Press enter after choosing selection

"Don't Throw Away Your Votes."

"Don't Throw Away Your Votes." image
Parent Issue
Day
22
Month
August
Year
1842
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Sufíh is the cry that has been reiierated in t!;o enrs of the friends of Liberty nominations, with areat earnestness, since the movemem first originated in Dr' 4'). It has prooecded from boih Whiga and Deniocrats; and hoving the independence to vote for men not under the mfluence of those pro-s!avery pames, lns heen ridiculed. sneered at. and lainented a3 a piece of nbsuH. and Quixotic lanaticisni. The latter party, ihough on the whole, as a body more basely servile. and more entircly obedient to slaveholding dictation than tbc Wliigs, and consequently standing in more complete opposhion to thé principies of the Liberty party ihan their opponents. have notwiilisinnding been less officious ihan their viváis in presenting to us this advicc. We are n t to nttribute this, hcwever, to their superior friendship for our principies, but it is to be rcgnrded 03 a matter of policy on their part to present few obslsclcs 10 our incipient progrcs?,in the hope, that onr growth in strength and years would in jure thi whig3 far more thanit would thein. On this ■■ccount thsy have been comparatively silent, while from all classes of the other great party - from the bigeted polilician. tbe moralist, the min ister of the Gospel, and the sober and cnndid cit izen we have lieard the unceasing cry - "Don' llircw ainay your votes, hut vote for úrtínfo' icho can be clctt:d!" This advico has been hcard i tl all the free States, is eonsidered appro priate to all times and occasiotis, from theelectio of a President !o that of a Pathmnster. and as i iias been used by the Whigs with much eflect i diáéoúroging our friends. Ave propose to givc it fair and candid examina'. ioil, in referente chii.fl ro the present condiiion of afiairs in our ow State.The doctrine irnplied in the oclvice is that dl rotes castfor candidales ipho are nitclctiii, are throrr-n atcay, and might as well nol have been put into the ballot box. Now, is this a tenable position? If it be. it will foilow that a the votes givcn for Whig enndidates for President previous to 1S40 were a!l throw away. and the whig electors rniglit as well hnve staid nt liome. Wül thisbe admitied? Wre tlie votes of 183C of no nvail Uw;uds tho 'glorious resnlts' of 1810? - Thcn think of the mítny ti; ousand votes the Whigs gave last yeaT for Fuller ior Governor, and of soire sixiy whiu; nomin;itions ior the Legislnture, when onlv fïvc or six moinfeers were elected. What charming simplicity was disphyed in nominating and voting for them! It was tiearly cqunl to tliat mahifested by the Liberty pany in rhnking ttcir noniinations! Asjrnin. wil! the VVhigs ndniit the doctrine thnt it ia foolish to nominate candidates who cannot be el ctcd, and that all votes given for them are thrown away? If ihey will, we can demónstrate tint they not only have throwu them away on former occasions, but that at the very tiext clectiön lliey will be guilty of throwing away a great iniiltitude of votes. There are many countics in this State, like Monroe, and Livingston, and Oaklond. for example. where the Democratie majonty is so large that t is morally certain that that ticket will be eketed. Yet the whigs will notninate candidatej in those counties knowir.g they canuot succeed - setting them up wi;h the prospect of euro and certnin defeat. ETYet in those very counties, the Liberty men wül be called tip- on to throw their votes for Whig canJidates. when. it is known they cannot be elected, and will be srLve'y advised not to throw avcny tlieirotes cri Liberiy cc.ndidaics, whèn rhcy wiil at nú oodIÜXfl Out iipnii sucb hypoci i?y, C?e siiy. Vho knows how mriny n.ny bc bumbu'ggëd n o t'i'.f very llHng? On tbe-p: br. ihat öll vótcsnïO tfcrowu away wliicn tl nol I.,-'t lbo] cr.iiiwt soe tba't the only cfitiercnee hewecn the Whigs and the Liberiy party in dioso (btthttèa, and in uil places v.