Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-07-20
The InquisiIion Revived.

Ma ED1ToR:-I had supposed. until
read the last number of the Sandusky Dem
Ocrdf, that the IDquisition with its questions
and tortures was numbered with the things
that are past. But since the edicG Of the
Democratic Central COMMITTEES, in relation
to primary elections, published in the Dem
oerGt of last week, the lDquisition is estsb-
lished in sandusky county. The decree
establishing it reads as follows:
"The following among other questions
may be put, you pledge your honor as =
man and democrat, 10 support By your
vote the ticket this day nominated By the
democracy Of Sandusky County,"
This Democratic Central Committee un-
dertakes to bind every Democrat BY an
oath as nearly resembling that taken in a
court of justice as they dare come, that be
will vote for every candidate nominated
This he must swear to do, or be put to the
torture. If he does not take the oath then
be viii NOT be allowed 10 vote at the prima-
~ election; and further be will be spotted,
and turned out Of the Democratic Church.
But The Inquisitors are authorized by the
edict of the Central Committee to 90 far
ther. The question whether he viii sup
port the whole ticket, is only one among
other questions "that mar be put" Every
Democrat who appears before the Inquisi-
tors may be questioned TO what extent they
please. We are not informed what the
"other questions" are 10 be, but we car ca
sily surmise. "Have yoG ever scratched
your ticket? Have you ever voted against
regular nomination Have you been
OF are you now member of the Society
commonly called the Knownothings, /" &c,
&c. In sandusky township the Inquisitors
will put the following question, did you
promptly sign the petition for the removal
of VIM. Kessler from the Collectorship Of
this port?' And all these "other quss-
tions" must be answered to ths satisfaction
of the InquisitOrs. or The lash viii be sp-
Piled
Can the despotism of party further go!
Can the Democratic Central Committee Of
Sandusky county, devise anything more de-
grading than this for the party over which
they assume to rule? Can men find a
depth Of seryility and meanness lower than
submission TO this Inquisition will bring them
to? The editor Of the Democrat has been
believing the public deaf about the Know
nothirgs binding themselves to support
their own nominations. Can he not at least
"roar softly as sucking Cove" against the
edict Of the Democratic Central Committee
which attempts to enforce the same thing?
For my part, like the KnOwno.hings as
little as himself but | cannot see how what
is vicious in a Knownothing becomes virtu-
ous in Democrat. Let the editor Of the
Democrat confess his hypocrisy, or charac-
terize the edict of his Central COMMITTEES
as it deserves.
But will Democrats submit 10 this Inqui-
sition? l think see such men as John
S. Gardner, John R. Pease, Martin Wright,
&c, &c, meekly answering the catechism
of the Central Committed And if such
men as these are not catechised, do not ;be
Inquisitors see that the men who Grs cate
chised, will be marked by that very fact as
suspicious Democrats? The design of this
catechism is clear enough. Il is intended
to prevent the best class of Democrats, hon
orable and high-miuded men, such as /
have named above, from going near the pri-
mary elections. OF course the trading pol
iticians viii keep the reins in their own
hands, as they have hitherto done; for NO
man, with the spirit of man, can submit
/ 10 ouaefions ft only for tremblinO slaveg