Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-09-15

Inc lOllONing Grtlcle from inc, IHuudetpHu
HfHjycr, not only tells the tale of uumbug in an
eastern city, but like almanacs for genera! circu-
adon is calculated for all parts Of the United
States.'l
HOW THE PEOPLE ARE HUMBUGED.
A city contemporary declares that the greatest
sNhdle and humbug Of the day are our delegate
elections and nominating conventions.' We can
not 20 quite SO far in denouncing this system sim
ply because we could instance other political swim
dies and humbugs, which are fully match for the
delegate elections and nominating Conventions
But that these are frauds, almost iuvarably-that
they are planned, managed and worked through
to their proposed Onis by the lowest class of un-
scrupulous, trading. pot-houso politicians-is a
truth patent tho operations of the Govern
meut itself Do ali our readers know what dele
gate elections ere2 From the innocent manner in
which we have not unfroquently heard mon speak
Of the primary machinery of the polls, and from
'he fact that very large 5ody Of voters never
meddle with it at all, inclined to believe
that they have little, if any, knowledge Of it. Old
hands at it will, therefore, allow us to explain.
Political parties in the city, each hold, in ads
vance Of any election for members of Congress,
the Legislature or for municipal Offices, ConvOn.
ton Of Delegates representing the respective par.
ties. These delegates arc chosen from each Dis.
trict or Ward after this fashion At convenient
taverns in the Precincts at times fixed, polls are
opened for the election of the doteg gates. No one
is presumed to vote who is not member of the
party holding the special poll, and each voter ia
presumed to deposit ballot for his own favorite;
and whoever receives the largest number Of votes
is presumed to represent his party, in his District
or WaId; and the Delegates thus chosen meet in
Convention, and by ballot select the candidates for
whatever Offices it is their function to make nomi-
nations. Such candidates are accepted as the
regular nominees of the party, and OF general
elections are voted for accordingly BY its members.
Theoretically, nothing seem fairer than this.
The primary or delegate polls are open to every
man of the party, and every man is presumed TO
be able to ascertain the opinions and preferences
of those seeking to be chosen to the Convention,
and thus 20 exercise his due share Of influence il
his party, in determining who shall be the Con-
voaton's nominees for office. We say that all this
looks perfectly fair, theoretically. But what is it
in practice
Mr. Smith wants to be recorder of Deeds, or
member of Councils,or the Legislature; or, per-
haps, Mr.. Jones. not venturing to aspire to these
places himself knows that if he can get his friend
Smith there, he will be rewarded with an under
birth for himself, or grateful shave of pickngs
and stcalings in some form. Brown, Black, White
and Green are all Of the same way of thinking,
having an equally patriotic eye to the main chance.
The first stop, then, is to fix tho Delegate Elec.
ton Thompson is their man. Thompson win
vote for Smith in the Convention, having also bis
own private axe to grind for this service. The
canvass for Thompson is quiet but active. The
few voters Of the party who in the habit Of GO
ing to the Delegate polls, are counted and sounded.
If it should appear that Thompson will meet with
serious opposition from some one who has another
axe to grind, recruits are drummed up, and SO
Thompson succeeds by majority Of three, or
thirteen, or thereubouts, Or, perEaps,his opponent
srcceeds the principle and practice being the same
in both cases. Thus, in great part, are Conven.
tons constituted, which nominate candidates for
Offices, from the lowest to the highest. The good
people of all parties bow to these judgments, 90
to the polls on general ele ton days, cast their
vote for Smith & Co., and the patriotism Of Brown
and Green, and the other working men of the
party is rewarded. POt-houses are iubant.
Certainly this is 'swindo and hnm5ug' enough.
in all conscience; whether the greatest of the
corruption begin the business; fraud and pecula-
tion end it. The question with men thus chosen,
is not how public affairs may be honestly and eco
nomically administered, but how themselves and
the wirewCrkers of the party the delegate jobbers
may be rewarded from the public purse 1t is no
wonder that with such a system SO many low and
worthless men achieve places of trust and profit,
we don't say honor for the popular prejudice is
gaining ground that honor must be looked for out
of Office and not in it, Il is no wonder, too, that
the expenses of government increase beyond all
proportion to the increase of population public
business 1t is no wonder that the trade OF q
politician, which has been of doubtful respectable
ty at all times, is without any respecability-
that the really honest man who adopts ii, must be
; content to lose caste in the opinion Of all who
know him only in that character.
1t serves little purpose to point out evils, with
out suggesting remedies. The remedy for this
appears to us to be in the hands of that class Of
citizens who are the chief suiferers-thOse who
have a stake in the community, who have some
thing to lose by misgovernment aud official profit
gacy. 1t is class at any time sufficiently numer-
Gus to determine both who shall be candidates for,
and who elected to, any Office. If they leave the
business to the professional buyers and sellers Of
voes they will continue to be swindled by dele
gate elections and hunibugged by nominating con.
ventons, as they have been and now are.
AN INcIDENT.-T correspondent of the N. Y.
lo - nil tro.