The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-19

1t Is not under ordinary circumstances that
we invite your most serious attention to the pOit-
cal condition of our beloved country. There has
not been IL time, since the United States became Il
nation, when our liberties were in greater danger
We are not assailed by foreign enemy, threaten
ing 10 reduce us to colonial servltude, nor Is any
domestic Us upper at The head ola mcrccnary ar
my, attempting to subject us to the government
>f his will hut corruption and fraud are under
Mining the public virtue, and seeking to use, for
he destruction of liberty, laws and institutions
which have been devised for her protection. No
lew foe has recently sprung into existence but
Al old one, often haliled and defeated by the in
diligence and !irmness of the people, is again in
he field, sustained by new recruits and more am
pie means of warfare
DEMoCRATIc PEINCIrLEs.
A large majority of the people of this state, and
t the United States, have always been Demo-
ratio Republicans. If they have ut any time,
lomenariiy given their confidence to men OF 9TH
n PRINCIPLES it was because they were inducedb
rof'ssions, in which they paced confidence, to
cIieve, that in doing so, they were best promoting
he cause of real Democracy hut no sooner has
he dclusion passed away than they have returned
the political standard whi1h they appeared to
ave abandoned.
1t cannot be otherwise. The mass of our peo-
Ne are intelligent and yirtuous. They ask only
pr an homes, governmental government control
I'd hy an honest people, which truly represents
heir wishes and their will. True Democracy is
othing more nor less than honesty in politics.
asks nothing which belongs 10 another, and con-
edes to every one lis right, 1t looks upon men
equals, entitled TO IN equal influence in public
Hairs aud equal protection in their private walks.
LOOKS upon government, not as designed to raise
he few above the many, or to make some rich
nd others poor, but to give equal security to all
th'ir rights Of person and property and their
nwiul pursuits, ,ircpudateS institutions and laws
hi III give one man or class of men, advantages
yer others, while il accords to all, the right 20 use
" Il, III own benefit, without injury to others, the
lind und The strength with which the great Crea-
" has endowed lhtm. 1t holds sacred and deems
QUE Of tie chief duties of government TO protect
c property honestly acquired by the application
the natural powers of man. 1t has not one
,da r.! morally for private, and another for public
Fahsirlions; il won d rs soou commit fraud in
lr! in, as in IN election it would rs soon take
b, property of is nj. hbor without consideration,
dep i've majority Of their right to govern. In
pc, tn, Democratic priWip'c Is peJeei rirtHe
Ild pare religion, ''rcndcrin.- unto tasar's the
ling! lh,, are cmslr'''' and doing ur,o others
You would hive ihral do unto YOU" If could
p,rl,,i.ed in It's parity, it would secure "prucc
D earth, and good will towards men," Though
nsb'e thu the irai';ies of men bar him from pres
BIT p,,l''lion in government, a in every thing
Sc; yet showing that his race is canrb'e Of in
,.nit" npnvrinrn' til, ruc Demo rat feels il
+ duy 10 strive towards it with unilllering zeal.
his p.in!p'c in the p,,iisal as in The moral world,
Us is ever active antagonist.
F:1@l>L PRINcIpELs.
'Thi an.idrmn rail pin ,ipc assumes that the
ass Of mankind have rot, aud can moi have suiii-
cni intes 'n"c or virtue 10 participate in the
anar ,mcn of pnbi' all0irs. This principle j.,
c basis Of nonarrhi,s and ari,tocricies. When
,inprlIed to allow III" people a yoi,c'in the gov
nmcn'. il restricts that right to ms small num-
or Ms possible, II cng' 10 un"iant institutions,
,wryer defective n"d uilnH rrsists every move
eti having N view un enlargement Of the right
suffrage By l'llsrlcoi and corrulaion it at
np's to drparrsc aud prevent III, exercise Of
,'irag' h, fi'>iood aud corruption i, attempts
di.p rag, aud prevent the exercise Of that right
hen it can no. be restricted, and i'ii dare do so,
sorts 10 terror and force to control is existence
I'd defsl' is results. II tn'csnny sltp,, ASSUME
amy naac. pfolcs'es any principe, and advo-
'tcs any measure vs. means Of acquiring power
retaining ii, taking care 10 keep 10 promise or
any act which con'd canducc TO the elevation
the many To the level Of the few. Where dis
nciipns in society are unknown. it il constantly
rnarIinr to create them by legislation for the
becml benefit ofindiynluals and classes, thereby
rowing into their hands power and influence
rcng enough to control the snrages of the peo-
g, or set them at defiance. In fine. this princi.
G tren,s the mas, of mankind as il ihcy were
Gated. not 10 pursuc their own b,ppi,ess under
protection of eanal laws. bn, To ohry the man
ltc, of masters aud labor for their pleasure and
nolumcni.
The oppo.ny prinrinlc. Ike mood and evil in
2 moral world. have always nn.n struggling for
. ascendenry in every Government over which
pub, will h,s been ncrni,,ed ,o have ony
bntrol. The comics, il now going on in mos, Of
nations of Europe. and in smile of the occa =.
,nn folly. whence and crime. of those nroCass.
q the true prinrip,e. /, has already oyerlbrown
INV tyraniral institutions. and rradnally reducing
nces and ,Iopnrchs TO the level of other men.
he same con,cs, commenced at an early period
The United states. and has ever since been ear
ID on in scal,hy silence. or in open array, ms the
I, democratic prinriple found the one or the 9th
mos, propiiions to i,s ultimate success. The