-hcrc the Whigq are n a minority, will be, that tue Whigs wiil tnjoy hü exquisito p!ccsirc of throwing av:iy manu nart votes t'.uui tlic Aboütionists! Let them e;ioy it to die fU if they piense, bul we sriy to Libarty men, D m't throw awny your votos on lottig Hekels, To dcssit y our ow u cause, and lose the die cloction 100. woull be too disgraceful. Agaip, on die principio ihat votes are dirown away v.-tiere the öandidates a e not eleeted. it 11 bllow thut tho only way to preserve our otes will bo to vote lor the bj who wlll be elecied - in oiher words. ior the strongest parfy. This the idea geneially heltl out to view. "VVhy on't you vote lor come body wh an bc clceled? ■a qu&$on very freqjjenriy askcd. VVell, genemen, if ve foilow your ;idvicc, in those couties where there is a Democratie mojority, or here there ia a probnbiliiy that party will suceed. we sliáll oí' course vote die Loco foco lick' t, thus preserving our votes from bcing tbrqwn .v;iy. Eesidrs, wül no; ycu vote it too? Recllecl yon are in the minoriiv na vv ds wo - Then don't throw away your voiea, bui cóine p to the polls like men, in;l vote the Luo-foco ticket, whieh you knuw will be élpoted!" my, sirs, how do you like your own iidvice! But. the more cniidid uti& sensible W!ii;s will ot be silly en lügh to take this grou-ad, but ili cqntend tluii our votes ure d?ri).va .-w.iy, nol )rcause wo niay be unsuccessful ths yenr or _xt. hut bccahsi iltrc ii no pr sject ƒ -.1 i na! e vcasi. We answer, dint this is takiri ,he qüeson at ie:5ue ior rante.l. ííow do :!icy kimw li:tt? Whni prophetiiir.ong tiieïn ïi-ts iia.l his pyéa ■) fjir u.ihcalcd tbat he hns beMi ;ib!e tJ look fo - v.-nrd into coming tiine.nnd discern tlie i;::e ot ibe severa! partiéíi li' any one has had a rcvelaiio on tfte Bubject, let hirn procláini it; but :i:e thai haa h;ul advcm, lol liini tclla deani."'We ciinncl now enter itno a leiigthy statement of ihb reasons lorBctiéving thut our principies will go fbi'.vnrd witho'ui .enxiyi.-i'ür.g utilil ihey i!t:i'n thwr inial triumph; bul we will merely -isli the nttcniion if th'-nluvg ir.en to Uic four t'olowiag cptiBidsrÖioHS. Wiih s:;c!i, thcy will Iip.vc weight. 1. Our entcrprise embraces the prcaervation of the liberties ol tlie fre States, (he interes'.s of the Free colored popuia tien. of two and n hilf milüons of sla ves, and of _ihe ncn-siaveliulders o.Wbe slavc States, all wlium pré oppressed and horVassed !y iho Slavé Power wiiich we opposo. We con;cr.d. thoie!. yc, ihöt iHö ifitërecité of these mUliOSj (rsure nurtïéioiis ih;in wcre our fore('nt!)c:s of' tlio ilt-volut ion. ) ars (f suJji:nH'. ving nïliide to cu!:i:;:lc; (fee fjui)dut;on of á h jor;y. 9. Oh?' principies are viuleniably rlsht. Is ihis consideración of no v:ilne? Or are wc to tnke it föf gfaftted th.u !,:_;-Oiüinis!ii and HardCidqristn will ahvnys preyail over truth ad riglueouenc:;;? , 3. Tlie ndvnnca oi' c; viïïzation - the inöuente of Cbrisiionity - :hc icfui:n;itory spirit díiíjc age. and ihc favorable rosuh ot theaboütion of iiaveiv in ttll forcign coontrie?j demónstrate that t musí soon come to an end, and there is every reason io believe that it will be occomplisbed without iny retrograde acúun.in conncclionioilh tJ.eprcscntcffoiis for itsovatliuiót 4. The