Background: The Voice of the People was an Anti-Rent newspaper published in Delhi New York during the height of the Anti-Rent conflict in the Delaware County New York area,  probably from about 1846-1847. The excerpts below are from Vol. II number 53,  June 1, 1847.  Since there are only a handful of copies still in existence, little is known about the newspaper. The June 1, 1847 issue consists of one double sided  folded page (for a total of 4 pages) and was edited by William S. Hawley.

The poem below refers the election of June 7, 1847. Eventually the Equal Rights (Anti-Rent) people gained enough support through the political process that the old feudal system of land leases was gradually discontinued and many people were finally able to own the land they farmed.

Spirit of the County

Wake, Brothers, Wake!

Wake! Brothers, Wake! the day is now dawing
Whose evening will witness the foeman's defeat!
Wake, brothers, wake! for the earth is now yawning
To receive in its bosom the tyrants we hate.

Wake, brothers, wake! hear the old lion growling,
Your eagle's afloat--see him sweep thro' the sky;
And come to the polls with a union of feeling,
As one man determined to conquor or die.

Wake, brothers, wake! for the blue-lights are burning--
Your country now calls--shall she call you in vain?
No Democrat now to the vile Ne t returning,
They are all pressing forward their rights to maintain.

Wake, brothers, wake! Suke's body guards screaming,
Drunk with rum-toddy and mad for revenge;
Come boys to the polls--we'll soon stop their dreaming,
The plans of the Nest we'll quickly unhinge.

Wake, brothers, wake! see the robbers advancing,
Who have plundered the people time of mind
Come boys to the polls with music and dancing
Send Victory forth on the wings of the wind

Walton, May 28, 1847

Original newspaper courtesy of  the Delaware County Historical Association Archives, Delhi, NY