Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-30


checked without delay, it will not be long
confined to contests between the native and
adopted citizens, but all who differ con-
cerning the men to be chosen for Office
will be arayed on the one side or the other,
seeking not by reason and argument to ad-
vance their candidate, but by violence,
with arms, to strike down his opponents.
Then will the ballot-box cease to be a re-
spected arbiter, deciding the differences
between men-the officers will not COM
mand the support of the community in
making or executing the laws-the battle
will not end when the election is made
it will go on until rebellion and civil war
shall take the place of obedience and
peace. And why should this be? We
determine by our written constitution who
is legally entitled to vote. We have the
power to punish those who do it, without
authority. Let us likewise, with severe
and heavy penalties, chastise those who
deprive or deter the legal voter from the
exercise Of one Of his most sacred rights.
To secure this great privilege of determin-
ing their officers by the voice Of majori-
ty, mankind have struggled fer ages; and
now, when tits secured, shall it be thrown
away by selfish ambition? Are not the
freemen who conquer freemen by violence,
as much tyrants over their fellow-citizens
as the despot who subdues his people by
the sword? You should regard that man
who deprivcs legal voter of his suffrage
as an enemy to liberty-as atyrant not
satisfied that man should be free.
In addition to this violent invasion OF
the right Of suffrage, there has beena sys-
tematic effort made by fraudulent and ille-
gal votes to control the government of the
State. All good men must regret that
there should be found any.so lost to every
sense Of honor, so dead to every patriotic
feeling. that they are willing to rob their
neighbors Of their legal rights by corrup-
ton and fraud. Can such men have con-
sidered what fatal consequences will flow
from this practice if continued? Though
they may acquire temporary ascendency,
they should remember that the peace and
good order of community depend upon
keeping the ballot-box so that all men will
yield willing obedience to the verdict il
renders-all their civil and social rights
all their hopes of liberty for themselves
and descendants, depend upon maintain
lug the purity of the ballot-box. That
this great wrong may not be again inflicted
on the State, you should provide such q
measure of punishment as will deter the
wicked and protect the good. You sho'd
punish the illegal voter, and he who pro-
cures an illegal vote to be cast, as q great
er felon than the man who has unlawfully
taken his ncighbors property. We are all
interested in this subject; for IL we are sat-
isfed with our form of governmental we
are content with the measure Of freedom
wo enjoy, we must maintain tho basis Of
that government and that freedom. And
all men must know that liberty and purity
Of tho ballot-box are one and insepcrablc.
Gentlemen, you have all been moro or
less engaged in the canvass which has rc-
Gently closed in Indiana, and you cannot
but have observed how few Of our fellow
citizens determined their action by any
benefit they expected to derive, or any in-
jury they feared to suffer. from the laws'of
their own State. Indeed, they were sell
dom called upon to consider those subjects
which more nearly affected their local In
terests, but had their attention rather di-
rooted TO tho laws and institutions Of those
who reside in tho noighboring States and
Territories; and I think I am warranted
in expressing tho opinion, that tho people
Of no State ever moro thoroughly investi-
gated their duty. After tho most careful
confederation they have decided that as
for Indiana. sho will recognize and execute
tho Constitution Of tho United States o.
tho highest law for tho government Of hel
people, ms that Constitution is interpreted
by tho tribunal established and authorized
by the nstrum ent itsolf, TO decide between
tho separate and United States.
That as for those who regulate tho lawi
and institutions Of othor States, wo will
conccdo to thom tho same sovereignty
and independence which wo claim for our.
solves. Nor do wo stop hore. II our follow
citizens desire TO 70 beyond the limits ol
tho States and make their homes In tho tor.
rItories [purchascd by tho blood and treas
uro Of oil, we say thcy 90 shon Of none
Of their sovereign rights which they pos
sessed as citizens Of tho State, but fully
authorized to regulate their domestic af.
fairs In their own way, subject only to the
Constitution Of tho United Htatos. Atthc
tlme the federal Union was formed, all
thought ~ We now do. Thoy believed
that II was safe TO permit tho people ol
each State 10 regulate thor local instItu-
tlons In their own way; and that patriot.
ism and christian duty demanded tha,
they should protect thom In thcIr rights ~
they were guaranteed by tho letter and
spirit Of tho Constitution which made that
Union. But during tho last canvass, from
tho press, the rostrum, and tho pulpit the
proclamation was made that tho citizens
Of some Of tho States wcro violating tn,
laws Of God and hi,ning the cause Of hu
man freedom by holding Kind Of prop
crty, which, when tho war Of tho Rcvolu
ton began, had legal existence In ever,
portion Of the vast empire which now roc
ognlzes rs supreme law Of tho Constitu
ton Of the United statcs-that II was on
duty to disregard the pli ghted faith Of on