THE PAST AND THE FUTURE. THE year 1844, just ended, has witnessed over to the opposite party; thousands were one of the most extraordinary Political contests Naturalized expressly to oppose Nativism, that ever occurred. So nice and equal a bal- and voted the Polk tickets mainly to that end; ance of parties, so universal and intense an in- thousands more, we have good reason to beterest, so desperate and protracted a struggle, lieve, voted that way without being naturalare entirely without parallel. The result, ized at all. Mr. Polk on this single question though showing a large preponderance of gained more than enough votes in the State of Electoral Votes for the victorious party, exhib-New-York to elect him. its no corresponding disparity of moral or nu- But all the losses sustained by the Whigs merical strength. James K. Polk is chosen through Fraudulent Voting, with the diverPresident by less than an absolute majority of sions from their ranks by Abolition and repugthe People's Votes. Allow him Fifty Thou-nance to Nativism, would have been unavailsand more than Clay, in a Vote of Three Mil-ing, had the People been permitted to know lions, and there are still to be considered the what were the main questions in difference Sixty-odd Thousand votes thrown away on between the two great parties, and so to dethe Birney or Abolition ticket-every one op- cide intelligently upon them. But this Locoposed to Polk's views on the Texas Question, Focoism resisted and prevented. It could and nine-tenths of them in favor of the Protec- not do otherwise and not be beaten. Theretion of Home Industry, and Whigs in every fore, while its public meetings, its speakers, thing but their Political hostility to Slavery. its journals, in the South, were open, bold and So that, while one party has secured the Of- ardent in their advocacy of the Immediate fices and the Executive power, there is a clear Annexation of Texas to this Country, regardpopular majority for the Principles and Mea-less of consequences, this question was widesures of its antagonist. ly declared at the North to be by no means But this is only an item. James K. Polk distinctly or decisively in issue. The EveSowes his election to the Birney or Liberty ning Post, the most respectable and influential Party. Had there been no such party, draw- Polk paper in this City, repudiated the issue ing its votes nine-tenths from the Whig ranks, and opposed Annexation. Silas Wright, who Mr. Clay would have received at least the had powerfully opposed the Texas Treaty in votes of New-York and Michigan, in addition the Senate, was made the Polk candidate for to those actually cast for him, giving him 146 Governor of New-York, by which nomination votes to Polk's 129. To Birney and Co. there- the Van Buren anti-Texas men were drawn fore, is the Country indebted for the election into the support of Polk, New-York carried of Polk, and an Annexation, anti-Tariff ascen- for him, and his election secured. Thus while dency in the Federal Government. Texas gained for Polk the votes of Georgia Yet Abolition alone could not have made a and Louisiana, the game was so played as not sufficient diversion in favor of Loco-Focoism to lose him a single Northern vote. to defeat Mr. Clay. Native Americanism, or On the Tariff question the fraud planned the apprehension studiously inculcated by and perpetrated to prevent a clear popular Mr. Polk's partisans that the Whigs, if suc-verdict was still more glaring. In the first cessful, would abolish or greatly restrict the place, a resolution, which might be interpreted privilege of becoming citizens now accorded to mean any thing or nothing, was passed at to Immigrants from Foreign Countries, struck the Convention by which Polk and Dallas us a hard blow. Thousands of Adopted Citi- were nominated. The Free Traders interzens, heretofore Whigs, were impelled to go preted it as declaring hostility to all Protective Legislation. The Tariff men in the party re-up to the Nation as a gambler, a profane garded it as meaning practically just nothing swearer, and a general profligate in morals at all. Thus both were satisfied. Coming and life, while those who had through twenty before the People, those of the Cotton States years supported and idolized Crawford and were assured that Mr. Polk was a genuine Jackson, each of whom had killed his man in Free Trader, and his votes and speeches in personal encounter, while Jackson had tried Congress and on the stump were cited to hard to kill the two Bentons without even the prove it. At the same time, Pennsylvania formalities of a combat, were horrified at Mr. and other Tariff States were assured that Polk Clay's bloodless and regretted duels! The was for moderate and reasonable Protection contest was widely represented as one beto Home Industry, and a letter from him to tween a dueling and an anti-dueling candidate, John K. Kane of Philadelphia (the only avow- and thousands were on this ground induced al of principle he made for the public eye' to vote against their own views of National after his nomination) was produced to prove Policy and practical