appears to
have been urged against the Germans as
a serious matter, in days gone by. In
a manuscript pamphlet On the Frank
lin Library, Philadelphia supposed to
have been written by Samuel Warton
in 1913, it is said:-"1'he party on the
side of the Friends Cor Quakcrsl derive
most of their ;nhu nee over thu Ger
mans through the aid Of c. Sewers"
(who published German paper in
Germantown, from the Year 1879, and
which, being much read by that people,
influenced them to thu side Of the Friends,
and rendered them hostile to the Gov
ernor and council) "Ihrough this
means" says the pamphlet, "they have
persuaded them that there is design
to cnSiayc them:-to enforce their Young
men, by contemplated Militia law, to
become soldiers; and to load them down
with taNeS;--trom such causes haze
they come down in shoals to vote, car
rNlng all before them"
Thus in l755, you perceive, it was
SoWer'S paper at Germantown, THAT
told them how TO vote, but IN 1877, the
"hea@i"ger .7dler" Cor "Berks co. BIZ
hlr," Il, some have termed IT'D was es-
tabIl>hrti, and by its oracular out-sprak
lnGs the greater portions Of older inhab-
itan's Of i3erks have been trainet'up in
the NohticaD way they 60.
\ number OF jokes are currently re-
ported g %"cring the ignorance Of the
Germans ia political matters, and IN
deed, respecting matters and thing, in
general. TINS it is said, that during
the presidential contest between Harm
son and Van Buren,, some Of the leading
Van orators, represented the question at
issue thus :--"AIy friends, you know
You have sworn to support the govern
ment, the free and happy government
of this great nation. You know also,
that .Ha'tin Yum Buren Is the goceyn-
memt, for he is at the very head Of the
nation, therefore you have sworn to
support him; now there is man called
General Harrison, trying to over-turn
this government, that you have sworn
to support, and TO get himself made
president IN the place of General Van
Buren,. Andif he iYmade president, he
will make a new United States Bank,
and you will be forced to pay heavy
taxes to support it and to enable him to
live IN splendor like king" Now
could anything be clearer than this
statement p! Was it not evident that the
Germans had sworn to support General
Van buren,, and were they not therefore
bound to vote for him, and to prevent
that dreadful usurper Harrison from
over-turnlng the government and is
it any wonder that they all went "like
sheep over fence" and voted for Van
Buren, and Democracy
During the late session of the Legis-
lature, proposition was made to form
a new county, out of portions of two or
three adjacent counties lying between
Berks and Philadelphia. This mea-
sure gave rise to considerable excite
men' in certain portions of Berks co.,
and earnest remonstranceS We're utter ed
against it, on the ground that the d is
lance to PhIladel phia was very great
already, and that if another county were
erected, it would be impossible for ma
ny persons to get to the city, on account
Of the length otthe road! OF course, if
new county were formed, the distance
would be increased.
Now, as regards all such anecdotes
permit me to say, that while do not
doubt but that some persons may he
found among the inhabitants OF this
county, as gross y ignorant ofthe affairs
OF government, and Of the effect of leg
iSlation, as such anecdotes would imply
and indicate, and where will you not
find such yet, believe firmly that
the mass of the population Of Berks, are
little if any behind the inhabitants of
other places in regard to general intor-
nation.