Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-10-15
This isa very important question, and |
quircs skillful and i,,dicims mana ger

This isa very important question, and re-
quircs a skillful and judicious manager. IL
answer it, so as to carry conviction to tht
people that the question should be mootet
at all
purpose in starting this inquiry, IL
throw out ideas which may asitate the mind,
oi the people upon this question, and there.
by elicit discussion which hope will lead u
u correct and safe answer
The best, if not the only security for the
success and pcrpetuity of popular gorcr,-
m>at. is in the intelligence Of the people, -
/ Our fathers, who created our government.
I forcsLw this, and provided by liberal and
magnanimous system of taxes upon proper
/ ty, for the education of the masses; but ow-
ing to causes which we will proceed to name.
We in this State. and particularly in the Sixth
Congress sional District, have. notwiths and
Ing our numerous schools. Il very large class
OF voters who cam 1t read nor write. First.
nine tcnths, if not moro, of our foreign vo-
tiers. that is. foreigners who have under our
liberal treatment to them been made voters,
know nothing, comparatively, of our laws
and government, and cannot read nor write;
while their system of religion places them
under the control of the priests in matters Of
politics, as well as everything else. Then,
the annexation of Madawaska in the county
of Aroostook, brought in class of inhab-
itants which are little above an Esquimaux
Indian in point of intelligence, who are, for
want of intelligence, completely under the
direction of corrupt Romish Priests, to
which Church they belong.
With such a class of voters under the lead
of Romish Priests, together with an intelli-
gent Protestant laity, who profess the rclis-
ion of Jesus, while at the same time they
are supporting the party that puts forth the
damnable doctrine, that human slavery is an
institution of the bible, and is protected by
the force of the Constitution, wherever the
Constitution goes. how can We hope for lib
erty, equal rights and distributive Justice,
when the ballot box speaks out through such
corrupt and designing men as have just de-
scribcd, who play upon the hopes and fears
OF the selfish, unprineiplcd and ignorant yo-
ters? With such a class of voters, who are
completely under the control of these wick
cd and corrupt men, who take the garb
Christianity, and with the semblance of hon
esty and in the name of d,moerae9. proclaim
and Labor to establish the ctcrnizatiJn of hu-
man bondage, need we b, surprised that
there are frauds and Illegal voting whcr, such
Ignorance and want of principle exists? OF
course in such a community of voters. the
ballot box need not be closed till after they
have got votes enough. OF course, under
the lead of such men, forty votes NAV be
cast in Il plantation where there are but two
families
Now then, if the ballot box is not safe
where this corruption and ignorance exists,
what should We do to secure fair and hon
est expression Of the people? l have this
answer together with others which NAV
come along in turn. Alter the Constitution
50 that no man who clnnot read nor write
shall be admitted t. the Elective Franchise.
which will cure the interminable difficulties
and frauds in Aroostook. and oblirc the for
eign voters to learn to read and write, which
they can do, or keep their polluted hands
from modelling with our Institutions. l,
may be argued that this is UNJUST but can it
be unjust for a man to wait until he learns
his rights before he strikes for them and
how can he understand them without cdu
cation, ut least such education as will enable
him to read and understand for himself
The State furnishes the means of education.
and he who will not avail himself of the
privilege afforded him, ought not, and can
not with any degree of propriety, find fault
it he is not admitted as IN equal hqislqtor
with those who have awaited themselves of
the benefits of an education.
G. w. NJ.
ANs