time is bastening on when there will je only a slurery and nv anti slaveryp' rVj in ti e nation. Politicinns endeaydr to get up and perpetnute other issues. hut it iá well known thnt cve ry important rnove in "Jongrf3so is dubated in reference to its bearings on (ree ln'or nrul eiave labor. Besides. we have no evidtnee thm ïh Whig or Democratie nrganiza'ions are invesiud with itnraortaüty. On tliDCOntrary tbey are mere teiiiporary conibinations of men to accomplish specific ohjects and when attained, the party organizations will be dissolved, and the materia! s will be ready for re-combination in any marnier public Sentiment may tben require. and Mr. Tyiei's recent acts have been preparing the way for the formal adoption of the anti-slavery issue, by confounding andfinally putting to rest many of those pointa of dtfierenee which have hiihíírto been debated between the eontending r.ntionni pnrties. Ent to pursue our argument siiH furttio-, v.Amit that we cannotsuecsed in what we havedertaken; ts ú certain the IVhis can? Beíore we tlirow away our votes on VVh g candidatos. I niny be wcii to think of'tliis a inotnerit. I í ;.o tbe coúrse nn! auocess ol ihe Whijr party for the las (ourieen yeare been such tliat vve can iut.plicitly rcly on iheir wisdom and good mariflgement.7 What eviderice liave we that llenry Olay can be elcctcd President in 1844? And il hesh -uld be. how do we kiiow vvh.it relief would be experineed fiom VVhig Legiñ!;ition? VVíii; snbstantiai relief has ihe country rec'cived eincc they caine intopowei? Tiue. the tilanie ís all laid on Tyler; buí liow do we knuw how muny more Tylers may be e!-ecKvl in ISiJ? Itisbelieved that a careful exniuinátion nf ihese pointe wil] present to us no ycrystroixg inducemcnis for s;)p[oiiinr their candidates, eved ii we cnnnot elect our iu-n. Í5ut concede iKo argfrrtient to ite fullcst extoni. Grana ihat we sbn!l be utieily unswccessful as a politica] par:y.nnd that the whiys will be triumphant in every poirrt? I]ive uc any interrst in their triumpli.s? What advantage wl! it be lo us that ihe duellist and nian-rubber shall be -elevntcd to the C hair of Staie, and thus the entire nation be subjected to the dominion of the Slave I'uwer four years longer? Shall we fhereíore slioui and rejoice? Shall anti-elavery men cxult because opprrssion and injustice and violence reigo in our natiónal high places, and are itnpeisonated in the Chief mngisirateofcur country? We say, No - we have no interest in such triumphs - leí those who wsh for such resulte, bring thein to pase, if it be so written in the book of' fate; but let n t (in-r hnu'sdo t. Let those who are bent on wickedness do their own work. In whatever light, then. we look at, it ií we follow tlu advice that hos been so pereeveringly urged u)on ub, even if we should abandon our separate nominationa, it will be very cortain that we shall not tlirow awny our votes on Whig cmdidates. We will remember the advice, and raake good use of it. But soinc will ask. Cannot there be suih atliiiig as "-hrowing away o ne'a vote? I cdly thore can. 1. Your veto will be virtunlly thrown away u T-fu.se or ntglect to jnake . sí f i ■ - ;:iie. yoii wül !ose all opponimiiy hing niiy tl nd eé fflt gpo'D is concernid, you miffht as woll not have any shaie in the politic.il puwer ut' the nation. - One primary object of voting is to doet the bost men to rule ihe nation. Ii'cvory one shnuld re fuse to vote, this object wouM he deieated. - Agiiin. suppose you are a cnnscicntious men, hoving ihe goocl üfyour country ceally at heart, and yct you absent yoursell" Iroiti the polls. Stippp every honfi3t. upiight man to follow your example. and the consequenvo will hc thut tlie wttffe political power o!' the rwtion wili be vested in the hands of rogücs nnd knaveö. In iliis case cerlainly. ilie conservative inÜucnce for good wliich tlie best part oí community might exert throuli tlieir voies woitld be all lost. 2. Your vote will be ihrown. away when given Cor a man incompetent to perform the duties f thi i-fike for which he is designated. Should ou smeceed in eiecting hiiü, tw6ufd bc a public tn isforume. 