Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-05-09

ccursef But il the object Of the oath Il
70 compel men 10 vote against the dichlsa
OF their consciences, for men they other
wise would not support, Is Il not clear that
they are not exercising the freedom Of the
elective franchise as It Is both the privi-
lege and the duty Of independent freemen
ITO do? SCI
We appeal to those members Of our par.
ty who inconsidefately joined this organ
ization to withdraw from the same. And
If on the day Of election you desire to vote
against Mr.. Wise, the candidate of the
Democracy, do 50 without subjectinp
yourselves to the imputation Of voting
against the man Of your choice, under the
restraint Of an oath, made 70 operate in
issues which do not arise in. the present
election. There IS another important rea
son, in our deliberate Judgment, which
should influence you 10 pursue this course
You have been told that this is no party
contest, and Joined the order under this
belief. Suppose that, on the day of cleo
ton when you go to the polls, you find,
as you certainly ,ciR, your old Wing oppo-
nents voting for Mr.. Flournoy, the Know.
Nothing candidate, and your own party
supporting Mr.. Wise, the candidate Of the
Democracy, what. then, will be ySSur feel.
ings when you reflect upon the position
youoccupy9 As CONSCIENTIOUS men, hav.
ing taken the oaths OF Know. Nothings, you
cannot then vote with your old friends in
defence Of your ancient principles, which,
if untrammeled, you would undoubtedly
do. Do you not, therefore, sec The neces.
sity Of releasing yourselves at once from
an obligation which thus deprives you oi
the free exercise Of the most sacred right
Of which freemen can boast--the right Of
selecting your own representatives accor-
diAd 70 the dictates Of conscience, un-
trummeled By extts-judicial oaths, or un.
ir., !. ,sea BY re perepftosy dictatiou Of
~ ss..-cysss s.ad body Of men. 800.
der under the assurance that !. ~ y. \. N I.
used in no way for the bensit Of elite. = Z,
the great political parties Of ths country.
In this you have been grossly deceived
and imposed upon BY cunning and design.
ing men. You arc, therefore, no longer
honorably bound by any obligation You
may have taken TO remain among its mem
bcrs. But justice to yourselves, your
party and It's principles call upon you to
abandon their ranks, and aid your true
political friends in sustaining those great
National principles Of Democracy under
which this nation has grown and prosper
ed beyond any other which has ever exis.
ted upon the broad face Of the earth.
We have thus, fellow-citizeps. placed
before you some Of the reasons which, we
humbly conceive, should in the present
contest arouse you to vigorous action. In
conclusion we would say, il you desire to
support the great National Democratic par
ty Of the country go to the polls on the
4lh Thursday in May and vote for Henry
A.-Wisc, the standard bearer of that par
ty. If on the other hand, you would
pull down and destroy those principles
as proclaimed BY the immortal Jefferson in
the days Of Federalism, in the days Of the
Alien and Sedition lawsof the elderA Adams,
principles which prostrated Federalism and
secured the triumph ofthe republican party,
then vote for his opponents.
We have counseled with you as breth.
rem engaged In common struggle for
principles. The issue is with you, With
you rests no small responsibility. May
yon discharge & in that way that shall en-
tail no evil, or bring with It any regrets.
But we would again exhort you, as yir-
ginians, to stand BY the principles Of your
fathers. Those principles have sustained
your rights amid the Sunshine and the
Storm Hyou are but true to them, they
will sustain them still. Tho Democracy
Of Kanawha thus appcalto their brethren
in the cause, and surely their voice will
not be disregarded, or their appeal made
in vain. AMEMBER on THE
n III CENTRAL COMMITTEE.