The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-10-24

Opinions more fully known to my fellow citi-
zens, through the. Clay club of Cuyahoga
Falls, embracing, as | know it does, among
its members a large share ofthe worthy and
intelligent mechanics of the place, as menof
all professions and pursuits, were it in my
power to be present.
In acting with the democratic party here
tofore I have never pledged myself TO any
course, or measures which would not be ap-I
Iproved by considerations ofmy duty and pat
riotism. In the new issues which have late
y been enforced on the democratic party, |
am called upon not only TO abandon my long
cherished opinions and principles, but to
Support measures which believe dangerous
to the very existence of Republican i%nstitu-
tons.
Party organization is useful in a free gov
eminent, so Ear as by association 0eaesion Oh
] the part Of individuals, it secures a wise and
just administration of the government. But
when it becomes in the hands of selfish and
designing mena an instrument to promote their
ambitious designs; or whenn assumes to die
tate tothe people what men and what meas
ures they shall supports did the late Baltl-
more convention in nominating MI. Polk and
in forcing new issues upon the democratic
party-it becomes an irresponsible tyranny,
fldestructige alike ~ofpubIic and individual lib
eFty.
The-question now seems to be, whether
the people shall maintain their undoubted
I rights of freedom OF opinion and the nomina-
. ton of their own men TO Office, or whether
:. they shall abandon their fayorite.men and adj
! opt measures dangerous 10 the very exis-
silence of the American Union. These are
1 grave issues and | do not see how any man
can vote for Mr.. Polk without sanctioning
. las great an act of violence and injustice as
was eve committed by any deliberate body
& against the rights of the. people. Does not
the principle that a majority shall rule, lie at
the very foundation of Republican institutions,
and is not Mr.. Polk a minority candidate,
! forced on the democratic party, against the
. known and declared wishes Of a large major
: llity9 Was not the democratic party ia the
\ free states, and with occasional exceptions
/ throug hout the Union, opposed TO the infa-
!. nous plot of the annexation OF Texas! Did
not Col. Benton, and others, truly represent
the wishes and opinions of the party on that
question? I well r~ecollect when the subieci
~ was first brought before Congress by Presi.
dent Tyler's tTeaty,this measure wasdenounc-
led as infamous-Gs a trick-d kind of for.
Torn hope, measure; to reanimate and bolster
up The waning fortunes Of Mr.. Tyler. Thi:
TOO was the just and sniform expression
throughout the country.
20 What has produced this sudden affection
for a measure which atew days ago was de
~ nounced as Infamous by nearlythe entire
az body Of the democracy? look upon thi:
- change as an alarming evidence of the pow
e er-fhe o~mmipotcns poper-ofpart drill Owe
q the opinions and conduct of men. In thi!
question the people have been cheated anc
an issue forced upon them with which the
y have ne sympathy, and ] should aconside
- myself recreant 10 my country (howeye
true such a course might be REGARDED Il
g partly if | could be brought by party drI
=, to sustain a nomination made in such a man
:" ner.
= Persons entertaining similar views witt
! myself on this subject, excuse themselves to
n supporting Mr.. Polk onthe ground of old at
- tachments to the party; and for the sake o
:" preserving, in appearance, at least, polItIca
consistency. But what object is there il
&c preserving our attachments TO party which
=. Il. has abandoned all the cherished objects whicI
III in lis better days distinguished il? AM
how can we preserve old attachments, whel
n, the known and acknowledged leaders of th'
~ party have been thrown overheard? 1t i
= well known, thai Mr.. Van Buren, and Govern
or Shannon, and a host of other eminen
l men in Ohio and throughout the Union, re
fuse to subscribe TO all the Rew tests and dar
"a gerous doctrines of the "progressige democ
~ ;" racy,'-a democracy satisfied, in the lar
II guage of one Gifts leading organs, with notl
= ing less than ga ready and cordial adherence
IN to the boldest and most radical measures {
ell the party.n MIR. Van Buren, and Governo
Shannon were not twift of foot enough t
,h' keep pace with the rapid strides of the pre-
NC gressive democracy and have been throw
on overheard. / can for myself see nothing j
nc the Polk party to identify them with the oil
lol and cherished principles OF Jeffersonian den
~ocracy, 10 which | am and ever have beend de
votedly attached.
The new tests, as | understand them, re
IN quire us to support measures right or wron
IFS If they happen TO get the approval ola cor
ke vention-thus giving every man the pr
'ar vilege of dispensing in political matter
III with Tire use of his conscience or judge
t l ment.
1t requires those of us who have oppose
eg -uniCornilYand consistently opposed-th
extension o fsIavery and the slave power,an
On advocated the rights of humanity for all clai
vi ses of men, TO go for Texas and perpetual
slavery, because the fortunes of political az
venturers require the agitation of new sd!
tject.
It requires those ofus who have from I'd
outset advanced the reform ofthe currency