Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-05-18

Piled: Il wish you had am sure that the
great body of the Republican party-both rank
and ile-would be glad to see all public thieves
brought to punishment and not regret, whether
they might express the wish or not. that any one
of them should become his own executioner. Let
us all unite then in endeavoring to elevate to
Office those who cannot be bought and who
WILL not steal, and our party an I'd county Mli
new race Of progress. civilization and glory to-
gether.
THE DEMOCRACY IN INDIANA.
Before concluding what have desired to say
to night. beg leave to call your attention TO a
few facts in the history of the Democratic party
IN the State of Indiana, which, no less because
they are recent and have occurred i'm ediately
under our observation at home. will afford us a
good test of its character and pretensons To fair
dealing and honesty. The present constitution
cratic by large majority. The provisions OF that
instrunent fixed the election for State and county
officers on the second Tuesday in October. IL
enjoyed by every white male citizen OF
years. who had resided in the State during
tho twelve months next preceding the
elections. and by every white male Of
foreign birth Of the age Of twenty-one years.
who had resided in the United States and in the
State twelve months before such election. and
had declared his intention to become a citizen of
the United States in the township or precinct in
which he should reside at the time of such cleo
ton. 1t will be observed that the voter is requir-
cd to reside in the precinct for no definite time.
The fraction of dag is as sufficient to give him
the right OF suffrage as a year would be.
Now. tits notorious that this provision was
originally made by the Democratic party. and it
requires very little examination to determine
that no provision which can possibly be conceived
offers fairer opportunities to perpetrate election
frauds by importing voters just be ore the clec-
ton. From the date of its adoption until the
Democratic party. went out of power in the
State. in 1851. it is believed no effort was
M do.,5 by. any Dsm9srat t. secure
into power. however. they passed law requiring
voters to be registered in the precincts in which
election, and making other and ample provision
for the prevention of fraud. and its punishment
when it was actually committed. The constitu-
tional provision, however, already sighted was
held to be incompatible with the provisions of
the act by the Supreme Court. and must add
that concur entirely in the opinion of that tri
so much a friend to importation. pipe-la and
fraud that no law Tor leir prevention can posi-
bly, be valid The evil being thus constitutional.
all intelligent fair-mindcd men saw ut glance
that an amendment OF the constitution was the
only way in which election frauds could be pre-
eral Assembly held in the Capitol in the year 1873.
Tor the amend%en: Of the the eonstit Dtaf
TO require a. residence in the township or
precinct in which the right to vote was claimed
ofthirty days before tie election. This would
have enabled tsc Legislature to have rendered
frauds in our ele almost. if not altogether
impossible. All just men. who do not prefer
fraud to honesty and fair-dealng. must concur
But according to another provision of the con-
sttution. the amendment could not become
valid until it had been passed BY the next ensu-
ing General Assembly. Unfortunately for the
amendment and the State. and Tor honest cleo
tlons in the State. a combination of sinister
causes led TO the triumph Of the Democratic par
upon its face. go clear in its intention. and so
complete IN its provisions to prevent all future
frauds n". had. therefore 90 pass with approval
ing therein it had to die. 1t was brought be ore
that House on the 10th day of February. 1870
resolution. Mr.. McMichael moved its inSe6nite
postponement. That il might not de- misunder-
stood by the body which killed il. n long discus
which Mr. Harris. of Madison. moved the previous
question. which was ordered. This put an end 10
al further discussion and brought the House to a
direct vote upon the indefinite postponement OF
the amendment. aud the motion was carried upon
o vote by yeas and nays in the afirmatiye-yeas
,y ana nays i1rty-9ne Ihe names will show
by indefinitely FORTHCOMING II. was DemoeRtic-
s E own representatives from this county. with
Mr.. speaker Turpie at their head, unitcdly voting
70 kill the amendment. And that was the last OF IL
hat right have Democrats. therefore, in the state
.. 70 raise their voices against the crime
OF Importing voters or carrying elections b. the
fraud and usurpation embodied in the votes of
such infamous cattle? Their action upon the
amendment FULLY commits them to all these evil
practices. and makes them responsible for them
In great degree. whether committed by Demo
,rats or ,b by kenueiisans. They has said they
Ihe villainy IS ingrained with them. even III II is
not innate. DO not, however. understand from
them that l would wink at or excuse, much
less DEFEND, the practice which Democratic
and legislators tolerate, in
them are guilty osaSsIns selves mT Of any o.
portunty afforded by Democratic legislation 10
commit crimes against the elective franchise of
their country's institutions and liberty. let me
tell them that their conduct is criminal in very
high degree. and renders item entirely unworthy
lated; No man VINO has aided in an election
fraud Is worthy OF the elective franchise and this
IS just as true OF Republicans as it is OF Demo
las any just right to bring a railing accusation
against the red handed traitors who. By secession
REBELLION. and war. undertook 70 destroy the
Union and constitution OF our country. Let
'usa before they would take toe mote out ofsheir
'rothers eye, take the beam out of their own
,ye. and then they shall see clearly to take the /
note out of their brothers. eye. No: again say. !
much as hate secession. rebellion and war
lganst tie Union, hate war against the elective
franchise. by the. fraud OF importing voters
o usurp and trample il down.
nexpressibly more. There may be /
ions when overthrow by force and war. Our
Iery blood, she'd IN mutual conflict. may become l
he cement to hold together the stones of our re-
nent. But who shall build, when all the stones
o nc used are slippery and foul with the slime OF
he serpenr Where such is the condition Of any
yer rear again, tor them. the pillars OF de-
n0lished governments"
THE CITY ELECTION AND RIOT.
But. coming still closer TO the present time.
nay not ask what evidence the action OF the
Democratic party in our city Immediately pre-
eding. accompanying and following after the
ate election affords us OF any intention on the
art OF its members to do what is fair and right
n the administration of any government or de-
artment OF government? IL it found in the i'm.
amous gerrymander OF the city few days before
he electlon-an act. when considered in all the
circumstances of its doing. its inherent nature
1hen done. and the vile purposes for which il
ms done, wi thout parallel Tor meanness un-i
lirness and fraud in the whole history OF
he political viIlainies Of our State II.
now that other acts. similar in some
aspects and degrees. have been perpetrated by
ur party In the State, but they did not approach
bis one in all the vllainous elements which 20
make up its complete whole and make il a
Masterpiece oil its kind, which future raseals may
initiate but cannot hope 10 equal.
1t was done after the election boards had been
ppOinted. the places of the polling in the sew ,
raj old wards DESIGNATED. and due notice of the ,
lection. embracing these facts. published as ,
eauircd by law. In order that it might BIO :
assed In conformity to the rules of the Coun- J
il. IT was initiated at called session of !,
lat body. at which every Democratic member
II