Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-02-05
Coy Geary's Message.

sage pi dcE. SEAhi
not altogether what was desired by the Leg
i,ls,ors, and was not received lu.t as well
N !, nigh, hare been. 1t does moi show
the tslen, of great mau, but shows Ell
dentlv that GEARr Is an homes, meD, snc
ben, on the impartial discharge Of his du-
Ties 10 the beet of his abilities.
lie begins by laying down platform
which, If adhered 10, will 90 very we'll
The following lie an extract:
"Eoual and exact justice" 10 s!I men, oi
whatever political or religions persuasions; /;
uescs, comfy and friendship with neigh
Lor;ng States and Territories, with 4
s.cred regard for Stale rights and O rever-
/. entail respect for the integrity and perps-
t,i,y of the Uuion; reverence for the Fed
e,,l Constitution as the concentrated sis-
.do,n of the fathers Of the Republic, and the
very srk of our political safety: the cu:tiva-
ton of pure and energetic nationality, and
,he dere!opment OF an exsl.ed and intensei iy
vital pstrioiism; Q zealuus regard for the
elective franchise and the entire security
and sanciity OF the ballUl-hnx; firm DO
10 adhere io tie doctrines OF
lf-qoyerhmcnt and Dnnulnr ---'->-~ig"-y as
euarantied by the Or2sn!c Act: unqualified
submission TO the " i'll OF the N jo7i'y; the
election OF sil officers by tie people them
selves; the supremacy OF the civil over the
military su,huriiy; strict econGmy in public
Expenditures with q rigid accountability of
ell public officers; the preservation of the
public faith, and currency based upon and
equal to gold and silver; free and safe cmi-
grafton from every QusrIrr of the country
the cultivation of q proper Territorial pride,
with firm determination 10 submit 10 No
invasion of Our sovereignty; the fostering
care Of agriculture, manufacturers, mechanic
arts, and all works of internal Improvement; !;
the liberal and free education of all the h:l-
drcn Of the Territory; entire religious free
dom; q free press, free speech, and the
peaceable right to assemble ard discuss al
questions OF public Interest," trial by jurirs
impartially selected; the sanctity of the
ka5eGs corpus; the repeal Of all laws incon-
sistent th the Constitution of the United
States snd the Organic Act, and steady aI
minisiration Of the government so ss 10 tcs;
secure the general welfare.
These sterling ma1ims, sanctioned BY
the wisdom and experience of the past, and
the observance Of which has brought our
country to so exalted position among the
nations of the earth, will be the steady lights
BY nhch my administration shall be guided
In relation to the Bogus Laws, lie says:
Many of the statutes are excellent and
well suited 10 our wants and condition; but
in order that they may receive that respect
and sanction which is the vital principle of
nll law, let such be abolished as are not
eminenily just, and will not receive the full
est appreciation of the people. To some of
them which strike my mind as objection
able, your candid and special attention is
respectfully invited.
He then proceeds TO refer them 10 various
provisions of Chapter 6s, Section II, in re-
lstion to elections, and that require certain
"test osihs," which are required prior 10
voting, viii, h he ssys are wrong. unfair.
and unequal to citizens from different sec
lions of the uatry. o: rrt:ng by b,'-
lot, he says: :
Sections 36th deprives electors of the
great safeguard of the purity aud indspend-
ence of the elective franchise. | mean tn"
right to vote BY ballot, and after the first
l. ac N.yarohar II
TO be riud vocs. This provision, taksn in
connection with section 9th, which provides
that rif all the votes offered cannot be taken
before the hour appointed TOR closing the
polls, the judges shall, by public proclama-
lion, adjourn such election until the follow
ing dsy, when the polls shall again be open
ed, and tie election be continued as BEFORE =
&C., offers great room for fraud and cnrrup-
tien. Voting riud uoce, the position of the
poll can be ascertained at any moment. If
the party having the election officers are
likely to be defeated, they have the option
OF adjourning for the purpose of drumming
up votes, or in the insane desire for victory,
may be tempted to resort to other means
even more reprehensible. The right of TO-
sing by ballot is now incorporated into the
Constitutions Of nearly oil the States of the
Cnioa. AS a qualification for voting,
d, finite period Of actual inhabitancy in the
territory. to the exclusion OF home else
where. should be rigidly prescribed. No
man should be permitted to vote upon
floating residence.
Al! the voters should be registered and
published for certain time previous to the
election. False voting should be severely
,x,nshed, and fa,se swearing to secure II
vote, visited with the pains and penalties u:
Perjury.
In relation to the selection Of Jurors he
says the names Of ali qualified citizens.
without respect to party distinction, should
be thrown into a wheel or box. and at sisted
periods, under the order Of the Courts. ju-
rors should be publicly drawn by rrspoLsi-
bic persons.
in speaking Of Slavery, he sars:
On the delicate and exciting que ,ton Of