The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-05-26
From the o.s. journal.
From the q. =. journal.
Who IN Responsible for the Mnssachusett
Two Wears Amendment

Two Years Amendment
The democratic papers in the West are anx-
ious TO show That this wOs peculiarly afepubli-
can matter The democrats certainly had u in
their power 10 defeat it, and dM not Out OF
l6O, 600 electors int the tute, only 10000 voted
either for or against the amendment Where
was the grrut democratic party of Massachu
setisi which enjOysin proportion to It's numbers.
n larger disppnsation Of government patronage
than that of any other Stute of The Union 2
This party gavo 33299 votes for Beach for Gov
olnor last fall. Out OF 40, 900 votes the amend.
mcnt had nojoriy ofonly 5000 Only about
20 600 votes were cast for II, while the demo
cratic party has over $4,000.
The New York Euepiug Post says "ln The
same towns in which the democrats cast last
year 2 632 votes, only Q ,3l7 votes in all were
cast this year, OF which 1t moy be sOiely as
sumcd that one .hull at least were Republican.
Thus, it would seem, that not one sixth OF the
democrats entitled to vote attended the polls
II is quite cool for the Boston Post to endcav-
or 10 tasten the responsibility OF this oct on the
republicans, when the democrats had II teniirely
in their power, and wien, ns is probable,
moro repubicon than democratic votes wero
cast against it.
Perhaps many Of the democratic editors OF
the West Imagine that that party IN Massachu-
sets must necessarily be hostile to this amend.
mcnt because they think such would be the case
here. They know but little OF the pntt which
religious bigotry takes in politics in New Eng
land. This naturally prevails most among the
moro ignorant classes of community. The anti
roplry feeling is quite us yioIcut among the
democrats of New England as among the Ameri.
cOns of the Western Stntes
We say this from observation, and con show
it by evidence that cannot be questioned. Tie
New Hampshire Constitution contains n pro-
vision which has existed since It's formation
! prohibiting Catholics from holding Office. Fol
| twenty years, New Hampshire was the bannci
State Of Democracy. No gleom Of Whiggery
was allowed TO penetrate its dark reccsscs. II
was quoted always as a model OF democracy
pure aud unaduletalcd. Yet democracy sus
tuiued throughout prescription of men 70
their religious belief, III form fully us odiou'
US was ever enacted in England or lrcund
The same prosCriptyo, anti Catholic bgotr,
characterizcs the democratic party there now
In Massachusetts the sentiment is essentially
the same. This spirit it was that prevented TIT
defeat Of the two years amendment, although
over 100000 republicans stayed away from the
polls, even granting that all who opposed th
amendment were democrats; while the nbov
fact aud that many of the most prominent re
publicans opposed ii, show that probably a ma
iorty of the opponents of the measure were re
publicans.
The following comments Of the Washugtol
Constitution on the guilt Of those who suffered
the amendment to pass by their demult, app
to the Democracy of Massachusetts, with
force and pertinencc that are quite uncommon
for the government organ:
: "Ilthey aulltred the adoption of change j
, their constitution, by which the dignity an
rights OF every ioreign-born citizen in the Uni
ted States are outraged aud yiolated--and that
too, notwithstanding the earnest and rcternte
4 un Is m ada In Them nv nlOutpu cit i7pns
other States on behalf Of their insultcd country
men in Massachusetts, by their omission the
render themselves equally guilty with thos
! who actually went to the polls and voted t(
the onendmen'--with this difference, howevc
that they added cowardce to ueachcry'