Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-10
The Late Election.

The Late Election. '
The result of the vote on the second I
nst.. ia lust What we intima,ed it would
% in our issue of the 9th of July. We
.rc not the less proud OF our vote in our
OWN county. 1t proves that the Democ-
.acy of Clearfeld are thinking people, and
hat they cannot be swayed from their do
~ either by brides or fears. They esti-
mate tho right of suffrage, and the purity |
Of the ballot-box at their true value; anu |
although they knew, almost TO dead
certainty, that the majority would be" a.
cainst them in the State, they felt as Tree
men should ever feel, that /! was Their
oit.ty to onier their solemn protest against
the foul wrong The unanimi'y display
ed, and the solemn manner in which ihey
acted, is what we are proud CT. II SHOWS
TO the world that they are always ready
to speak out in defence Of their cherished
institutions and that when the time
comes tifit ever shall Gomez whom they
are called upon to act in defence OF their
vested rights, they will be quite as ready
Tn ey were opposed to the .t'rst amend
ment-not because they were IN favor OF
disfranchsing tho soldier, or of deprivlng
him of his vote. Not at all. And he who
asserts the reverse is n slanderer and ialsI-
fer. But they voted against it because
they value the purity of the ballot-box as
INDISPENSABLE TO tho preservation OF our
liberties. What would be said OF prop
osi,ion to repeal all statutes inhicting
penalties for fraud, upon the ballot-box -!
Would any sane man favor the measure
And yet the proposition voted on Tues
day last, and carried by large majority
of the votes of Pennsylvania, is of similar
character. 1t authorizes the opening ot
ballot-boxes far. beyond the jurisdiction
of the laws Of Pennsylvania, and where
frauds upon this ac.ed right may be per-
petrated with perfect impunity. 1t was
for this reason the Democracy OF Clear
field county, with but few exceptions, yo'
ted against the first amendment. But a
side from this reason, the fact that this rs
not the time TO change our fundamental law
was quite sufficient. When nation Is
struggling with superhbman efforts 10
prescrre their Constitution, and their Gov
erument. ms the Administrationsts tel
: US, it is no time to change or to attempt to
! improve their Constitution. Ia Mr.. Lin
| coins jocous style, it is no time 10 swal
horses" Practicing upon this idea, tn
, Democracy of this county, with hut ie'
. exceptions, voted against oil tbs amend
ments'
D The Abolitionists made tremendous ei
6 forts, and rallied their entire vote IL
= some districts not leaving single man q
f home. Had the Democrats made simila
t efforts and voted with similar unaminit
= our majority, quite large as it is, woul'
have been increased at least two hundred
J, Their leaders Piled their followers will
y all sorts of arguments and stale unmear
n ing slang. Many of their men approach
E. ed the polls declaring that they were fc
: the Constitution ss it is, and TO vote again;
: the amendments was to vote against th
Il Constitution whereas the reverse vas th
v case. Every vote against the amen ndmen
# was q vote in favor OF the Constitution 9
it is.
y But such is the effect Of fanaticism an
= partisan drill. When it is too late" th
!, people will awake to realization of tn
y. terrible cost Of their indifference.