Litchfield enquirer., 1838-11-15

Tn renIv 10 an invitation to q festival, aG
fanrincAeid. Illinois, Gov. DUNCAN address
- 10 The committee the following indepen-
dent and characteristic letter, which, from the
home truths it contains, deserves to De gwen
entire: "a ,ooo
JACKSONVILLE, SEPT. %, 1888.
CErrLRmEN Being disappointed in atten-
ding your celebration, beg leave to say that
I rejoice sincerely at the result OF our Con-
pressionnl election 10 this district and more,
II possibie, do rejoice at the success OF the
Wings i'm sending majority OF both houses
M the next Legislature, for, bad as things are
al Washington, think our affairs III the State !
are even more deplorabie.
You say yours is celebration of Wings
and Conservatives. To me party names are
of but little consequence. | commenced my |
political career Democrat, and continued to |
claim that name SO long as that party acted
upon the principles with which they set out
but since they have abandoned them, am
ready to Join any party, careless OF its name,
advocating true democratic republican prln-
ciples. such as Ihave ever adhered to. When
/ learned my principles of democracy, that
party was in favor of cheap and economical
Government, and we turned Mr.. Adams Out
dor expanding $4,000 600 per annun. Mr..
Van Buren,, the leader OF the present doml-
nant party, has increased the expenses Of
Government from 100000 to S9,OOOOOO
per annum. l. was then considered DANCE
rous and anti-republican for public ohcers
to interfere with elections. 1t is now made
part of their duty, and the present democratic
Chief Magistrate has the glory OF having peen
elected bv the personal influence and official
dictation of the highest officer in the Govern
ment. When belonged to that party, every
Dublic officer was a freeman-could vote,
speak, and act independently was con-
%tSo Duh
and acting under the authority OF law, whlcn
made every one check upon the others,
from the highest to the lowest, and all guardi-
ANS of the peoples rights; but now, they are
regarded as mere dependents of Government,
to do the bidding ofthe President, and are re-
.ouired to act as unit, or be dismissed, d!s-
.graced, and denounced as refractory subordl-
mates; which policy has removed all those
checks and balances that have heretofore so
.effectually secured the public interest. Such
policy must soon reduce the public omcer TO
the condition of an abject palace slave: The
law and Constitution, rs construed Dy the
courts, was then held sacred by all, and con-
sidered, by the Democrats especially. to be
the main bulwark of our liberties, and their
strict observance as the best protection OF the
weak and poor from the oppression ofthe arbl-
trary and the rich. The President, claiming
10 be the great head Of the Democratic party,
mas advised and fully sanctioned the doctrine
of his predecessor, in administering the laws
according to hi, own judgment, and violates
them and the constitution whenever they
stand in the way of his ambitious grasp after
power. The freedom of Congress and the
freedom of the press were then considered by
that party as the great palladums of our lib
erty. It's leaders do not nov hesitate to bride
and corrupt both by the most shameful and
barefaced bestowment of high public offices
upon Members of Congress and editors of
newspapers, to an extent never known before
in our country, for the manifest purpose of
rewarding their serviiity ia obtaining sup
port for the party.
When I belonged to this party it professcd
TO be Jealous of every unauthorized exercise
of power. 1t has since sustained the Execu-
Aive in his illegal removal Of the public mon
ey from the custody of the law to depositO-
ries of his own arbitrary selection {; and it
now sllstains the same power in its extraor-
binary efforts to get entire possession Of the
public money, by which the purse. in viola
ton Of the soundest principles OF prudence,
Of our free Government, will be controlled
by power which does not only command
the armed forces of the country, but holds
despotic sway over thousands of dependent,
servile mercenaries. who are taught to sup
port his authority. and do his bidding at their
peril
since most of the old blue-light Hartford
Convention Federalists have become patent
Democrats, all will confess there is great
power in name. know it by my own feel
Sngs for never could / consent to yield my
claim to be Democrat until saw the old
Federalists changed, as it were, by magi-
clans wand, into the most loyal power loving
Democrats. Then what shall call myself
Wing! Yes, if Wing means now as it did
fifty years ago-the true frierd Of liberty,
who could not be bribed or inundated by the
favor or threats of power. If Conservative
means such as are striving to wrest the Gov
eminent from the hands fthose who. from an
unholy ambition, from fear, from contempt OF
the peoples rights and free Government, or
from Ignorance Of the Vaccinations of their
leaders, are plunging the country into ruin,
then l. also, claim to be Conservative.
Although the "political lizard" that has
crawled to the summit of the column is al.
ready seen skulking down under the frowns
Of an Infatuated and insulted People, the
friends of law and constitutional restraints
will have much to do in correcting and Grad
icating the dangerous precedents and usur-
pations of those who have been in power for
the last eight or ten years.
Allow me, gentlemen, in conclusion, to Of
fer the following sentiment, believing it will
be acceptable to all those who desire reform
of the present abuse of Government:
HENRY CLAY-The best hope of his coun-
try. He knows her true interest, and has tho
honesty and firmness to maintain them.
With great respect, your obed't servant,
JOSEPH DUNCAN.
Messrs. Thos. c. BROWNE and others.
WESTERN WINTERS.
A traveller from the West, says :-SI
would not advise any one to go to the West
in search of pleasanter winters than they