Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-06-21

q, 1048.
better Justification than is furnished by
those of the past.
| l. have carefully Rad The resolutions of
the Democratic National Convention, lay
ing down the platform Of our political
faith, and / adhere to them firmly as ap-.
prove them cordially. And while thus ad-
herring to them shall do 80 with a sacred
regard TO the principles and compromises
/ of the constitution, and with an earnest de.
| sire for their mainainance Gin spirit OF
moderation, so vitality essential to the per-
Ipetnity ofzibe Union, and the prosperity
land happiness of our comman country p
la feeling which has madesuse what WE are,
and which, in humble reliance upon Prov
idence, we may hope is but the beginning
of what we are to be. If called upon
hereafter to render an account of my stew
Eardship,in the great trust you desire to COM
nit to my hands, should be able to show
that had truly redeemed the pledge thus
publicly given, ,and had adhered to theprin-
ciples of the democratic party with as much
fidelity and success as have general y
marked the administrations of the eminent
men to whom that party has hitherto con-
! fded the chief executive authority Of the
government, ! should prefer no higher
CLAIM. to the favorable consideration of
the country, nor to the impartial commen-
dation ofhistory. -
| This letter.. gentlemen, closes my pro-
| fession OF political faith. Receiving my
first appointment from that pure patriot and
great expounder of American democracy,
Mr.. jefferson, more than forty years ago,
the intervening period of my life has been
almost wholly passed in the service of my
country, and has been marked by many vi
cissitudes, and attended with many trying
circumstances, both in peace and war. If
my conduct in these situations. and the O.
pinions have been called upon to form
and express, from time to time in relation
to all the great party topics of the day, do
not furnish clear exposition of my views
respecting them, and at the same time, u
sufficient pledge of my faithful adherence
to their practical application, whenever and
wherever I may be required to act, any
thing further | might now say, would be
mere delusion, unworthy Of myself, end
justly offensive to the great party in whose
name you are now acting. s
My immediate predecessor in the nonai.
nation by the democratic party, who has
since established SO many claims to the re-
gard and confidence Of the country, when
announcing four years ago his acceptance
s4lai o similar honor, announced also his de-
i Iferfninaiion not .to Be 8 cax1d5iidate forre.a.
5eetion. Coinciding with him ia his views,
SO well expressed, and faithfully carried
out, beg leave to that no circumstan-
ces can possibly arise which would induce
me again to permit my name to be brought
forward in connexion with the chief magis-
tracy of our Country. My inclination and
my sense of duty equally dictate this
movement.
No party, gentlemen, had ever higher
motives for ex ertlon, than has the great
democratic party of the United States
w ith an abiding confidence in the rectitude
Of our principles, with an unshaken reli
ance upon the energy and wisdom of pub
lie opinion, and with the success which
has crowned the administration of the gov
ernment, when committed to its keeping,
/ (and it has beea SO committed during more
than three.fourths of its existence0 what
has been done, is at once the reward of
past exertion and the motive for. future,
and, at the same time, guarantee for the
accomplishment of what we have to do
We cannot conceal from ourselves that
there is powerful party in the country,
differing from US in regard to many of the
fundamental principles of our government,
and opposed to US in their practical appli-
cation, which will strive Us zealously
as we shall, to secure the ascendancy
of their principles, by securing the elec-
ton of their candidates at the COM
ing contest. That party is composed
of our fellow-citizens, as deeply inter-
ested in the prosperity of xour- common
country, as we can be, and seeking as ear
nestly as we are to promote and perpetu-
ate it. We shall soon present to the world
the sublime spectacle Of the election of
chief magistrate by twenty millions Of peo-
pie, without resistance of the laws, or the
sacrafiee Of the life of one human being
and this, too, in the absence Of all force
but the moral force Of our Institutions; and
/ if we should add to all this, on example of
our mutual respect for the motives of the
! contending, so that the contest might be
carried OIL with that frmness and energy
which accompany deep conviction, and
with as little personal asperity, as political
divisions permit, we should do more for the
great cause of human freedom throughout
the world, than by any other tribute we
could render to its value.
/ We have government founded by the
will Of all, responsible to the power of
all, and administered for the good of all.
The very first article in the Democratic
creed teaches that the people are compe-
tent to govern themselves; it is indeed,
rather an axiom than an article Of politi-
cal faith. From the days of Gen. Hamil-
ton to our days, the party opposed to US
of whose principles he was the great expo
!, nent, not the founder--while it has chang
, ed its name, has preserved essentially its
J, identity of character; and the doubt he en-
tertained and taught Of the capacity of man
!, for self government has exerted a marked
influence upon its actions and opinions. -
Here is the very starting point of the diff.
erence between the two great parties which
divide our country. Ali other differences