Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-12-12

regretted, mat any portion Ol the demo
cratic party have seen proper 10 make
war on the President and his friends, and
carried that war so far as to seek to ex-
cude them from the democratic ranks -
The great test ofdemocracy is principle,
and we should form our opinions of men
from the principles they profess. The
democratic party are in favor Of a strict
construction of the Constitution Of the
United Strtes, as taught by Jefferson aud
incalculated by the Virginia resolutions Of
ninety eight, which have long been con-
sidered on great doclrinal poutS, as the
text book Of the demOcrtic party. TneY
are in favor Of plain, simple and eco
nomical government. They are opposed
TO the creation ofa United States Bank,
upon constitutional grounds, and from a
conviction of its inexpedieney. ThOy
are opposed to the distribution oftbe pro-
cdees Of tho public lands among the
States. and hostile to the assumption OF
the State debts by the General Govern
ment. They are opposed 10 a protective
Tariff, designed TO build up one class of
our citizens at the expense Of the rest.--
These principles and these measures on
which the country Is divided, furnish tbe
true ground by which we test the claims
Of men 10 he recognized as democrats
How does the president stand on all
these qnestionss He is known to be in11 ia
vor OF strict construction Of the Con.
stitution. We find him, not only recog~
nizing, but practicing upon this principle
in his vetOes of the two bank bills. II
we travel back in the history Of his long
political lie, we will find that the views
expressed in his veto messages, are but
reitsration of those he had long entertain
ed and repeatedly expressed, under the
most solemn sanctions of official duty
Extrav9gaace in his Administration is not
among the charges that have been bro't
against the President. He has recon-
mended, in strongterms, economy and re-
trepchment in the public expenditures,
and it is for Congress to carry out this
recommendation. He has given eVi-
dsnce Of his hostility to- United States
Bank, which cannot be doubted or mista-
ken The circumstances under which
he arrested this measure, and the Ro-
man firmness he displayed in saving the
country from "the blighting curse Of an
Irresponsible monied oligarchy," entitle
him surely 10 the respect and gratitude
Of every democrat in the land. To ap-
preciate the act properly, we should con-
slider the circumstances under which the
President was called upon to act and the
consequences to the country if he had
failed TO arrest the measure. We would
now have fastened upon usaUntedStates
bank, with all its corrupting and danger
Gus influences without the hope of be-
ing able to rid the country of it for the
next twenty years. Who will now say,
that at the end of that time it would not
have been able to perpetuate itselfP-
Who will say, that the man who alone ar
rested this measure and preserved the
Constitution of bis countrylrrom violation,
and prevented the will of the people
from being disregsrded, is not entitled TO
respect and consideration frOm the de-
mocracya At the time the President
thus threw himself in the branch, he re-
ceived the applause Of the entire repub'
lican party Of the country. The furious
assault of the wings, was mitigated by
the bold and manly voice Of approval,
from the illustriOus sage Of the Hermi.
tage.
He has arrested that verse than use
less and deceptive measure, the distri.
button Of the proceeds Of the public lands
among the States, and is known to be
hostile to the assumption Of State debts
by the General Government. His views
on the subject ofa protective tariff do
not differ essentially, it is believed, from
those expressed by other distinguished
democratic candidates. 1t is true he
signed the present tariff law. which is in
many respects highly Objectionable, but
under circumstances at least justifiable'
The treasury was empty-ths govern
ment wSs in in debt, and it was absolute
ly necessary.to provide some means to
keep It in motion and preserve its cred
it. II was believed that the duties undeI
the former act would not supply the
: means demanded the public exigencies
Had the President returned the presen
, law 10 Congress with obi bisctons, no hopes
we're entertained that it would have pas
sed in modified or less Objectionable
shape. He therefore very properly sign
edthe law, leaving It to be modified ant
amended by a new Congress fresh from
! the people.
s On what great question Of policy o
principle then does the President dife
!. from the democratic party9 Upon sver
h greut question which now separates th
4 two parties, and TO which have abovr
. aInded, he is with US. The policy
\ thetelo fore, OF dsnOuncing him, neiIhe
y acco-ds with my sense ofiurtice, nor ni
!. view ol the interests Of the Democrat
!, party. That our political OPPPOnsnt