Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-06-29
ST. LouIs. Nav 7ih. Ia47,

OA' AOO1c, MAY ttH, lori
Dear Sir take the first moment of
leisure after my arrival at this place to
answer your kind communication of the
18th of January, and to let you know
how much | was panied at seeing the pro.
ceedings of the most respectable meeting
OF which you was chairman. II was pre-.
cisely TO forestall and prevent such mani
'testations, in my favor, that spoke to the
point of the next presidency in my speech
az Boonville, in the summer of 1914; and
all the sentiments which Then EXPIRE ssed
remain in full force now, strengthened
and confirmed by all that has since hap
pened. / then brought, forward the gla-
ring fact that, in above fifty years exis-
lance of this federal government, the de-
mqcracy of the north had given but one
President 10 the Union, and that one but
for a single term; and this (oflate) from
a southern opposition to northern mem
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 any other
party founded on political principles, and
expressed my qualification that Mr., Folks
early and voluntary self denial had clear
ed the wey for a northern Democratic
Candidate in 1913.
These were my sentiments in 1914
they are my sentiments now, and are not
to be abandoned at the coming election,
when see new scheme developed from
the south for the permanent exclusion of
all northern men from southern support
for the presidency. The fire. brand res.
olutions introduced into the Senate tow
ards the close of the late session aud
their practical application to Oregon, (by
which we lost the Oregon Bill, and leave
the people of that territory year longer
without law or government reveal this
scheme and present 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 de-
mocracy. Heretofore we the savehold-
ing states. have stood together upon two
points&Delence and compromise--theI
defence of property and institutions and
the compromise of the laws and of The
constitution; and on these two points the
great majority of the north, of both polti-
cal parties, have been able to stand with
US. But now new position is to be ia
ken--one ON which no northern man can
stand. Propagandism is now the doc
trine of the political sect which assumes
to Se the standard bearers ofali the slave
holding States: and to plant a slavery, by
law, in ell the territories of the United
States, even the most remote and hyper
borean--even Oregon itself and against
The will of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
design and the attempt! The words of
the resolutions, the speeches in their ia
vor, and their application to the Oregon
bill, all prove this, and show that the
new doctrine is intended TO be made
new political test, TO be applied to all
presidential candidates in time to come,
and, like all new tests, intended to super
sede all former ones, and TO constitute
the sole criterion tor the trial of candi-
dates. Now everybody must see that if
this new test shall be adopted by the
slaveholding states, there is an end to all
political support of northern men in these
states-that the present organization of
parties must be broken, and new party
formed, bounded by geographical lines
and resting on the sole principle of slave
ry propagandism. am not prepared for
such state of parties, nor for the effect
which it would have upon the harmony
and stability of our federal Union. see
great danger in new move, and feel the
necessity of meeting ii at once. In fact
we must meet it at once or not at all; for
if it is pressed upon us now, and will
conquer US if we do not conquer it,
The presidential election of 1913, is the
crisis; and ifthe new test can be made
to govern that election, | shall consider
the danger consummated, and that there
must soon be an end not only of the dem.
ocratic party, but of all parties founded
on principle. and eventually an end ofthe
Union itself. Instead, then of indulging
a personal or local feeling in favor ofpar-
ticular candidates, let us, (the Democratic |
party) look to what the good of the Union !
which has given but one Democratic
President in near sixty years. and that
one but tor single term, and which is
now threatened, so far as southern voters
are concerned, with permanent exclusion
from the presidential chair.
This my dear sir. is my plain and set
tied answer to your kind communication, |
and wish you to make it known to the
members, Of the meetings Of which you
were chairman, among whom | see the
names of many old friends, and recognize !
the voice ofthat powerful county, which |
had stood by me in every trial from my
first senatorial election in 1920, to my (
fifth and last in 1914, and to which owe |
many thanks, which tits my intention to
make in person, during the course of the |
coming summer.
Respectfully, SIR,