Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-09-30
AN ADDRESS S
TO THE YOUNG MEN OF OHIO.


The State convention of the Democrat
ic Young men of Ohio assembled at Mt.
Vernon, ask leave respectfully, yet earn
estly to call your attention to the present
state of our public affairs. We are in
the midst of a political contest of unex-
ampled violence in the history of the re-
public; at peace with all the world, bless
ed with harvest US abundant as ever
gladdened the heart of the laborious hus-
bandmOn, OVershadowed and protected
by the freeest constitution upon earth,
the nation is yet agitated, deeply agita-
ted, from one extremity of the country
to the other. In view of this scene of
extraordinary commotion, it becomes us,
as citizens of the United States, as de-
scendants of those who periled their all
TO found government on the principle
of equal rights, as young men, who alrea-
dy participate in the exercise of political
power, and upon whom that power must
ere long chiefly devolve, to seriously in
quire what is the cause of this unparalleled
strife. Our opponents boldly charge it
upon the administration of the General
Government,
To their vivid imaginations Martin Van
Buren, would seem to be the prolific
cause fall the evils that befal this wide
ly extended republic. His name is their
stereotyped reply whenever the source of
misfortune is sought. But, fellow-cti-
Zens, is il true that to the democratic ad-
ministration ofyour choice are to be just
ly attributed the difficulties under which
we laborP Ifso, the acts that have pro-
duced those difficulties could surely be
pointed out. And yet what tongue of the
thousands daily engaged in denouncing
the administration, has ventured to do so?
In what particular has the administration
violated the rights of single citizen?
What law has been passed, by the demo-
cratic party, to take from any man the
proceeds of his toll, or stint the rewards
of his industry? No, fellow citizens, the
cause of these difficulties, the source of
this strife, instead of being traced to any
measure of the State or the General Ad-
ninstration, are to be found in the fact,
that the federal party are once more strug-
Cling for power with the energy and des-
peration Of the last and only hope. Un-
rebuked by the repeated decisions Of the
popular will for more than forty years,
they still alarm, sgitate and convulse the
nation, with their unbounded aspirations
for political dominion. The same men
who denounced Jefferson as Jacobin and
Jackson as tyrant, now stigmatise Van
Buren as an enemy of the American peo-
pie. In this, they are true TO their an
cient vocation. What measure Of Jeffer-
son did they ever approve? What act Of
President Jackson did they ever fail to
condemn?
To secure their hostility to any system or
law, Il has only been necessary that it re-
ceive the sanction of democratic admin.
istration. We are not therefore, to be
surprised at the bitter feelings manifested
towards our patriotic chief magistrate, OF
at the indiscriminate condemnation of all
his acts, no matter how necessary for the
public service or palpably beneficial tc
the people at large. And now fellow cit
jzens, we propose to review, as fully as
the brief limits of this address will per.
nit, the plan of operations adopted, ant
some Of the various means employed by
the leaders of the federal party, to wres
your government from its democratic ba
sis, and rear the structure of federalism
in its stead. We say the plan adopted
by the federal leaders, for it is not ou
intention, much less our desire, to con
denim, with indiscriminate censure, al
who serve te fill up the ranks of the par
ty in opposition.-While we speak, will
the boldness of truth in the mouths o
freemen, it shall be our effort to do jus
tice to all.
On the 4th day of March, 1887, Mar
tin Van Buren, was inaugurated as Presi
dent Of the u. States. In the succeedIn
month of May, during the recess Of Con
gress, and before the new adminlsiratlo
had performed any act that could prejU
dicially affect them, the banks Of the !
nion, with scarcely a, siugle exception
suspended specie payments. A parti'
resumption took place in the fOlloWin
year to be followed IN 1889, by anothe
thouRh lesa 0eHaral susnAnSiOn