The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-08-17
From the Detroit Free Press.
The Perils Of the Democratic Party in
the Free stu ess

over the Democra .ic Party 10 the Ere
States. This cloud arises from the q Z
tation of the slavery question, and il 81
riously threatens the oyefthfpw Of I'll
party ip those Staies R
This cloud, now becomes SO porlentous
first arose in The political from HE ant
slavery crusade Of the old federal part
ofNew England. fhat party begun til
organized agitation Of the slavery qne'
ton in the notorious Hartford Conver
Hon, by proposing an amendment TO To
Constitution Of the United States to Gu
off the slayeryfePresentasion IN G ngres
for ,hepurpose Of abridging and lessen
ing the influence Of be South IN the al
fairs Of the general G ,yernment, becans
that Influence was always democratic
and in party alliance with the Democra
cy of the NortherasSiates. Yes, il wa
the old federal party Of the North that
started and have unitedly prosecuted the
anti slavery and abolition crusade, no.
because they dsilked any more than the
South for lher uniform DEMOCRACY --foi
their having furnished a Jelfersonsa Mad
ison, a Monroe, aud Jackson, for the
Presidency, and given item their almost
entire electoral vote; and was to pun+
ish the democratic South Tor this that
the federalists embarked in the anti sla
elIa pt a
feeling in the North, hostile TO their do
meslic institutions.
II has been said that the democrals OF
of the North were the natural allies OF
tive South. II cannot be denied Ihat up
10 1914, they we're 10 party, aud cons
stitutInnal sense too, allies Of tie South.
For as the Northern Federalists, as a
party, unltedly assailed the domestic IN
situations OF the South because the Sonth
was slmost unanimously democratic and
ecuied thoselection Of onr democratic
Presidents, so the democratic party Of
the North, with very natural political
sympathy, united 10 protect The South
from tie assaults Of The NorIhera. Fede'-
alists.
Tue grounds assumed by The Federal
party on this SUBJECT were thefs came as
those taken in favor of the Wilmot proyi
se-,hat Congress had Constitutional
power to prohibit and abolish slavery in
the territories Of the United States and@
in the Distrotof q COLUMBIA. They were
IN favor OF the immediate exercise OF
this power, and they flooded Congress
with politicians to that effect, Aud how
did the Democracy Of the North then
The National Democratic Convention
denounced the movement by unanimous
vote. Martin Van Buren denounced il
in his public speeches as politician, 10
his letters as a candidate for President,
and in his Inaugural address as Chiel
Magistrate of the United States; and So
did Silas Wright, and every other re
publican statesman of the north denounce
it as the torch OF dis"niou, the apple OF
dscord TO the confederaey.
Who has forgotten tie famous 2lst rne
adopted by a succession Of democratic
congresses! This rule was the sequel
and practical consequence Of the celebra
ted Atherton resolutions; aud the Balu
more Convention resolution on the same
subject. The Atherton reolutions were
the favorite administration measure OF
Mr.. Van Bnrsn. They went through the
House Of Representatives, backed up by
all the influence Of himself cabinet, and
friends; aud they were designed by them
10 meet at once the abolition issue ofthe
wings, put down the agitation of the
question in Congress, and relieve the
growing SPECIFICATIONS Of the South on
that subject. Here are the Aiherton
resolutions, including the 2lst rule
They were introduced into the House
of Representative in 1888, and are as
foliowE
!. Resoived, That this government is
a government of limited powers, and
that, BY the Constitution Of the United
States ,CoBgress has no Jurisdiction what,
ever over the subject of slavery in tae
several States of this confederacy.
2. Resolved, That petitions for the
abelition Of slavery in the District Of
Columbia, and the territories Of the Uni
ted States, and against the removal of
slaves from one State to another, are
part of plan of operations set on foot
to affect the Institution Of slavery IN the
several states, aud thus Indirectly destroy
that institution within their limits.
8. Resolved, That Congress has no
right TO do that indirectly which it cam
not do directly; and that the agitation OF
the subject ofslavery in the District OF
Columbia, or ths Territories as means
and vi,h n view of disturbing or over