The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1864-11-03

to point and caused to vote repeatedly in
the same and in different counties.
Our vote in the State was fairly and
honestly cast, and was the largest ever cast
in the State by our party. so large that, if
truly counted, and met only bJ legal
vote would have carried the State. We
could not then, and cannot now, resort to
violance. Intimidation or fraud, to over
come such practices On the part OF our
political opponents, for that would be to
poison the foundation. to undermine the
foundations OF our free institutions. on
pretext Of supporting them. Our reliance
ballot. To restore and preserve a pure
ballot is one Of the labors to which we
would most earnestly exhort you. Our
laws have placed guards around the ballot
box, that in purer and happier times
were found sufficient But good men are
called to mourn that the guards are bro
ken down now. and corruption testers
where once the jewels of the people were
kept. The oath taken by the election Of
ficer Is solemn obligation, and imposes
the duty of seeing not only that the legal
votes that are offered are received, but
that all others are rejected; in ether words,
that none but legal votes go into the box
nd that they be honestly counted. 1t is
an obligation OF honor as well as Of relig-
aOn; for the ballots are received and held
10y the election officer in trust for the peO-
pie, and it is 4 revolving debascment that
a man. for party ends, should take upon
his soul the crime of perjury, and upon
his manhood the shame Of dishonor Yet
we know that party has carried men even
so far, and now it is for us to rescue TINS
high right which appcrtans to our citi-
zenship, from the contamination OF their
touch-to guard our ballots. and to this
end we advise that YOU demand repre-
sentation on the election board, and that
for that post you select firm men-clear
headed and sharp sighteG--who can detect
an effort at fraud, and possessed Of courage
to expose and defeat it
This is 50 obviously fair that il can be
objected to only by those who desi IN cor
ruption. The honest public officer fears
not the gaze Of the whole world. Con
sc Gus Of his recitude he takes 70 oTense
at the closest scrutiny of all that he does
affecting the rights Of others.
1t is important not only that elections
be honestly conducted. but that the people
be assured and know that they arc so con
Quoted. To this end let the ballot boxes
be watched from the time the sirst vote is
given until the last vote is counted The
honest public officer will not object to such
inspection Of his conduct. If he were
counting out Your morey he would insist
that you be present. Surely, then, he
will not object that It be known how he
counts your votes. But if he be not hon
est, then your rights require that you
watch him. This cannot be considered by
you of too much Importance
If you resolve to see that only legal
votes are cast. and that they are hon
estly counted, then the important question
arises. how may democratic and conserva-
tive voters will attend the polls. That
will depend much upon your Efforts
This election is rot to go by default. 1T is
turning point in our history. The fate
that awaits our constitution and system CT
government may depend upon the result
of this election The measure Of liberty.
and the degree Of prosperity that our chill
dren are to enjoy through the course OF
many generations may depend upon it
The fate of all that We have most cherish
ed in the past may depend upon it. Iou
agree with us in this, your judgments are
convinced, your hearts are stirred By the
sad calamities OF our country. lou dread
still greater calamitics impending. You
desire change of administration. and rea-
son we'll that it cannot be worse, and YOU
hope aud believe it will be better Then
where the interests involved are 50 mo-
mentous, what effect viii you make?
1t is not enough for each oi' Us to be at
the polls early, on election day, standing
by and upholding our cause, but we must
see that every voter, who is for the Con
stitution as it is, and the mon as ii was,
| is their also Let us see the careless and
Indifferent and arouse them to duty, and
uron horses, in wa gons and III carriages,
let us bring out those who cannot, or do
not otherwise attend Once more let us
east our full strength for our country. III
onr full vote be east we hope it will carry
che Stale for Mcclellan and Pendleton
for it will be difficult for our opponents to
repeat the means whereby they succeeded
at the late election.
This will require a few days Of earnest
work We must organize for concert OF
action. But few days for effort now re-
main, and we trust this work to you. Our
cause is right, and our candidates are
worthy W e contend for restored Union
and re estatlished liberty for rctrench
ment and reform in pubic expenditure
and for the ancient rights aud privilege.
of the people We labor to restore the
administration Of the Government to the
path marked out by the Constitution and
the laws-that the powers of the Govern
ment be not used and strained to make 4
few rich and great at the cost Of the many
that favored classes be not built up, but
that equal and just laws, honestly admin
istercd, may once more bring prosperity
and happiness to all the people In sc
high and Just a canse will you not now
make an eaort worthy yourselves, and
worthy the ancestry you boast.
Gen George Il. McClclan's statesman
shin onn,ars In all tnat Las fallen from his