3. When given foi an nulolent or ttnfaith'ul man. Negli;ence in a public officer is often as iiijuridus ns dishones:. 4. Wben given for a man notorious'y vicious or proflígate. Tlie olevaiion of such nier. to office is ii public errso. 5. When given í'or a man wJui hns no ch nncler or rcsponsibility. Look at Ue reason of this or a üioMient. You truat a man on two accounts; bed u e he hns piupcitj. and ihereforc ilic means to phy you: or bociuse he ir.s hoiiestij. and consequetiily the disposition to do yoii jiisacc. l he h-is not enough of these to make his credit good v i t h you for a hal or a pair of shots, de pend on it you öugbt not to trust hirn to niake lriws for you, or to il 1 1 resonsibije stations. A slighi oiisideration of these poinis wül .con viuce afiy one that it is a very cüsv mutter to thro'.v ;iwuy onc'avoie. raid thn bestwwipg i íbrafool or scoündrel, even w'nen he is elected, is biu a pooi v,;;y oí pn-serving it.Ve nave tttoQgln proper !o sny thus mueti on ihis subject, at ihis èftrly tlay, thot ii muy bc : n in its true lighr. The souree froin whencc ihis pepeiuil ödinonitirin comes is n!ao desurvinu o) no'.ice. Advice not to ihrow nway our votes ou unsuccüssful cm d lates emanntcs with a poor grace from a minofïty whó are perpetually domg the snme t!ie sime thing. We are not aware ihnt ia tliis Suite thcie it any essentíai difieren ce in the position of the Whigs and ihe Litterty pnriy in this respect, save tliat the ionner are a largcr rninoiity than the latter. But we do not fcnow iliai we should ilierefore be held in le;;ding etrinys by e u" largcr, thaugli lint ulways .toóte succlssu! ilvnl. We aro not sens:b!.e of bterng ánder any gieat obliotionö to her for her kindness to us rtuit irir. tí!ie did not muse us in our ini'mcy, wtien we had none to watch us. butsh'e wasindig n?.ntour very existenee. and !aid her ccuel iiaiirly on us, and did nli s;io cauid o throttle nnd smui ale and slnce that ;itie slie haa iolioweil us wuii the ttppeHa'ion of knaves and 'hisi' i rus Hypncii'rs." and wiih eontitittal propUetir.s of sure and spöedy dctruciion W;ve we any inti.-.'fsi in sustaining a pariy thn! (búa mrm("eárs ciiiitiiiii;)! hosuluy to our principies, opr nieaa urt'8, nd even Owr.exjsfence. ná w'ageè ag.-tins: us a peipeiu.il wariare. úhieh ii is inU-ned ÜHiil! 'ense only vlnn our exteinnnation sh;!l hávq heen forevei completed? F rom the preceding conaidenttions. we woulr; urge upo n Liberty men t!ie propri. :y of esiec!ing thörnselvea a a politienl pariy, and prt'servin iivioiate their sepanic i lüiiiity V.; shill di!'er f'ro!Ti the ar:y whieh may e in power in lïfe one respec of beine in ihe minoriiy; au:! even that disgMce or n:isiuininft. ii it he so consideied. we shall share continnally wiih the oUier icreni pany so long as it shail coniinue to exisi. While weavoid all barsains and comjiroiüisca witli e t1 er of the olher panies. let us sp:ue ño exeitious to' advance our principleö in every honorable wny, being wei! assured that though a snecessful issue may be delayed for a season, our labor will not bo ultimately ia vaia.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Signal of Liberty