beneficence. If an unit. This letter was written after the pattern just seizure of foreign territory, resulting in of the Baltimore Resolution aforesaid, and, war and ten thousand deaths, shall be the rewhile it looked toward a Protective Tariff, sult of this squeamishness, on whom will rest was cautiously worded so as not to give um- the responsibility? brage to the Free Traders. Thus Georgia and Alabama supported Mr. Polk as the consistent, uncompromising enemy of the Protective Policy, while Pennsylvania and the Wool-growing or Manufacturing sections of New-York and other Free States were assured that he was as favorable to Protection as Mr. Clay! In Pittsburgh and vicinity, he was even commended as more favorable to Protection than his great competitor! No expenditure of sophistry or falsehood was deemed too great to cover this weak point of their line of defence. The success was such as ill But Calumny and Fraud have done their work, and Mr. Clay is defeated. That is the extent of the verdict. Would that its consequences might extend no farther than their authors intended! The People have not intended to decide against a Protective Tariff nor in favor of the Annexation of Texas; and yet both these are among the probable results of Polk's election. The Sub-Treasury project, if there be any sincerity and consistency in the victors, must also be revived and pressed upon the Country. Mr. Polk stands expressly and publicly committed to it; his chief deserving often meets in the outset. The ap- advisers are Calhoun, Van Buren, Woodbury, prehensions of the Tariff section of the party &c. Pride of opinion and the taunts of the were entirely lulled to rest, and Mr. Polk received large majorities in nearly every Iron County of New-York, New-Jersey and Penn more reckless Destructives will probably compel 'the party,' however reluctantly, to march up to the line of its former professions. Those, sylvania. Let us see the end before we con- therefore, who hope for a quiet, peaceful, clude that such iniquity has prospered. conservative Administration, are doomed to And yet so palpable was the cheat prac-disappointment. Mr. Polk is not the man to ticed upon the Tariff section of Mr. Polk's rise superior to the circumstances by which supporters that it seemed hardly possible that he finds himself surrounded. He will submit it should succeed. No intelligent man could to be moulded and governed by them. He be deceived by it, and even the ignorant sus- must carry Proscription down to low water pected while they yielded to it. But the old mark, for the hungry pack behind him will prejudices, the old hatreds, the old slanders, have it so. He must press the Annexation of against Mr. Clay, were vehemently invoked, Texas, for those who forced his nomination at and new and grosser calumnies were invent- Baltimore regard this as the primary consided for the occasion, to be credited on the eration, and chose him for his known devotion strength of the old ones. Mr. Clay was held to their darling scheme. He must do his best to undermine and overthrow the Protective hold Plaquemines, an old Parish, not rapidly features of the Tariff, all the time talking increasing its population, lying below Newsmooth generalities and specious clap-trap Orleans, toward the mouth of the Mississippi. about 'equalizing the burthens of the Govern- Here the vote has been swelled after this exment,' 'equal Protection,' 'correcting the ex- traordinary fashion: cesses of former legislation,' &c. while sapping 1840. 1842. 1843. 1844. Whig.Loco.Whig.Loco.Whig. Loco. Clay. Polk. the great bulwark of the National well-being. 40 250....93 179....36 310....37 1007. In short, the new Administration will be com- The vote for Polk exceeds the whole numpelled, by the original sin attending its con-ber of white males of all ages in the Parish in ception, to war at once upon the Public Inte- 1840, although Louisiana exacts a Property rests and the Public Faith. qualification of her voters! And the excess What, then, is the duty of the Whigs?- ive majority for Polk over that given for his Evidently, to stand fast by their Principles party at any former Election has given him and their Country. They should offer no fac- the vote of the State. In other words if tious opposition to the new dynasty-no op- Plaquemines had given no more than her honest vote, the Electoral Vote of Louisiana position for opposition's sake. But they would have been cast for Clay. should renew and perfect their organization, That this vote of Plaquemines was abominabe vigilant in the diffusion of facts and argu bly fraudulent rests on no inference or calcu ments bearing on the great questions which must continue to divide the Country, maintain their ascendency wherever the majority is with them, and strengthen their ranks in Con lation. John Gibney, steward of the steamboat Agnes, swears that the boat went down from New-Orleans with a full load of passengers, under the charge of Judge Leonard, (the great man of Plaquemines;) that he himself, gress so far as possible. To these ends no a minor, not residing in Plaquemines, being persuaded