The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-02


did for there, on the face OF the constitution
which they made, is the irreconcilable con-
tradiction i have mentioned.
NV friends, L will prove to you that this ty-
ranny was more carefully and purposely enac-
ted. Not only was it inten led TO set up gov
eminent in Missouri in which only a part of
the people was to have a share, an aristocra
cy based upon the idea that rebels and rebel
sympathizers had forfeited all right to liberty,
but il was also purposely contrived so to
range the system of elections that any politi-
cal opponent could be arbitrarily excluded
from suffrage and from Office, and no redress
afforded the injured party. Our former Bill
of Rights declared that "All elections should
be free and equal" But when the conven-
ton deterhined to overthrow popular govern
ment in Missouri, they changed this clause
of the old Bill of Rights, and made il read,
"All elections ought to be free and open."-
When first observed this change was at a
loss to imagine what was intended to be ex-
pressed by an ''open election" but / discov-
cred on reading other sections the whole OBJ
ject OF the change was to get rid of the word
"equal," and that the entire destruction of
fair or free and equal election system was the
purpose. And now. my friends, if anything
on earth is susceptible Of proof / think this
is. The trainers of the constitution are in the
habit of saying their obi cot was only to dis
franchise rebels but evidently such was not
the fact. 1t is true that rebels are mention
ed in the 3rd section, but thousands of ciu-
zens are also mentioned there as DISTINGUISHED
who never violated any law and are innocent
of crime. Why was this? Why, | say,
were guiltless, innocent men deprived Of the
| right of suffrage? The reason is they were
political opponents. They were not radicals
! They voted against radical men and meas
ures, and party emolument and party ven
geance was the motive to crush these men,
Under the operation of the Sd section il was
known that q large number OF citizens who
had violated no law of the state, and no law
of the United States, would be driven from
the polls. But this was not enough. 1t was
advisable still further to fortify tie party in
power. And hence the provision was insert
ed that, If the voter took the required oath de-
nying a number of crimes aud long cata.
logue of innocent acts still he could not vote
His right might be disproved. TART. ., sec
5 But how disproved? In what way p
By what evidence? By what factsf 1t
would have been dangerous to have answered
any OF these questions In the constitution -
All was LETT to the arbitrary, untTammelled
will of the election judges, who were intend
ed to be party men, and you know how they
have behaved In executing this constitution,
always excluding votes enough To carry an
election. 1t would have been equally dan
gerous to have allowed the voter a subpmna
for procuring witness, or any other means
OF procuring proof In his own behalf Of
course, no such means was allowed.
Why, my friends, this unfair Legislation
Was there no other motive than To disfrap-
chise rebels? But has not IA rebel a right to
hearing, and to some evidence of guilt. and
to witnesses in his favor? Why, my friends,
under this constitution. men who served four
81. H.. !
the end of the rebellion which they have shed
their blood to put down, deprived OF citizens
rights. Nor is this ali. 1t provides for a
registry law, under which one man, who
may be appointed by the governor, Is 20 pass
Judgement on the right of every citizen who
vote, who may act In the most arbitrary man
ner, and from ThOse action there as no dp-
peal. And now, | ask you knowing Thomas
G. Fletcher, you do, are YOU willing to let
HIM say how many OF you may vote? Are
you willing To have him appoint a man in
each county or district upon whose partisan
breath shall depend the right of suffrage p
Do you remember anything about elections IN
the state the past few years? Do you be-
lieve the registry clause Is a repu blcan insti.
tuition? Do you believe there Is in Turkey,
Russia or Asia anything more despotic in its
principle or more infamous in it's motives
The trainers of the new constitution COP
led from the old Bill Of Rights thissuoble SEN
timent: The free communication of thoughts
and opinions is one of the invaluable lights Of
man" But, in what manner did they after
wards deal with this gud-like truth They
went into the bar and took out many of its
members for fear they might speak their
thou hts They forbid every corporation
board in the state to assemble tor fear they
might speak their thoughts. Thew went into
the school room ana took-teachers from their
pupils. old and young, grey-haired men, de-
pendent widows. and misses in their teens
for fear they might speak their thoughts
They even forbid the parents from teaching
private school of their own children In their
own house, for fear they might speak their
thoughts. They went into the church and ST.
fenced all its officials, for fear they should
speak their thoughts. They assembled the
pulpit and seized the priest at the altar, and
and bore him away and locked him In a dun
geOn, for fear he might speak his thoughts
They placed their sentinels by the bed of the
sick, in the chamber of the dead, and expelled
and barred out.the ministers of religion even
from the grave, and struck down, with infidel
and impious hand, the gospel of Christ, lest
something might be uttered iuimical to the
radical party or offensive TO their views of
prOpriety their cultivated and refined 30
litical taste. All this they did knowingly,
Intentionally, and vet they tell the world they
are the friends Oflibertv and ''the free com.
munication of thoughts and opinions is one of
the invaluable rights of man." They set
forth in the Bill OF Rights that lin all Grimm
al prosecutions the accused has the right to
be heard by himself and counsel. to demsnd
the nature and cause of accusation, to have
compulsory process for witnesses in his favor,
to meet the witnesses against him face to
face In a sneedv trial nv an i'm Martial iurv NJ