Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-08-25
TRUE DEMoURACY-EQUAL RIGHTS.

TRUE DEMOCRACY-EQUA RIGHTS
The following sousonablo. is taken speech ofGou
Nattock delivered the constitutional convention of go
Among these assnilanls, the gentleman rom
West Fairee; (Mr Ndes) seems TO be tne most
conspicuous He seems to suppose that lhere Is a
conspiracy even IN this honorable bodl, between
arlslOcrncy and wealth, to palm Senate upon the
democrats and the poor he calls upon Tie de-
mucrncy Of this convention to rally and resist this
eucroachlnent upon their privileges and 10 show
that he ut,ers the cry IN good faith he his declar
ed "that he is a denocrat--iha he sucked in de.
mocrucy from his mothers breast y and theg Ell
tleniun from RoyalOn, MIR. CoIlamer,) who intro
duCed the resolution, not beng wiling TO leave
his opponent on the vantage ground in this partic-
uar has heeh pleased to say Z" that he was rocked
in the cradle ol Liberty" These declarations
hnve made me also pregnant with an ambition to
announce the patriotism OF my brth, SIR, was
born The 4h Of March, l777. qute AS soon after
the declaration OF Independence as was decent
aud consistent with having no Colonial blood ia
my veins. But because the United States Of
North America solectad my birth day Tor the fed
eral government to commence, fOrsoOth must be
called FeIeraist aud ranked among the aristo-
cruts, rs /! | was to blame for this unsolicited
compliment. Sir, my life has been as republican
as my birth; | ave always been democrat-not
n hUlyday, but all every day aud practical demo-
crat; my habits aud associations have been with
and among the people from them have receiv-
ed many iavors, for which am grateful, aud to
them would apply in preference 10 any other
body OF men # more were wanted; their voice,
their vote, pleasant TO the, (which perhaps is
saying too much) rs hose who forever preach
their praises. Ii | wished 10 relax from hard
study, aud have hle genuine iun, (as The most
grave will sometimes do) would go to n store
on rainy day. and tulk OF matters and things with
the people as they drop III there viii be found
shrewduess aud repartee IN It's native keeuness-
tlp
tally concerned for, among those people for
whom have shown an equal regard. | do not
sneak Of liberality to them: Lord might ride ia
his coach aud scatter gold among lie poor, which
would be generosity, tut have no touch OF de-
inocracy; besides the rules OF political boasling
do not allow n man, Tor AT least 1t has not been
done heru sing his own praise, only as 10 those
matters Ihht have cost him nothing. But III mat
ters Of Intercourse with them -never overtake Il
man with pack without asking him to ride, if
there Is room never meet an old acquaintance
without saying how fare you, word OF
recognition; eat pntuck with any hired man, ask
my poor neighbor TO my table, and what is more,
accept Their invitations aud 90 to their tables; and
this Is Just What every body does III our part OIL
the State; where, then, does ailstocracy uwel :
But Autobiography aud banter aside, why has the
gentleman from West fuirIee INDUCED himself so
freely in denouncing men of wealth, ami endeav-
oring TO array the Luor against the rich? Does he
think to compliment this House by supposng II
majority OF It's members are paupers!
know not that there are any such men IN this
body, if there are let them speak for themselves
but for the men OF substance, OF which this con-
yention is chiefly or entirely composed, every one
ought 10 protest against SUCH denuncatiohs. Men
OF property aud men of no property have aud
ought 10 have equal rights 10 vote aud to be voted
for, aud to enjoy every other political and civil
privilege; this is equality, this is democracy
What, would The gentleman deter men from being
industrious aud economical, 10y rendering 1t odious
for niali to nave properly than lis neigh
bors? Is this moral, is this siatesmanke? lie
who is born an estate, may, if he pleases, spend
his time III literary or oIher leisure but Ito who
has no patritnony or other property, and does not
attempt by honest Industry IN some form 10
quire properly, MS provision against sickness or
old age, is lazy rascal ane should be desplsed 10y
every INDUSTRIOUS man. Sir, 1t IS proper it il lauda-
BILE, for every one 10 acquire what property he can
consistent Wiih honesty aud with humanity; aud
beaslly must he the spirit OF hun who ia health
will be idle with nothing laid up Tor wet day, and
when the time of need comes, as come II will,
must be cast upon the charity OF friends, or the
legal humanity OF u poor house. IL is not the
voice OF enlightened patriotism to cry out against
wealth. for in this al least where 1t is possess
ed il has generally been obtained by long aud untlr-
ing industry in some lawful calling accompanied
by good fortune, or more properly speaking, so or
dered 10y an overriding Providence, aud when en-
ployed, if properly used, IS a blessing aud not IA
curse 10 community. Democracy when properly
understood has no such absurdlty TO be laid TO It's
charge, as lis avowed friends here would fix upon
il. The Interpretation OF the word when not used
rs mere slang, is not equal properly, thereby mex
ing the spendthlilt equal with the economist hui
equal rights, thereby giving every man an equu
and lair chance 10 obtain wealth, honor, or ollce
according TO his individual merit aud capacity
A democrat owning one COW, or Que farm, does
not become an arlsocrai because from his earn