Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-09-14
PATRIOTIC LETTER.

The following patriotic letter from one of our
mcst distinguished coun,rymen is so full of clo
Quencc and power, that nothing which we can
say will add to this highly interesting cbarac-
ter:
LINDENwALD, July 26, 1914.
GENTLEMEN IL have to thank you for your
kind invitation to attend Mass Meeting Oft the
Democracy of Tennessee, to be held at Nosh.
Vile on the 18th of August
It will not, regret to inform you, be in my
power, to be with you personally, but You may
resi- assured that my best wishes will attend
your noble efforts to re.establish the ascenden.
cy of Democratic principles in the councils Of
the nation. This is not said from a spirit Of
courtesy only, but conveys the earnest and IN.
disguised sentiment Of my heart, which Las
lis foundation in a conviction that the success
OF the men and the principles you support is
necessary ID the welfare of the country. My
opinion of the character of our candidates, in
cluding TcDnessecs unassuming and higaly
rn"rltorous son, has already been given 20 the
public, and need not be repeated. 1t is equally
unnecessary to say that there is not arour the
pHnerOus friends OF those gentlemen one who
rhershes more dsinterested desire for their
individual welfare than do There are, be.
sides, public interests involved in the coming
contest, which have claims upon our considera.
tinn. far beyond such as are Of personal char
bcter.
it is scarcely too much to say that the per-
manent success or final overthrow of those dis
t'nctive principles for the administration Of the
Federal Government, which constitute the De-
uocratc creed, are suspended by the result of
the approaching election Although Justly re.
garded as the promised fruits of our struggle for
national independence. 1t is nevertheless true
hatthose principles did not acquire that innu-
encc in all the departments Of the government
To which they were SO well entitled until after
what was appropriately called the civil revolu-
ton of 1910; and from that day to the present
there has been an uninterrupted struggle for
their expulsion from the fooiho'd they had thus
acquired. In this struggle, so long continued
and with such varied success they have arruyed
aGainst them that active and undying spirit, by
which the conduct of a portion of mankind has
at all times and everywhere been guided. and
which regards the powers Of government as
mjsapped, when its business as well as its bur.
thcns are difused among the plople in equal
proportions. and by an impartial hand. Although
the luminous and earnestly patriotic mind OF
Mr.. Jefferson exerted a principal agency in
their conception and successful diffusion, and
although the public mind was strongly agitated
10y the establishment Of the first Bank in the
United States, and the principles then avowed
by its .eading advocates, also by some OF the
leading measures OF the administration of the
cider Adams yet the real character and practi-
cal tendency Of the conflicting principles which
have from the beginning been entertained by
the two great purties which have divided the
country since the establishment of the Federal
Constitution, were never So thoroughly appreci-
ated by the great body Of the people as during
the administration of Geaeral Jackson and that
which Immediately followed.
Indifferent about form, but ever anxious !
might even say impatient, for results and bring
ing TO the consideration OF every public ques-
ton a clear head, an honest heart and truly
lndomitable spirit, that extraordinary man car
rled out the principles of his party with so vigo-
rous hand, and dealt his blows opposing here
es with such rapid,y and force, as not only TO
bring the parties themselves to close quarters,
but also To lead all classes and conditions OF
men to a more earnest consideration of the prin.
ciples and designs Of opposing parties, than
Ind been before bestowed upon them The
struggle thus pruduc ed reached its crisis in the
course of the four preceding years.-Nevcr had
the masses OF the Democratic portion OF the peo
pie been made SO deeply sensible of the objec
tIonable character of the doctrines which they
had hitherto opposed and never before were
those who have at all times preferred govern,
ment of associated wealth, to one founded OF
popular sovereignty, and practically controlled
by the will Of the masses, 20 thoroughly con
WINGED of the necessity Of immediate aud eff
cient exertons 10 save their cherished princi
pies from total overthrow. The conflict of sucI
interests, and the collision Of snch sentiments II
a wilderness of free minds gave "a character t
the contest which, though perhaps to be expec
ted, will, it is hoped, never be repeated. Mean
which will without doubt in the course Oftime
lose all their apologlsts were by our adverse
rles brought to bear upon public opinion u!
ready to some extent unsettled by many year
of severe political agitation. These were il