The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-05-27
For the Spirit Of Democracy.
To the Peopleof Belmont 4 Monroe

For the Spirit Of Democracy.
To the Peopleof Belmont Il Monroe.
FELLOW CIrIzENs:
Any account, which, as your
delegate and deputy, it would be in my power to
give you of the doings of the last General Assem-
bly,. would be unsatisfactory and incomplete if it
omitted the subject of internal improvements, So
called, or rather caled-for that subject occu-
pied large share uf our attention. But before
entering upon history Of the doings of the last
General Assembly in relation to this matter, it is
hoped that few preliminary observations wllpot
be deemed unreasonable or misplaced. The widest
and most extensive nvestg alton Of this subject is
the best, for unless we consent TO be willing slaves,
we must, at our peril, get rid Of that army OF un-
scrupulous spectators which has swarmed upon
us for the last quarter of a century. set of men
Gus, every ennobling, every manly sentiment, has
not been looked upon by the sun in his course.
Parties will always exist in free government.
One great and prevailing party in this Union teach.
es such doctrines as the following: That men en-
ter into the bonds of society and form States and
nations for the sake of social order. That govern
ments are agencies, constituted by the whole So
ciety for the preservation of the peace. That il is
the business of the government to defend society
from external aggression and internal cnmmoton.
To make justice flourish throughout the land. To
defend the peaceable citizen from the violence of
the rufian, and the honest from the Vaccinations
of the fraudulent. So that every man having as.
surance of the peaceable enjoyment Of his own
earnings, may apply himself to industry, thus
spreading opulence and prosperity over the whole
land.
These principles being nearly self.evident, are
not generally denied in theory by the leaders of
the other great political party, but in practice they
find out other empoyments for the government
foreign far foreign from the preservation of social
order or the promotion Of right and Justice They,
practically disregard the maxim that mankind is
governed too much. They engage the government
in mere individual and commercial enterprise,
such as road.making and ditch-digging, for which
government pays, as might be expected, four or
IL
would. They propose to regulate every thing ac-
cording to them; cloth can not be we'll woven. or
bar-iron we'll hammered without regulations IN the
shape of tariff. The first named party composes
the great democratic family, of which it is the
pride and happiness of the subscriber to be an hum
Bile member. The second is the whig party, whose
mistakes and errors are to be regretted, for they
have loaded us with burden of debt and taxation
too intoerable to be borne. Witness the immense
public debt of Ohio, contracted for objects utterly
worthless, visionary and fantastic.
But it may be said that democratic votes have
sometimes been cast in favor of this system. This
unfortunately true, 10 some extent, for the par
ties often seduce each other, and much oftener
initiate each others vices than virtues. But the
democratic party has generally been consistent
and of course its general course of action has been
in opposition to this all hateful system. Witness
its noble support of the old Hero Of New Orleans
in his veto uf the Maysvle and Lexington turn
pike road bill. A measure which forms one of the
most imperishable monuments of his fame as a
Statesman--which entities him to the lasting graf
itude Of his country and ot .posterty, and which
perhaps is not inferior in usefulness to the over
throw of the United States Bank itself.
Fellow Democrats, 1t is incumbent, upon us to
bring our government back to its true elementary
and original idea as a simple agency for the pro.
motion Of justice and the preservation Of social or
der. "Truth is great and will prevail" We
have everything to hope and nothing to fear from
investigation. We can do much and avail much
with our whig neighbors and friends if we press
our arguments with diligence and zeal, but in a
mild and conciliatory manner. Almost every day
by the facilities of neighbory and social inter.
course, affords us opportunities for promoting the
cause of truth and spreading right principles. -
Moreover, one circumstance calls upon US for in
creased exertion, in the good cause. this summer
We wish to give the whig majority in the last
General Assembly. legal and constitutional bu
decisive rebuke for an unjust and unfair apporton'
meht bill palmed upon US, without MORAL RIGHT
Most Respectfully, &C.,
EDWARD ARCHBOLD.
Woodsfeld, May %, 1s4s..--No.X