The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1848-09-15

II cratic party aud going over 10 the abolition
- isis, We are told 10y those democrats wh,
r. now cal! themsc!y> Landowners, that Their,
o il gn difference between the wing and dem.
= ocrat party, and that the free sell wincpl,
l. now the only question at issue. Let II,
for moment examine this miserable ex.
crSe. Were free soil the only question be.
, fore the people, then indeed would the pres.
dental contest be great farce. for we
have shown over and over again. that, let
who viii be elected president, California
and New Mexico are as secure against the
Introduction Of slavery, a>if the Wllmot pro-
vi>o were Til, day extended over them
Then what other issues are before the pco-
pie: Wherein DO the democrats and Wigs
diilcr2 We will answer this question Ly
asking another. On what principle have
they even dilitred9 The bank ? tariff
distributions, SCI These are measures, not
principles, ami IL we even coucede that on
these questions there is now no difference,
which is not the case; yet 50 far as yrinci.
pie Is concerned, the whi-S and democrats
are a far ap,rt a< they over b,vc hoe,
The great p,iq,ig,c, n,,, which ~, dom.
ocradc party and all other parties that ever
opposed it have split, i that which was du-
rinr the earliest DAVIS Of opr rcrurr, an.
nounced bv Jefferson. and orrn>rI hv Al.
oXander Hamilton and had reference to the
mode Of const-nfnctbe Cop>tj.u,ior-Je,r;r.
son contcndins for strict construction. and
Hamilton for liberal construction. Thi,
i the great dividing pr'v-igl,, all other
questions Of difference between the great
parties Of the country have been measures
based upon this great principle. Thus VA
uonai bank was opposed by the strict con.
stfuctoniSts en- the ground that there was
no power in the constitution to create such
an institution while the liberal con>'ruc-
uonists could ind that power in the words
regulating commerce. Unnecessarily &c
On The same principle OF no positive grant
/ OF power the democratic Iatty have cppo-
Sed protective tariff, tie great distribution
scheme, Sc &C
/ Now, supPosing even these measures are
set at rest, does not the principle still re-
mann: Is not the rock upon which the
parties split SuII theTe' Is not the dividing
me SUI! as really mere as ever; Although
the wings may not now avow their deter
Ininahon to charter national bank, or 10
pass hIgh pFoMOltFve tar'i, or 10 adopt
: Inc corrupt d's'r'oui'on scheme, are there
moi continually other great measures arr
sing ana IS Il oil no moment whether the
government s"a.I hereafter as heretofore, be
administered on the principle OF strict or
a liberal construction Of the constitution;
For over sixty years new have the demo
crai!c party, ever keeping before it the
great principle Of strict construction, an.
nounced by the apostle of democracy
/ Thomas Jefferson, as lis polar star. guided
the great ship Of state on a voyage that has
been ever prosperous and happy; and
though many storms have lowered, and
many angry waves have beat against our
sood!y ship, she has ever been kept clear
OF reels, and rocks, and shoals and quick.
sands. And shall the democratic party
now, forgetting all their past trials and tr.
umphs, tamely resign the helm into the
hands Of those who, sad experience on one
or two occasions has shown, sail by false
chart, and would soon run the old ship
aground But are there no measures on
which the wing and democratic party differ;
Have the wings forsaken the hope Of ever
getting a protective tariff? Show US a
lure, or that denies that ono Of the first
measures of the whir oartv. iF they oct in.
to power, will be TO alter the present al va
loren tariff. Is the bank dead lis true
Corwin, and Bolts. and other whir leaders
say nor is not the time TO agitaie that ques.