The republic., 1851-04-11


[DAsIxL wxBsrER's Letter TO the Union Meeting
at Wesfchesfer.
"The bravery and devotion Of the Democratic
members of the last Congress who 90 fearlessly re
sisted at all hazards scheme of internal improve
ments, which would ultimately abstract hundred
of millions from the treasury, and consolidate th
Federal Government as the moneyed head Of tn,
nation. cannot be too much admired. The cir
'cumstances of that struggle were, however, omi
nous
'sIf the last Congress has not decidedly swervet
from these leading, and, we conceive immutabl
principles. it has not decidedly and firmly, as il
former years, repudiated those measures whicl
tend to recognise the fostering hand of govern
ment' as essential to national progress. True i
is, we have before intimated, that those bills
which in their spirit violated, in the most marked
manner, the old policy of the Democratic party
failed pass. and Tie last session t0ifnessed tooords
its close vsibie deepening q the old party lines.
which at one time showed signs of obliteration.
A firm adherence to the voluntary principle in
all matters of internal improvement, popular in
dustry, and commercial enterprise, joined to pro-
found respect for minority interests, must form
the foundation of party, as well national well
fare"
We cite the above paragraphs from an article
in the April number of the Democratic Rerie,c,
one Of the leading journals of the so-called
Democratic party. They are sufficiently pre-
else and distinct. They show that the Rerie,c
has taken sides with the Union and its allies in
an earnest and decided opposition to the poll
cy of River and Harbor Improvements and
goes full length with Mr.. RHErT, Mr.. SoULE,
MIR. JEFFERSON DAVIS, and Mr.. CLEMENS,
against the favorite policy of the WING and
DEMOCRATIC masses Of the West and North
west. The Recie,c applauds as "bravery and
devotion" the parliamentary tricks and maneu-
vTes by which the River and Harbor bill was
read down during the closing scenes of the late
session in the Senate; by the perusal of Mr.
ELLET's report on the suggestion of Mr..
SOULE, and the introduction of Mr.. PoLK's We
toes by Mr.. CLEMENS. The Reriear thus, in
effect, apPlauds the movement Of Mr.. BRAD
BURY, seconded and sustained by General CAss,
which was designed to postpone all action un-
der the bill until an absolute surplus should be
ascertained in the treasury after the payment
Of all other appropriations. A vote for this
amendment was equivalent to vote against
the bill, because it destroyed all hope of any
beneficial operations under it, even in the
event of its passage. We are glad to know
that the Rerie,c esteems all these tricks and
contrivances as proofs of the ''bravery and de-
votion" of the Democratic members OF Con-
gress, and as a "fearless resistance at all ha-
Yards" to the River and Harbor bill We
commend this view of the subject to Mr. JOHN
Wr nd tb1 II
ocrats in all sections; and it will not be amss
for Mr.. Senator DOUGLAS and General CAss to
ponder on its deep significance. If it was
brave and devoted to oppose this bill at all ha-
cards, in what light will the Democracy Of the
Union regard the promise of General CAss to
the citizens of Allegan to vote "of COURSE for
the Black river improvement
We are pleased to see that the followers Of
the {" distinguished Democrats of Richmond
are prepared to join issue on this subject with
their friends Of the Mississippi and the great
lakes. We remember no /" visible deepening
Oft the old party lines" towards the close of the
last session on any other matter than this same
River and Harbor bill. The Administration
had expressed its views with great distinctness
on this policy. President FILLMORE, in his
annual message, set forth the Wing doctrines
on the subject in pointed and concise style.
The few lines which he devotes to it cover the
whole ground. Mr.. CLAY followed the lead of
the Administration in this regard, in the same
sIncefe and faithful advocacy with which he has
always sustained the cardinal doctrines of the
WING faith. He threw his whole strength and
energy into the support of the bill, rallied its
friends on both sides Of the Senate. and would
have carried il by triumphant majority if the
bravery and devotion" Of the Democratic
Senators in defeating the meitasceriained ,cill
Of the people had not prevented the Senate from
coming to final vote upon it. Mr.. RHETr had
but recently denounced the Democratic party
for "going over to Mr.. CLAY" This denun-
citation had its effect with his Democratic friends
They thought it necessary to take decided,
strict construction and abstraction ground on
some measure, with the view Of calling off the
Democratic party from Mr.. CLAY, and deep
ening the old party lines" To accomplish this
result, il was thought advisable to make up an
issue on the River and Harbor bill and this
Notwithstanding the masses Of the Democrats
had gone over to Mr.. CLAY on this subject, and
notwithstanding the immense destruction of
life and property on the western waters caused
annually by the absence of the very improve
ments contemplated by the bill in question.
II remains to be seen how far the "deepening
Of the old party lines" in this regard may enure