Democratic banner., 1848-06-12


ces can possibly arise which would induce
me again to permit my name to be brought
forward in connection with tie Chief Mag
i~stracy of cur country. My inclination and
my sense of duty equally dictates this
course.
No party, gentlemen, Lad ever higher
motives for excrtion than has the great
Democratic party of the United States
With an abiding confidence in the recti-
!tude of our principles, with an mistaken
reliance upon the energy and wisdom OF
public opinion, had with the success which
has crowned the administration of the gov
eminent, when committed 10 its keeping,
and it has been So committed during more
than tEree-iouTthS of its ~existence,) what
has been done, is at once the reward OF
past e~xertion and the motive for future & at
the am time, a qua, antee for the accom-
IpliShment of what we have to do. We
cannot conceal from ourselves that there is
a powerful party in the country, differing
from YS IL regard to many of the funda-
mental principles Of our government, and
opposed to us i'll their practical application
which will strive as z~ealouSly as we shall
to secure the ascendency Of their princi-
pies by securing the election of their cam
didate in the coming contest. That party
is composed of our felIow-citizens, as deep
ly interested in the prosperity Of our COM.
mon country as We can De, and seeking as
earnestly as We are to promote and perpetu-I
ate it. We shall soon present to the world
tie sublime spectacle of the election Of al
Chief Magistrate by twenty millions of
people, withnut a single serious resistance
to the laws, or the sacrifice Of the life of
human being-and tits, too, in the alb
sence Of all force but the moral force of our
institutions; and if we should add to all this,
an ~examplebf mutual respect for the mo-
tiveS of the contending parties, 5" that the
contest might be carried on with that firm
ness and energy which accompany deep
conviction, and with as little personal as
perity as political divisions permit, we
do more for the great cause Of hui
man freedom throughout the world, than bY{I
any other tribute we could rrhdl65fr TO its
value.
We have a government founded by the
VII vi all, responsible to the power Of all,
administered for the good of all. The
very first article in TIE democratic creed
teaches that the people are competent toI
themselves; it is, indeed, rather al!
axiom than an article OF political faith
From the days of Gen. Hamilton to our
lays the party opposed to uS-of whose
principles lie was the great exponent, if not
The foundU-phile il has changed lis name
Ias preserved essentially its identity Of
character, and the doubt he entertained and
of the capacity Ct man for self gov
has oxcrted ii marked influenced
upon its action and opinions. Here is the
very s4~artling-point Of the diff; Ference be-
tween the two great parties which divided
our Coultry. All other differences are butt
subordinate and auxiliary to this, and may,
N fact, be resolved into it. Looking with
loubt upon the issue Of scit-govcrnmen,,
me party is prone to think the public au-
should be strengthened, aLl TO fear
my charge, lest that change might weaken
he necessary force of the governments;
while the other, strong in lis convictions
he intelligence and virtue Of the people,,
that original power Is safer than
delegated, and that the solution of the great
of good government consists i'll
governing with the least force, and leaving
action as free from restraint as
S compatible with the preservation of the |
social system, thereby securing to each all t
he freedom which is not essential to the [
oftlc whole. ,
As a party, we ought not TO mistake the b
igns of the times: bu, should bear in mind,
this is all age of progress; of adj
in all the elements of intellect 9
lal power, aud in the opinions of the world. il
The general government should assume no y
lowers. 1t should exercise none which 9
ave not been clearly granted by the par
les to the federal compact. We ought to /
the constitution strictly, accord v
ng to the received and sound principles Of {
he Jefferson school. But while rash eX-l {
'eriments should be deprecated, ifthe gov q
is stationary in IFS principles OF
ion, and refuses TO accommodate its meas =.
Tres, within its constitutional sphere-cau- Il
indeed, but wisely and ci,eerfully-Id
o the advancing sentiments and necessi- p
les of the age, it will find its moral force =
impaired, and the public will determined to =.
10 what the public authority itself should y