San Andreas independent., 1858-08-28
Up! Citizens, to Your Duty!!

The ballot-box is most aptly styled the
palladium of our liberties" What the
true and lawful dynasty is to the loyal
subject, should be the purity of the bal
lot-box to the American citizen. Re-
move the affections of the people from
this fortress of their faith, destroy their
confidence in its strength and integrity,
let its expression be falsifed by the leg
erdemain of "stufing," or admit, within
its sacred chamber, the tickets of illegit-
innate voters, and terrible blow is given
to the whole fabric of our government.
Kings may be beheaded, dynasties may
be expelled from the throne, yet if the
subjects are true men, the monarchy may
be speedily constructed, and all feuds
forgotten. But when the fountains of a
Republic become corrupted, there is no
power to save it from anarchy and ruin.
Our institutions are wholly kept to-
gether by the love and confidence of the
people. But if the lawful and constitu-
tional prerogatives of the citizen are
lightly estimated, and the ballot-box con-
verted into thimble-rig for the benefit
of rogues and cheats, what faith can rea-
sonable men repose in the institutions of
the country? We are told that the ma
jority rules. Now, let us suppose that
this majority is secured through the ex-
ertions of demagogucs and by the agency
of few illegitimate votes. One is
enough to send the wrong man to the
Senate, or to the House, or to elevate the
wrong man to seat on the Supreme
bench. In English law it is treason to
corrupt the blood royal" but the cor
rupting of the ballot-box is worse than
the form of treason just cited, for it
thwarts the choice of the people in every
department of the government-it strikes
at sovereignty itself.
The majority of the people are the
sovereign power; but the admission of a
single illegal ballot may serve to elevate
false and fraudulent sovereignty, hand
ing the whole State over to the sway of
obnoxious rulers. For this moral treason
the law of California provides no punish
ment. We are admonishcd, therefore, to
exercise the utmost vigilance in the pre-
vention of such offences.
We earnestly entreat all good citizens
of every party to show their appreciation
of the privileges they enjoy, by deposi-
ting their ballots in favor of those who
are most honest and capable. This is not
only the dictate of sound Democracy,
but of good sense and patriotism.
See that the officers of the election do
their duty faithfully, and secure copy
of the Election Law, published elsewhere
in this paper, to guide your judgment in
that respect.
See that your neighbors, who are citi-
zens, go early to the polls and deposite
their votes.
See that no man, not citizen, be per-
mitted to vote 1t was the boast of Cicero
that the name of Roman citizen was a
"universal protection" The American
citizen should aspire to no less distinc
tion. None others should be permitted
to vote.
See that the polls are not closed until
the hour provided by law, and that none
are permitted to finger the box in which
the ballots arc deposited until all are
counted.
Sc that your friends who have not
posted themselves politically, are instruc-
ted as to the character and principles of
the candidates upon the. different tickets,
that they may not be led astray by the
wiles and sophistry of miserable dema-
gogues.
In fine, fellow citizens, we entreat each
and all of you, as you hold dear the men,
ory of those whose blood purchased, and
of those whose wisdom and virtue plan
ned the liberty and independence of the
country, guard well your glorious heri-
tage. Let your eye be vigilant and your
arm be strong. Remember, you are each
a unit of sovereignty-united, there is
no power In the State above you.