Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1840-10-03

81 4 Il
InWNDES TO THE PEOPLE OF
MISSISSIPPI,
rs,,ow-ClrIzESs:- la compliance with the
- Ina, have deyol7ed upon us, we proceed to
-. hsf,re YOU IN as concise manner as the sub
~, viii permit, the principles and policy upon
t',b the political parties that now divide the
I'm are based. Ia common with our demoera-
:, brethren, we have confidence in the honesty
..3 intelligence of the people, and therefore shall
nj appeal to the passions or prejud'ces OF any
~bls discussing thesei questions, but will submit
!, vour consideration facts, upon which alone the
,,:,ions of ireemen should be formed
II would be an insult to your intelligence to
.onnose there are any SO blind to passing events,
.,no 10 feel impressed that the present pellodp
a., Dolcal history is franght with considerations
Zine urayest import. Never since the formation
ofour government have the rights and liberties Of
4. oeople been assailed by so many, and so va
rod combinations of interests and factions, as
,bsy now are. Monopolisls Of every name and
Grade, and fanatics Of every hue and color have
n e common cause with party usurPmg the
lime honored Of Wing" and, with terocly
never before witnessed, .ushllg on to hurI
NE Chief Magistrate Of the Union from the posi-
hon in which the people have placed him, that
thew NAV grasp the relns Of government for which
tbey have long and desperately struggled. The
only fond that untes this Heterogeneous mass is
tbot OF deadly hostility to the Democratic
principle, upon which the national constitution
s based
THIS principle is not what It's federal opponents
would represent it. Democracy aims not at de-
grading the high, but eevatng the humble; ltpro-
claims that man is capable of sell government;
that the true end of government is the equal pro-
lection of its citizens in "ltie, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness :" leaving them TO think,
speak, and act, in whatever way their ideas Of
happiness may suggest, with no limit to freedom
save that which resrains them from mutual lnJu-
~. 1t incucates the principles of equal rights
and privileges; advocates universal suffrage and
the dissemination Of knowledge, and claims for
all an equal share in the benefits which flow from
Just administration of government.
Nothing can more beautifully illustrate this car
dinal principle Of our government than the result
Of the political contest through which we have
passed during the last three years. The verdict
4 rendered by the people, in separating the govern
ment from banks, in establishing an Independent
4 Treasury, confirms the wisdom, virtue and pat
roism for which the trainers Of the Constitution
are Justly celebrated. When that measure of
deIiverance and liberty" from bank throIdom
was first introduced, il appeared for season to
be overwhelmed by the clamor and reckless vltu-
peraton of Wing politicians ; but when ITS real
merits we're developed by discussion and reilec-
ton, "the sober second thought Of the people"
caused them to enforce, through the ballot box,
their honest conviction in its favour. Thus II will
ever be with people who can have no object in
view but the peace, prosperity and pelmanency
of the Union. This simple fact OF ITSELF lnde-
peudent of the thousand others that might be ad'
daced, must satisfy the world that the American
people are capable of self government
OLD AND NEW PARTIES.
1t has been wisely said, fellow citizens, that
"lhe price of liberty is eternal vigilance. e.
The history of our own cou1uy from the rev
dictionary struggle to this day, fully illustrates
the ruth of this assertion; for we find there
has been an incessant effort to subvert tie
principles on which the government IS baset
by an arlstocratic party, who have ever COMMENDED
lorprvlleges and monopoly, which would lead
inevitably to consolidation and monarchy. The
convention that framed the national constitution
was distracted by the contentious Of this party
SHOWN since by the appelIation of " federal"
with the republicans" who advocated popular
rights and equality in the administration Of public
affairs.
The Republicans laid it down as their funda
mental axiom that all men are created free ant
equal, that they are endowed by their creator will
certain inalinable rights, and that among thes
are lie, liberty, and the pursuit OF happiness. p
lLey commended that man is capable OF sell gov
eminent that the sovereign power shall alon
rest IN the hands of the people that the will o
me majority should be the law Of the land ; tia
ne sovereignty of the States should be preserved
and that limited powers, necessary for collec,n!
ana discussing the revenue, the regulation 9
commerce, and for offence and defence in time
Of war, should alone be vested in the General &c
'efnment.--The FederalIsts avowed that ma
could only be governed by cupldty or Iear."-
through their leader, Alexander Hamilton. the
= Pronounced the Government of England, with a
rs iaus, the best that the wisdom Of man coul
oeVse. With an eye steadily fixed on the Br
usn model, he strove to engrait the principles {
wal government on our constitution. He advC
Gated the election Of president and Senate f
ne' thereby placing these officers oflhe govern
Ienl beyond the control of the people. lie d.
saed that no vestge of " state rights" should b
%'t aud to attain this end effectualIy, contende
"a' he appointing power of the President shou
e"etd to the Governors Of the various States.
word, he aimed at nothing short Of an electlS
uion4fchy. Thus we find that portion Of thos
"Io achieved our independence from the Brit:
,OAe. fought merely to change masters, and NJ
"euecl radical reform in the principles o. go
eminent.
"a Tins contest, patriotism and democracy pr
.'"ed' Hamilton was defeated in his unbaowt
'acn'hahons, and retiring from the conventio
ssoEed to effect by stratagem and covert meal
fare. "0' "0l'''e ~ ''' ~ - v 0r''