The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-06-26

dertakes to justify the course Of Mexi-
co, it should be reminded of them.
Mr.. Benton----the Presidency.
Ameeting Of the Democracy 0 fHow-
ard county, Missouri, held last Deem
Der, presented the name Of Thomas
HART BENTON as their first choice for
the Presidency. To the chairman Of
the meeting, who had transferred the
official proceedings, Mr.. Benton ad--
dressed the following reply, which is
copied from the Fayette Democrat in
10 the St. Louis Union Of May 20:
ST.. LOUIS, May 81, 1847.
Dear Sir:-l take the first moment
of leisure after my arrival at this place,
to answer your kind communication of
the 18th January, and to let you know
how much | was panied at seeing the
proceedings Of the respectable meeting
of which you were chairman. 1t was
precisely TO ~forestal and prevent such
manifestations in my favor, that spoke
to the point of the next Presidency in
nv speech at Boonville, in the summer
Of 1874; and all the sentiments which
| then expressed remain in full force
now, strengthened and confirmed by
all that has since happened. then
brought forward the glaring fact that in
above fifty years existence Of this fed
eral government, the democracy Of the
North had given but one President TO
the Union, and that one but for a sim
gle term; and this (of late) from South
ern opposition to Northern men. And
| then took it on myself to say that
this course Of things would have to be
changed, otherwise there would be an
end Of the Democratic party, or Of any
party founded on political principles,
and expressed my qualification that MI.
Folks early and voluntary self.denial
had cleared the way for a Northern
Democratic candidate in 1848.
These were my sentiments in 1874;
they are my sentiments now, and are
not to be abandoned at the coming
election, when | see a new scheme de-
veloped from the South for the perma-
nent exclusion Of all Northern men
from Southern support for the PresI-
dency. The fre-brand resolutions in
troduced into the Senate towards the
close Of last Session, and their practical
application to Oregon (by which we
lost the Oregon bill, and leave the peo-
pie Of that territory a year longer with
out law or government reveal this
scheme, and present a new test on the
slavery question, which no Northern
man can stand, and which, if adopted
by the South, must put an end to all
future support Of Northern men by the
Southern democracy. Heretofore we,
the %slave.holding States, have stood to-
gether on two points-defence and
compromise--the defence of property
and institutions and the compromises Of
the laws and the constitution: and on
these two points the great majority of
the North, Of both political parties, have
been able to stand with US. But now
a new position is 10 be taken-one on
which no Northern man can stand.
Propagandism is now the doctrine of
the political sect which assumes to be-
the standard bearer Of all the slave,
holding States; and to plant slavery,
by law, in all the territories Of the u
nited States, even the most remote hy-.
perborean-even in Oregon itself, and
against the will Of its habitants-be-
the design and the attempt
The words Of the resolutions, the
speeches in their favor, and their prac-
teal application to the Oregon bill, all
prove this, and show that the new doc
trine is intended to be made a new DO.
Iitical test to be applied to all Presidsn-
tial candidates in time to come, and,
like all new tests, intended to supercede
all former ones, and to constitute tho
sole criterion for the trial Of candidates.
Now every body must see that if this
test shall be adopted bv the slave
holding States, there is an end to all
political support Of Northern men in
S~tates--that the present organi-
cation Of parties must be broken up.
and a new party formed, bounded by
geographical lines and resting on solo
principles Of slavery propaganism.
not prepared for such q state Of
parties, nor for the effect which itwould
have upon the harmony and stability
Of our federal Union.
/ see great danger in this new move,
and feel the necessity Of meeting al
once, or not at all; for it is pressed up-
on US now, and will conquer US, if we
DO not conquer il. The Presidential
Of is4s, is the crisis; and il