by the Captain, voted three times noisy or vehement effort is requisite. Let at different Polls in that Parish-every time them but adhere firmly to their principles and for Polk and Dallas. Dr. J. B. Wilkinson, a their measures, discarding all solicitations to voter of Plaquemines, swears that he noticed disband and adopt new names and new pur poses. Thus prepared, thus guarded, let them patiently, hopefully bide their time. The punishment of the temporarily successful frauds and deceptions of 1844 cannot fail to be signal and certain. Were the Whigs beaten by Fraud If any man doubts that systematie, enormous, atrocious frauds were perpetrated in our late Election, and that James K. Polk is chosen President by virtue of these frauds, it being a Clay one-it was refused, the that the Polls were opened before the legal hour, and were then surrounded by a crowd of strangers, one of whom he ventured to challenge; but, as the Clerk reached out the book, the Sheriff pulled it away, declaring that no. body should be sworn! After this the foreign votes went in pell-mell. Alfred Vail, a passenger, and E. Seymour Austin, pilot of the Agnes, swear to a state of facts within their knowledge similar to that sworn to by John Gibney. Albert Savage, Engineer of the steamboat Planter, swears that his boat went down with one hundred and forty Loco-Focos from New-Orleans, who voted after the fashion above described; but when he offered a vote we ask his attention to the following facts: Sheriff saying he would swear him! Paul The total vote of Louisiana in the vehement Cormen testifies that he went with other contest of 1840 was 18,912; in the late Elec- Whigs to vote, but were deterred by seeing Charles Bruland driven out of the voting tion it was 26.295-an increase of about thirty- room, wounded, bloody, and without his hat, five per cent Accordingly, it will be found having been beaten by the Sheriff for offering by a scrutiny of the Parish returns that the a Whig vote. There being a large Loco-Foco increase averages very nearly that ratio-a mob around the Polls, excited, swearing and threatening, the few Whigs were obliged to little higher in the new and rapidly growing leave without voting. Parishes; a little lower in those that are old This is the way one State was carried for and stationary; though the strong Loco-Foco Polk and Dallas. Had we room, we could satisfy any candid mind that New-York was Parishes are apt to swell their vote the most. carried by means equally foul and flagitious. The single exception is the Loco-Foco strong--Can such victories profit the winners? **Daniel Webster.. 14 1844 *At the four first elections, no discrimination was made between votes for President and Vice President; each Mr. Ingersoll receivsd only the Federal votes; Mr. Clinton those of New-York in addition. In the House of Representatives, Adams received the votes of 13 States, Jackson of 7, Crawford of 4. South Carolina voted for Ex-Gov. Floyd of Virginia, and H. Lee of Boston. Pennsylvania voted for Jackson, but eschewed Van Buren, and cast her vote for Wilkins. Vermont voted for Wirt and Ellmaker, (Anti-Masonic.) **Tennessee and Georgia voted for White and Tyler; Maryland for Harrison and Tyler: South Carolina for Mangum and Tyler: Massachusetts for Webster and Granger. Virginia for Martin Van Buren and Judge Smith of Alabama. Col. R. M, Johnson having just half the votes for Vice-President, the Senate proceeded to elect; whereupon Col. Johnson received 33 votes and Francis Granger 16. adoption of the Federal Constitution. Year. Candidates. NEW-YORK ELECTIONS SINCE 1789. Statement of Votes cast in this State for Governor, at the several Electians of Chief Magistrate, since the Votes. Majority. Year. Candidates. Votes. Majority. 1789-George Clinton... 6,391 1824-De Witt Clinton. ....103,452 Robert Yates.... 5,962 429 Samuel Young87,093 16,359 1792 George Clinton. 8,440 1826-De Witt Clinton... John Jay 8,332* 108 William B. Roche ter...96,135 99,785 3,650 1795-Jon Jay... 13,481 1828-Martin Van Buren. 136,794 Robert Yates. 11,892 1,589 Smith Thompson.. 106,444 .... 30,350 1798-John Jay 16,012 Solomos Southwick.....33,345 Robert R. Livingston.....13,632 2,380 1830-Enos T. Throop.... 128,842 1801-George Clinton..... 24,808 Francis Granger. 120,361 Stephen Van Rensselaer..20,843 8,481 3,965 Ezekiel Williams. 2,332 1804-Morgan Lewis.. 30,829 1832-William L. Marcy. 166,410 Aaron Burr. 22,139 8,690 Francis Granger .156,672 9,738 1807-Daniel D. Tompkins.. 35,074 1834-Walliam L. Marey.. 181,900 Morgan Lewis...... 30,989 4,085 William H. Seward....169,008 12,892 1810-Daniel D. Tompkins.. Jonas Piatt.... 264843,094 1836-William L. Marcy. 166,122 6,610 Jesse Buel. .136,648 29,474 1813-Daniel D. Tompkins.. 43,324 Isaac S. S nith.... .3,496 Stephen Van Rensse ner.. 39,713 3,606 1838-William H. Seward. 192,882 1816-Daniel D. Tompkins. 45,412 William L. Marcy. 182,461 10,421 Rufus King.... 38,647 6,765 1840-William H. Seward. 222,011 1817-De With Clinton.. 43,310 William C. Bouck. 216, 26 5,285 Peter B. Po ter. 1,417 41,891 Gerrit Smith. ..2,662 1820-De Witt Clinton.... 