The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01

this last session, 1t stood its best, not opposed
openly by the Democrats but STILL from an in
tuitive feeling Of wrong, suffered by them to di,
, even where they had foolishly professed no par
ticular opposition to it. 1t is not Democracy, AND
should not be introduced upon platform claim
ing to be Democratic
OLD PLATFORMS.
From the Vermont Patriot
awe notice that several Democratic paper,
are re-publishing the resolutions adopted by the
National Democratic Conventions in 1885 40
IA and '4s, and call upon the Democracy of the
country to rally upon these resolunons, to stand
by and defend them for their lives as the only
means of saving the party from utter destruc.
ton.
1--WE take it the Democracy were not without
issues before 1885. Why then, in that year
were they not rallied upon old issues Why
did the Democracy Of '35 presume to thrust mem
issues upon that party, and why were they not
repudated2
at is the boast of the Democratic party that
it is PRoGhEssvE-why, then, this clinging to old
platforms to old notions, and to old tmes2 Why
not stand upon the issues and the notions Of the
PRESENT. Why not meet the agitations of the
PRESENT. Why dodge what u.s. by continually
prating about what was.
"The platform of 1885 we shall not now discuss
All we wish to say about it is that we care as lit
tie for that for any other old platform. IL it is
adapted to these times very well if not, let it 60
to sleep with its ilustrious predecessors This
platform Of 1885, by the way, has not been very
successful one for the Democracy. Van Buren,
was elected upon it in '35-and beaten upon it ia
40. In 1914 it was entirely lost sight of ia the
only real issue before the people - the Texas
question Ia '4S we were beaten upon it again
victorious once beaten twice, and victorious once
more by keeping it out Of sight; not platform
that ought to inspire over confidence one would
judge.
"The Democracy of '52 will triumph, if at all
not upon what they hare done, but upon what they
are doing and mean to do. The people will ask
what we intend 10 do If we are successful and mo-
what we did do when we successful years ago
Not upon the platform of 1901, 1929, or 1885, bu
| upon the platform Of 1852, will the Democracy o
that year stand or fall.
awe repeat, then, that the Democracy canno
rally simply upon any old platforms. IL was tries
in 4s, and if it is tried in $50 it will be with
similar result
"What, then must be done? The Democracy
must do as they did in Jackson's day-form plat
form suited 10 The times. The Democracy is thu
party of progress, and when the people see then
on the march, they will fall in but if they se'
them standing still, or worse-gong back after
rotton panks Of the past, out of which to con.
struct platforms-they will abandon them to their
antedluvian researches The popularity of JEFF
ferson and Jackson came from their identifying
themselves with the issues Of their times Wha
would Jackson have done, standing on Jeffersons
Alien and Sedition law and non-intercourse AND
embargo Platforms Precisely what Csss did
standing on an old platform that the people had
passed. The platform Of '35 was wrong in one
respect, the introduction of sectional issue in
National Convention. That plank should have
been thrown out as soon as possible; but II wa,
not, and after two defeats, and one victory which
we gained only by its being entirely lost sigh
Of, we are told we must adhere to it, right o,
wrong!
"There is one thing perfectly certain, and the
man is demented if he does not see it. IL the De
mocracy attempted the campaign of $50 on any
old, WORKOUT and gone-by platform, or any other
than platform Of this day and generation, they
will be whipped blind
Let u.s. then, hear no more about rail- ying upor
what mas. Let us talk about rallying upon whs
is; meeting emergencies of this day-stsndinl
upon the issues of our own time. Let the plat
form of '35 take care of itself, and let us prepare
to construct platform for '52-a National plat
form-one upon which all Democrats can stand
which shall evince some Of the common sens
and sagacity that has characterized the Dsmoc
racy of former times, and insured 80 many tri
umphs"
Again, the Patriot of March 9th gives the fol
lowing, which is sound advice equally applcabl
to Democrats and Free-Soilers
There is, we firmly believe no hope for an
National advancement to the cause of Freedom
except from the Democratic party stimulated /
action by the doctrines Of Freedom, and urged o.
to victory by the men Of this day and generation
That party can act with any efficiency on tn
; great question, standing on q single idea, we d
not believe A Presidential election Is approach
ing The people nil regard National questions
and it cannot be helped and unless the friends
Freedom take, and at once, the true ground, the
must look for thin ranks. IL is in the power Of th
men of this day to fill the Democratic party wit
new yigor, to restore it to its original Jefersonia
purity, and to urge it on to noble accomplishment
and IL is in their power to fall back into their oil
third party organization, abandoning thousand
OF true hearts, who, whatever else they may b,
will be Democrats. Let us ponder these thing
and act wisely and for the general good"
The Patriot Of April Sd points out the cours
for the Democracy to pursue rs follows
LET Daniel Webster and his 1850 comprc
mise measures take care Of themselves, to be
gin with.
&c Renounoe the world, the flesh, and tn
devil viz Clay, Webster, and Fillmore, and in
: stitute closer communion with the doctrines q
the true Democratic church, as expended by Je
ferson, Madison, and Jackson.
"The Democracy must begin to take care
Themselves, We can afford no more ouarrellips
no more browbeating, no mora attemps to drag tn
, cat by the tall The party North have made u
their minds TO think, speak, write, and resolve,
they please on the question Of human slavery
! and the course Of certain men must be shaped az
cordingly. No one seeks, by any uuconsttutioni
means, to repeal or amend the Fugitive Slsv
Law; but a majority seek, and will continue
seek, modification or repeal, within the limits
the Constitution and as they have an undoubte
right to do 30, precisely as they have in the cas
of any law, they will do so, and they must be a
lowed to do 80, and the idea that this particulS
law is any more sacred than any other law, an
that fealty to this one enactment shall be set u
. as test, must be abandoned.
|
aThat portion Of the Democracy who profe
TO consider the doctrines Of Freedom first in a
political considerations, must take, on Nations
questions, true Jsfersonian, Madison, Jsckso
ground, 70 that the older men among us who hay