The Lancaster Gazette

DEMOCRATS READ!!
Old Documents—Polk.
Once on a time, the Senior editor of the Eagle published a paper in Morgan county. In 1842 an address was issued by the Locofoco Central Committee of that county. It was written after the resignation of the whig members of the Legislature in that year, and talked loudly of "fraud," "treason," "revolution," &c. It was signed—let no one start—by James M. Gaylord, Samuel A. Barker, HIRAM H. ROBINSON, William J. Ramsey and Elijah Hayward. We purpose giving a few extracts from this precious document. We do it most cheerfully, because as it was intended to be read by democrats, it may still have some effect upon them; because the Senior of the Eagle probably wrote it, at any rate signed it. And it must be remembered, too, that it is much more applicable now than it was then. The address says:
"The pretext was that a fraud was intended by the democrats in the manner of districting the State. This was met and exposed, and the defenders of that act have been driven in all parts of the State from one flimsy argument to another till at present not one word is there heard in defence of the traitors, save when some whig stumper is forced to explain and defend by the overpowering assaults of his democratic adversary.
In Morgan County, as usual, they are endeavoring to divert public attention from the real issue now involved, to questions which do not immediately concern the approaching election. Say what you will the question is forced upon the voters of Ohio, whether they will have a Legislative Government or not."
Change the term Whig to Locofoco and Democrat to Whig, and it answers well for the present.
The address says further:
"But our great object is now to urge you, and through you, your neighbors, who will not defend or excuse, or support this treasonous assault upon our laws and our liberty, to once more repair to the place of holding elections and there vote and counsel others to vote for the nominees of our convention. The great principle which is directly at stake you can all estimate—it is superior to the dross of party—to the success or defeat of men—it is the principle which involved our fathers in the Revolution, and cost them their blood and treasure—the principle that the majority rules in this country—that the Constitution is too sacred to be disgraced and trampled upon by a faction of desperate men, and the wholesome laws, solemnly and legally passed by the public agents of the people, subverted and contemned.
Be ON THE ALERT!—Be early at the polls, prepare yourselves with those weapons that are yet left us to fight the enemies of our institutions with—the Ballot. Suffer no man to stay at home who has health to walk—to ride, or be carried.
RALLY then!—Rally ALL!—Rally from the hills, the valleys, and the plains! —rally from the fields and the workshops —it is the duty of every man in the country to devote one day, or a part of a day, to the defeat of our worst enemies—the enemies of our Constitution—the enemies of our laws and our Peace—the enemies of that Government which recognizes the only safe principle—the only Republican principle—that the MAJORITY rules—that the ruler is always subject to the will of the people."