IMH 74:4 p326

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

Tuesday, October 12th.

Father and AlvIn put in the time till noon at work on their stable frame. By the aid of contrivance and cobbling one of the end "sections"
was raised and put in place. I chored around at various things got some walnuts and hulled them, and helped about the "raising" Just
after dinner we hitched to the hack and went all three of us to Hyndsdale(26) to vote. We staid there not long; got three straight
Democratic tickets and exercised the freeman's right. Two of the tickets went in without a "scratch" about Father's I dont know.
We were back home and at work again, before three o'clock, I at least in almost unndoubting faith that the Republican state and
county ticket would be elected.(27) Another section of the frame was raised before night. The day was cloudy and misty till towards
noon when it cleared and began getting cooler.

Teaching Notes: I am not sure when they changed to  have the County and State elections on the same day as the National
elections, but in 1880, they voted on the second Tuesday for the State and County and then voted again on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday for the National slate. You might have an eager student find the answer. I would begin by looking in Indiana Constitution of 1851.
It makes a great deal more sense to have then together, but there may have been some reasoning contrary to that. I think it says a great deal
about the character of William to know that his vote was for a losing cause, yet he cast it with no regret. This might lead to an interesting
discussion about supporting what you believe in. Why do many only support a team when it is winning when it actually needs the support
more when it is not? The word loyalty comes to mind.

Students probably do not know what the term means to "scratch." You might explain that it means to vote for candidates..
from both parties ..in case you have never heard the expression.

Ask them what is meant by the "freeman's right." Question what they or Mary might have had to say about "free women."