Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-03-05
NEW sERIEs.-voL. nv. No. 80.

nS goFeIhhehI, lne ln1uence OF one
winch will, in all probability, affect the
interests OF the country, for good or e.
VII Tor sorles ofyears 10 come.
Nor is this the only, nor even the most
important aspect in which the renewal of
the contest (which you have spoken
with so much emphasis, and so patriotic
a spirit, may well be regarded.
Singular as il may seem to those who
are not in situation TO Judge correctly
OF the circumstances, it is nevertheless
true, that condemnation by the people
of the United States, of many Of the
means TO which our opponents had re.
course in that canvass, is it not less
important 10 the permanent welfare Of
our country and its political institutions,
than the overthrow of the principles they
labored to establish. While the effects Of
the SUCCESS Of the latter were in a meas.
ure limited and temporary, the employ.
meDt Of the former struck at the very
foundation upon which our political edi.
fee was based.
1t has hitherto been our pride 10 live
under political institutions which are
founded upon reason and virtue, in the
establishment Of which peithsr force nor
fraud was employed; and we have cher'
ished the belief, that it is only an inAex.
lble observance of the exalted principles
which prevailed at the period of its forma.
ton, that our government can be up.
held. Without more particularly motto
ing the humiitating details 10 which you
allude in your communication, can it be
pretended that there could be any expec>
tation of success for such efforts, unless
founded upon the assumption that the
popular voice was not under the guidr
ance of reason and virtue,' or upon the
suppOsltion that the moral principles of
the people 10 whom those degrading ap
peals were made, might be corrupted by
resort 10 such practices? The belief
that the use Of such means contributed
to the result of 1910, must have lowered
the character Of our people in the estima,
ton of mankind; and if so, how much
would their respect for US be diminished, |
should the coming canvass be so conduc.
ted as to establish the impression that the
American people are liable TO Es always
thus imposed upon2 Liability TO occa.
slOnal error is an infirmity from whicn no
individual is exempt. What right have
we, then, to expect that communities
should be infalIible? But there is a wide
difference between an occasional aberra-
ion, and confirmed defect of character.
Can we expect the people OF this country
o maintain the elevated standing in the
ayes OF the world which they have hith.
srto enjoyed, if, after the lapse Of years,
md the fullest opportunity for reflection,
.hey suffer themselves to bea second time
operated upon by appliances, from the
lse of which every friend to free govern.
nent must turn with modification and dis. {
yust9
You do not, therefore, gentlemen, in
ny judgment, over estimate the impor' ::
ance which the proceedings of 1910 are J
destined 10 give to those of 1914. Cons
alterations will be brought into view by
hat connection, of greater magnitude
han any which have ever beeh involved
IL our political conflicts; and compared
With which, all personal and party inter.
sts dwindIe into insignicance.
am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your friend and obedient servant,
Nj. VAN BUREN.
Hon. James Ross Snowden, President.
Asa DimOck, Henry Buehler, Trad
wilson, &c,