Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-08-25
Free Suffrage What is it?

Judging from the alarm manifested by
The sham Democratic press of this Stale
at the bare mention Of this subject, one
would suppose that some invasion of the
dearest rights of the people was contem-
plated that individual liberty and social
happiness stood IN imminent danger of
being undermined and oyerthrowed; that
the Republic was on its last legs; or what
IS more probable, that some fearful peril
was hanging suspended over the great
spoils party. And what is it has caused
such great connection among those who
from their party designation ought to be
foremost il defending the rights Of man
not for his color or station-bul for his
inherent manhood Why, simply this
The Legislature At It's last session passed
an act, which was published in our COL.
umns week before last, allowing the rEo-
PIE to vote upon the question Of free suf-
frage. What an outrage on the privi-
leges Of the peopIe-what horrid perfdy
does 1t Indicate to the principles of The
Declaration of Independence, which pro-
claimed that ALL MEN were created equal :.
And what dangerous policy is it estab-
lishing-lhis submitting important ques-
tons 10 fair vote Of the citizens OF the
State! Truly we are drifting towards
perilous shore, and it behooves us 10 look
out for breakcrsr
But let rs see if there is really any
cause for all this noise and confusion-if
the State or the people stand ia danger;
or whether the same law which gave US
liberty and self-governmcnt guarantees 1t
not to all similarly situated " No taxa
ton without representation" asserted the
Fathers of the Revolution 3. No taxa
ton without representation, reiterated
William Pitt on the floor of Parliament:
and with equl justice may every man com
plying with the laws of the State under
which be lives, 10 the statute of which he
Is amenable, into whose Golfers he is call
CD upon to contribute his proportion ac-
cordlng to be valuation of his nroDertv.
demand voice III the administration Of
is affairs. Il is but natural right he de-
mands, and no special pleading as 10 coll
or, or race, or religion can destroy such
right. 1t is 4 right guaranteed to all cit
Izens irrespective of color by even Virgin
IA and North Carolina at the time of the
adoption Of the Constitution of the United
States; and right now exercised bv the
coiored people Of many of the Northern
States at the present day. Il is slckcninr
to hear some people, making liule prt,eu-
SONS TO honesty we allow, but setting nm
some claim TO responsibility, argue that
political rights cannot be granted without
forcing coIored brothers and sisters into
cur parlors and bedrooms, and this is the
sum and substance Of all the arguments
used u opposition to free suffrage. The
experience Of other States is worth moth
ing-the fact that amalgamation most
tiourishes where there is no civil rights or
political equality between the races, and
'ha' there Is 40 disposition 70 mingle "a
ces IN the free North is left out Of the
question
Now all we ask IS, that the question
may be viewed fairly and not as a marty
measure; for men Of both political par
ues supported and opposed to the sublni~-
sion Of the question at the present time
and We hope full v.te viii be given Ell
'her ter or against the measure, as every
man judgment and not his passio, or
prejudice snail dictate.