The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-11-19
perp,cxities of a Nom voter.

kcG1SACAktIeS VI ~ sOhk v OtCts |
! venture to PROFOUND the question to
you, am I obliged to vote for President ? 4
Have always paid taxes cheerfully
Never cared who was Prcsident-never
cared who wasn't. Haven't voted since.
Jackson was elected. Take no interest in
politics. Never did Sole desire in life
is for people to let me alone on politics.
Sole desire in life frustrated people won't.
Fave heard. of FILLMORE. Had faint
idea there was such man as Buchanan.
Have heard Fremsnt's name mentioned.s
Know nothing in particular about either.
Don't desire to-. Don't think they're any |
thing mere thap' men.
Entire community in conspiracy against
me Entire community bound to make
me enter political arena Entire COM
munity find itself disappointed. Exis
tence now horrible struggle to get away
from political men. One man in my ward
my particular adherence. He's an i'm
mense creature. He serves his country
faithfully and distributes votes every elec-
ton. Smokes cigars while he does it, and
thereby violates city ordinance. But he
does great deal for his country in the
way of distributing votes. He's only
twenty-five years of age, but his fund of
political knowledge is immense. He
; knows more than all living statesmen CON-
bined. If he doesn't, he thinks he does.
Perhaps that's just as well. Don't envy
that young man's sleep. Suppose he
dreams of bleeding Kansas every night.
Don't like to bet, but will go V that he
has Missouri Compromise nightmare
once week. Not aware I ever had a
John Jones, but if l had it would be that
young man. Button-holes me in the street
every day. Makes point of perpetually
telling me that the camp fires burn bright
ly. Has pleasant habit of constantly
informing me that eternal vigilance is the
| price of liberty. Hits me in the wind
5 and tells me Pennsylvania's all right.
: Wakes me up at six in the morning to let
me know New York's safe. Imagines l
: take an interest in the Brooks and Sum-
\ ner affair. Don't wish the young man any
harm, but should be pleased to hear that
: a lucrative prospect had turned up for
: him in Australia.
2 Have a strong antipathy to torch-light
: professions. Don't see the sense in bar
e becues. Never was fond of mass meet
d lings.' Always considered "ralles rath.
' er stupid than otherwise. People won't
r believe it. Was appointed Chief Mar.
e shal's aid in torch-light procession last
d Wednesday. Young man before alluded
a to got me the appointment. Said hs
It knew I'd be pleased. Thanked him ant
o told him / wasn't. Next day Informed
/ me he'd hired me a splendid horse Al
@ Smuggin's- ore that didn't shy. Heare
|. him and shuddered. AS matter o
:. course didn't turn out in procession
e Next day got Smuggins' bill for hors'
five dollars. Protested. Smuggins- in
,e sisted. Said he'd been engaged, and M
n one else had the use, of him. Paid tn,
X bill. Made mental memoraudum-"Pol
@ itics-iye dollars outn
Went to Cambridge the other day
II Man with white crayat and glasses ii
=: omnibus wanted to take Presidential vote
ell Felt like choking man in white crava
" and glasses. Finally resolved to Civ
il him bit of my mind when he asked me
a. Didn't have the. chance. Southern stu
er dent sat directly opposite to ME. Whe
a; white cravat asked him who he went fol
as he answered Preston s.. Brooks" Tha
: broke, mp that Presidential vote. Whit
se .cravat called him young reprobate. Pieu
1 old lady turned up her eyes. Chorus {
,u passengers groaned "ohi" n
b. Usually take nap after dinner. Pre-
d. pared to say relish nap after dinner. Be
rang yesterday. Young man must Sc
ed me Immediately. Supposed of course
must be to interrupt my nap. Jaw til
n young man. Young man actually wok
,e. me up to ask me to buy Life of Fremon
ou Have heard of impudence. Flatter ny
self / know what brass is. Will freel
up present my hat to aforesaid young ma
mt as living embodiment of both. Youn
let man told me I'd find it most interestin
reading. Thanked him. Told him pr,
he ferred ,Fox's Book. of Martyrs. Youn
th man recommended reading it before din
ed ner for appetite Thanked him. To-
Sd him usually took bitters Young ma
gs wished me to help him along in worl'
Told him fine chance for him in Decembe
Young man asked me how so? Told hi
* would give him refusal of shoveling sno
lst off my sidewalk. Young man apostr
IRE phized my eyes and went out. Tried
ch resume my nap. Couldn't. Was wickt
enough to think could have slept, if boo
were under pillow. i
Appeal to you as reasonable being
have men who wish to save their count
any right to bother me? Perfectly wlllir
they should save their country. Have
objection to their saving their country al
number of times it may suit their cow
nience. Let 'em go ahead and save it
but let 'em leave me alone. Don't S
any necessity of my exercising freeman
privilege if don't want to. Do you?
~ SUFFERER.
p S-Sha1) he ont of town from n