The Arkansas banner., 1843-12-02

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 struments by which evil in all its manifesto tons IS to be resisted. It is the belief of the lover of his race--the philanthropist-the Democrat, whose soul scars above the region where naught but party rancor and personal hatred takes root-who finds hls principles where men only differ in the different views they take of what will promate human hap piness-I say it is the belief of such that hu- manity is progressive; that the world is grow ing better; that the more freedom you give to the rational powers of man, the more ele- vated he will become ill the scale of being, and the greater will be the sum total of vir- tue and human happiness
 It IS true, ln sucha state of things, we may expect any thing else than the quiet which would result from an absolute deSp0tism ouer the mind of man. Discussion brings oppo- sition, and opposition brings discussion and we all, in this free country, know how gene ral is the field of argument, and how nume- rous our debaters. We all take part-every man in his way. We think and talk, and talk and think, on all subjects. We dispute, we wrangle, we reason. We use vast quantities of cheap article called the power of speech. The consumption diminishes not the supply, and, though often used injuriously, yet it ne- yer fails to sharpen the power of reason, and to increase the sum total of intelligence upon the particular point in controversy In other words, every conflict which agitates the gene ral mind, adds much to the stock of truth, and affords new instruments with which to resist error.
 In our own country, and, indeed, through out the world, the mind of man is agitated and there is an increased spirit of inquiry, and all enlarged circle of thought; and these things are onward and upward, and are des- tined to be so, until the world shall undergo a change in manners, in morals, in politics, to an extent that the distant future alone can disclose, yet one which affords to the phi lanthropist the brightest prospect, the surest hope. This hope is founded in a faith which works by love to mankind The distant fu- lure at which have hinted, is, to the friends of man, the 'spromised land" We, in the midst of dissehsion and confusion, which must mark the age of the worlds transition from the suffering past to the blissful future, must be content to perform our part, bide our time, and pass off the stage of action, trusting, coniding, believing, knowing, that d brighter day Is coming than has yet beamed on humanity.
 It is this hope that makes the sum total of my political creed. Believing that see the germ of that tree which is, by its fruits, to bless the nations, in the principles of Demo- cracy, am Democrat.
 True, 1 am far from believing this love of mankind-this desire for universal good-to be the moving motive that impels every one who claims the name of Democracy ] would to God that more felt its power, and obeyed its impulse; nor do Ideny to all who differ from us either honesty, sincerity, pa riotism, or philanthropy I only insist, as heartily believe, that the spirit of progress, of mans elevation, the doctrines of common right, equality, and general liberty, are more favored by Democratic principles, as held by our party, than by those held by our oppo- nents.
 One thing we have the right to ask of the country-and that is, that we shall be judged by our principles, and by the general tenor and scope of our actions and measures as party.
 trust am not claiming too much for the party, when l say it is not more dstin- guished for its principles than its sympathies.
 Look to the writings of our ablest men, They breathe sympathy for suffering hu- manity in every part of the globe. The cause of liberty everywhere meets ready response from the Democracy of the Union; and the spirit manifests itself between strangers be- longing to the party from the different parts of the confederacy, no matter where or how they meet They find one heart, one spirit; and their language is instantly the language of confidence and brotherhood The bonds of our union are not temporary, but as endu- ring as humanity itself.
 We, my brethren, may, if we choose, throw off these bonds The triumph which has marked the recent political action of the country may intoxicate us, and the future smiles of fortune may make us forget what we are, and what is our duty. But if we do. the time of retributive justice will come- We will either be disbanded as a party, or another chastening will again awaken us to the calls of our noble mission. There is no danger of the principles themselves giving way. They will still find place in the American mind, and a response in the Ameri- can heart.
 We cannot, therfore, too often recur to these great landmarks, or keep them too dis tinchy marked on our memories; and to this end their frequent exhibition before our fel- low-citizens, by our writers and public speak CTS, is not only proper, but called for by the general welfare of the country.
 Liberty is an element in our institutions, but liberty is an object of jealousy with many of our politicians. They honestly feel afraid of the power of the people. The largest liberty is not a favorite phrase with them. They fear that it may degenerate into licen- tiousness. The real friend of the progress of free principles has no fear. If he hears ef mob now and then, he merely recollects that they have mobs quite as frequently in the Old World. He might perhaps make a question whether they don't take more lives in the strong governments of the world, in