47,447 1842-William C. Bouck. 208,072 Daniel D. Tompkins......45,990 1,457 Luther Bradish. 186,091 21,981 [New Constitution. Alvan Stewart.. 7,263 1822-Joseph C. Yates.... 128,493 1844-Silas Wright Solomon Southwick......2,910 241,090 .125,583 Millard Fillmore. 231,057 10,033 Alvan Stewart. ..15,119 * Votes of Otsego and Tioga Counties rejected, which it is said would have reversed the majority. 19 INTRODUCTION TO THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. In the Congress of 1776, the great question of American Liberty came first to be discussed. On the 8th of May, Mr. Adams offered a resolution, that the Colonies should adopt governments adequate to the wants of the Country, and independent of Great Britain. The success of this resolution on the 15th was considered as decisive of the question of allegiance to any foreign power. On the 7th of June, Richard Henry Lee, seconded by Mr. Adams, moved in Congress the ever-memorable resolution of American Independence. The debate continued until the 10th, when the consideration of the resolution was postponed until the 1st of July. The next day, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and R. R. Livingston, were appointed to prepare a draught of a Declaration of Independence. The two gentlemen first named on this Committee having been deputed a sub-Committee to draw up a Declaration, at the desire of Mr. Adams it was prepared by Mr. Jefferson. On the 1st of July, the question on the resolution was again resumed, and unanimously agreed to on the second. Mr. Jefferson has told us that "the Colossus of that Congre s-the great pillar of support to the De. claration of Independence, and its ablest advocate and champion on the floor of the House, was John Adams. In that moment of darkness, of terror, and of consternation, when the election was to be made between an at. tempt at Liberty and Independence on the one hand, and defeat, subjugation, and death on the other, the courage of Adams, in the true spirit of heroism, rose in proportion to the dangers which pressed around him; and he poured forth that only genuine eloquence, the eloquence of the soul, which, in the language of Mr. Jefferson, moved his hearers from their seats. The objections of his adversaries were seen no longer be in a state of wreck; floating in broken fragments on the billows of the storm, and over rocks, over breakers and amid ingulphing whirlpools, that every where surrounded him, he brought the gallant ship of the Nation safe into port."* [* Wirt. The Declaration already prepared was taken into consideration on the 4th of July, 1776-a day never to be forgotten when it received the sanction of the whole Congress. DECLARATION. WHEN in the course of human events, it ly, all experience hath shown, that mankind becomes necessary for one people to dissolve are more disposed to suffer, while evils are the political bands which have connected sufferable, than to right themselves by abolthem with another, and to assume, among the ishing the forms to which they are accustomed. powers of the earth, the separate and equal sta- But, when a long train of abuses and usurpation to which the laws of nature and of nature's tions, pursuing invariably the same object, evinGod entitle them, a decent respect for the ces a design to reduce them under absolute Copinions of mankind requires that they should despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to declare the causes which impel them to the throw off such government, and to provide separation. new guards for their future security. Such We hold these truths to be self-evident, that has been the patient sufferance of these Coloall men are created equal; that they are endow-nies, and such is now the necessity which Sed by their Creator with certain unalienable constrains them to alter their former systems rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and of government. The history of the present the pursuit of happiness. That, to secure these King of Great Britain, is a history of repeated rights, governments are instituted among men, injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct deriving their just powers from the consent of object, the establishment of an absolute tyranny the governed; that, whenever any form of gov-over these States. To prove this, let facts be ernment becomes destructive of these ends, it submitted to a candid world: is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, He has refused his assent to laws the most and to institute a new government, laying its wholesome and necessary for the public good. foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem of immediate and pressing importance, unless most likely to effect their safety and happiness. suspended in their operation till his assent Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that govern- should be obtained; and, when so suspended, ments long established, should not be changed he has utterly neglected to attend to them. for light and transient causes; and, according- He has refused to pass other laws for the He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws 1 |