East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-03-16
q be @ o nrier.
Popular Sovereignty.

Tho incstimable privileges enjoyed
by those who live undor a republican
form of government, and the respon-
sihilties incident to those privileges,
az at al hines worthy of the serious
consideration of Americans, and moro
especially ought they, at this time,
whore innovation and usurpation are
I leratod and encouraged by those who
should be the most vigilant guardians
of the peoples rights, be watched
aud guarded with Jealous care and
maintained at whatever hazard. In
this connection we quote with pleas
ure the following interesting and inn
pressive correspondence of the Ann
Arbor .irgUs from tho old world re-
public of Switzerland, hoping the les
son therein taught may be carefully
considered and proftably applied by
those in whose hands is placed the
doctrines of this quiet Nation.
lausanne, Suisse, Feb. 3, 1864.
Popular sovereignty is the result of
swiss liberty. As in America, every
Iaan above II years of age, whether
rich or poor, whether high or low, has
the right Ia rinse his voice i'll political
fairs; and place in the ballot-box his
testimony on mon and principles. But
when mink you the election is held /!
Ga Sundays. And where think you is
the ballot-box ? In a church. Truly,
YOU will say, this looks like debasing
holy things to the level of politics, or
Else like raising politics to the level of
sscred things. All hail to Switzerland
that the later is true to her, and her
elections are well nigh as sacred as
her religion.
Last Sabbath / witnessed one CO
those popular demonstrations. 1t was
Ia elect a member of the Grand Coan-
cur House of Representatives. l
had expe tod to sec the Sabbath bro
ken. to boar drunken voters destroy
the peace of the sacred day, to see
sun,lry conlbats and display of bull
dos ferocity, and to witness about the
pals motley throng of intoxicated
swiss. But what was my surprise
upon arriving at ono of the churches
at the appointed time, to find no
crowd, no confusion, no police. Where
is the crowd where is the excite
ment? where is the election ? thought
/. The door of the church stood open
and L entered. Within were a few
Swiss in Sunday attire. All, this was
the crowd, here was the excitement,
this was the election. Each man was
preparing his vote. Going to taGle
where sat the inspector, the voter pre-
scented To him ticket which he had
procured the day before from the
Rcai try office, certifying that he was
voter. The inspector then gives
him n sheet of paper, which he takes
to another table, and with his own
hand writes down the candidates OF
his choice. Tickets Of the different
candidates we're scattered around, but
w.re only used for reference. From
the ticket the Swiss voter selected the
man who he thought would bost ad-
minister Swiss affairs. Having writ
ton his ballot, he went once more to
the inspector, and handed it to him or
mis- assistants, who placed 1T In tho
hallot-box. There was no noise, no
confusion. no intemperance. Each
man acted as if he were performing q
moral. no less than civil duty, and
when his ballot was deposited he re-
tired from the church.
Tho e,ectionoering which prevails
in America is not customary here to
nv knowledge. Why, at an election
lately held, a candidate was accused
by an opposition paper of stimulating
his adherants by q glass of wine each;
but in the next issue of the journal no
made an indignant denial, and de-
nounced the charge as unworthy OF
mon!
Thus moves here the great machine
of popular sovereignty. could not
s,ut contrast it with what i had often
soecn in America. When election
dav Is turned into day for drunken
,otas MOSS ;h If nSftoy ,;' S When ai the
ballot-box becomes the voice of politi-
tians and not Of great people speak
ing their heart born convictions, what
does popular sovereignty signify P
no wonder that tho foreign travellers,
taking n quick glance at our popular
elections, comes home and pronounces
them humbugs? No wonder that the
English Lords call American voters "a
rabLle and mob" Is there not rea-
Sun for Ii? Have we not in Amcrico
nisased tho liberty which God has
given us? Has not our political sys-
tcm grown into fraudulent institu-
lion? Have we not lost sight of true
popular sovereignty and dc ,troyed the
simplicity and morality of elections ?
When the politician will blush to
move men except by the strong shafts
90 hi, logic and principles, having a
heart bent alone upon serving his
country when the voter will deposit
his ballot, feeling that hereby he is
performing a duty for which he is re.
s,onsiblc before his country and high
Heaven; when he would scorn to take
bribc as he would scorn to become q
tr,it,r; when he guards as pearl OF
g,eat price and honor and deposits his
vote as the result of deep and heart
felt sentiments, then will popular SOW.
erei rnty in America assume once more
its true position, and the ballot-boS
bscorne the loud sounding voice of O
people solcmniy speaking its correct
noss.
When look about me and see the
great mass of Europe having no voice
in tho government which rules them