The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-23

said the General, with we doubt not one
of his blandest smiles, {" the noise and
8 confusion that pervade this assembly will
prevent my being heard on the important to-
pics to which you have called my attention.
must. therefore, content myself with thank
9 ing you for, the generous reception which /,
the unworthy representative Of the great Dem
ocratic psrty of the country, have received at
6 your hands" By the great Democratic par
ty, in this connection, General CAss intended,
not the great living, active majority of thirty
millions of people spreading from ocean TO
ocean, but that misnamed Democratic party
which received its inspiration from corrupt
cabal at Richmond, that had for many years
lost sight of the interests, feelings and opinions
of the American masses.
| We are not aware that the noise and confu-
sion have as yet sufficiently subsidized to enable
the General to give the world his views on one
of the subjects rendered to him by Judge WooD.
But Of one thing we are assured, that the cit-
zens Of Cleveland would like to be Informed if
his opinions on this matter of Harbor and River
Improvements are really "one and indivisible"
with those of the Union, Mr.. Richie, and
the Richmond Democracy. Mr.. RlroHIE says
that they are, and the interesting inquiry then
presents itself whether Virginia and Mr..
Richie have gone over to General CAss, or
General CAss has gone over to Mr.. RrrcHIE
and Virginia. What is the Democratic doc
trine, some and indivisible," on this subject2
Will some one expound2
! So much for the unity and indvisibility Of
the Democratic party on single point Of very
large and engrossng interest. We leave this
topic for the present, to consider very briefly
the suggestion, that the principles which di-
vide the Democratic party from its antagonists
were sscoeval with the Constitution, and must
be coexistent with it." We should call this
rank nonsense, were it not that the same senti-
ment had been proclaimed in other high quar-
ter. "From the days of General HAMILTON
to our days." said General CAss in his letter
to the President of the last Baltimore Conven-
ton, 'the party opposed to us-of whose prin-
ciples he was the great exponent, if not the
founder-while it has changed its name, has
preserved essentially its identity of character;
and the doubt he entertained and taught, Of
the capacity Of man for sell government, has
exerted marked influence upon its action
and opinions. Here is the perry starting point
Of difference betpeen the t,co great parties
,chich divide our country"
\ This is what the Union means when i,
speaks of party differences "coeval with the
Constitution" Now, the intimation that the
WHIc party, in its present organization, or since
its formation in 1884, has ever been separated
from the so-caled Democratic party by any
such ''coeval" differences as are here indicated
is sheer fabrication, wilful and deliberate
untruth. In its principles and characteristics
the WING party has all along been emphati
cally the party of the people. So far from ever
having put forth principle indicating doub
OF the capacity Of man for self government
its mission has always been to make the
will of the people the law of the land
To accomplish this great end it has struggled
for reform-for economy--for the curtailmen1
of corrupt expenditure-for all the constitution
al limitations of Executive power. 1t ha,
fought nobly against the monarchical tenden
cies of our Government, growing out of thu
exercise Of the Veto as an ordinary power of tn,
President; tendencies which threatened at on,
time to eface all its republican features, and t
merge it in an odious and irresponsible absolut
ism. These are the starting point and the goa
of the differences between the two parties which
divide the country. The Wings look to thu
people-their opponents to the Executive. Thu
Wings contemplate sovereignty in public opin
ion and the public will: their opponents in thu
opinions of the White House and the will o
President. The Wings love LIBERry-thei
opponents truckle to POWER.
These observations we apply merely to thu
leaders of the Democratic party, before the over
throw and dissolution of the Richmond or
ganizaton. AS far as the masses of the two
great parties are concerned, they may well say
as Mr.. JEFFERSON said, "We have called by
different names brethren of the same prin
ciples." Take the great body Of the people
and the differences of political opinion among
} men are very inconsiderable. On all the grea
) questions of the day the body of the De
!, mocratic party are Wines. The masses are il
favor of harbor and river Improvements. Th'
masses are in favor of reasonable protection O
} domestic industry or home labor. The masses ar,
, in favor Of carryingsout the will of the peo
pie, and not of postponing it to the will of thu
| President The masses look upon war a ma
tonal calamity and "return to state Of peace,
return to the progress of improvement" The
masses are opposed topeculation and corruption il
public officers. The masses are interested in hav
, ing, and desire to have, pure administration
of affairs. The masses, North and South, are il
favor facquiescing in the Compromise measures
of the last session Of Congress, in pursuance q
, the recommendations of the PRESIDENT, as tn,
final settlement of an exhaustng and distractine
controversy.
1t is in these great masses of the American
> people that we are to look, therefore, for thu
elements Of that true Democratic unity which il
, to evolve strength and order and perpetuty