The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-08-31
Voting ri Random.


Whoever has examined the official re.
sul.s of the recent election in this State
carefully must have been struck with one
remarkable and significant fact therein
disclosed. In favor Of the first amend.
men: allowing soldiers to vote, 1919, ,657
ballots were cast and against it, 1e5, 1853.
There was nothing singular about this,
for the hostility to this measure on the
part of the Opposition was as manifest as
it was persistent; but that so strong an
Opposition vote should have been cast
against the two remaining amendments
is matter for surprise and reflection. -
They did not present issues of q partisan
or political character; their purpose was
merely to pat a check upon legislative
corrGptions which are alike obnoxious to
Democrats and Unionists, and we can re-
collect no single instance in which their
pFopriety was called in question, even by
The most bitter Of the Opposition papers.
We had right to expect that the enc,
mics of the Government would poll a
heavy vote against the first amendment,
for the possibility of their success in fu,
ture contests depended wholly upon their
ability to deprive soldiers Of the right Of
franchise That the latter amendments,
however, would be carried without dis
sent, We scarcely entertained doubt.
The result has greatly disappointed this
calculation. According to the returns,
- ,U66 votes were cast against the second
amendment, and 1872 against the third.
That 10 to say, Of the hundred and odd
thousand Democrats $50 called who went
to the polls, more than three foulth6 cast
their votes for the peTpetualion Of a sys-
TEN Of legislation, corruption and nal,
foasa1ce which has d:sgrace3 the charac,
ter Of the State Assembly, and iaterfeved
with the enactment Of laws really useful
and necessary for the public welfare
Over seventy Eve thousand Democrats
have voted that "log-ro!ling" is right and
proper and that that time houored insti.
tuition, vulSarly called "the Lobby" ought
to be jealouslY defended against the med
ding spirit Of Abolition intolerauce.-
Consequently, they have allowed them
selves to be placed in very ugly position
In charity we are willing to believe that
the position Is q false Que. and that those
who assumed it did not know upon what
ground .hey we're about to stand but how
humiIiating the reflection that three
f9uIths Of the Democratic citizens Of the
Commonwealth 90 to the polls, When e.ec-
ton day comes round, aud vote at random,
without pausiog to consider for whom or
for what they are voting. Can it be won
dcgad at henoeforth, that disioyal aud in
capable meu are cfteutimes chosen TO eli
ld9 highest Is we'll as the lowest Offices
il the gift Of the people ? Need we feoI
surprised that New York has a Governor
SEYMOUR and New jersey a Governor
PARKER ? Truly, it would almost seem
that the 0id World theory Of mans inca
pacity FOR fgoyernmeut is the correct
one, when wo may see thousands Of the
fteomcn Of Pennsylvania SO blind, so
thoughtloss, and so subseryieGt to the die
:ates Of partisan spirit, as to vote away
the reputation al thei Commonwealth,
and make the safeguard Of their liberties
The plaything Of designing Lpayes aud
politicians Phtlu. Press.