The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-04
From the Democratic Rsvie,p for FeJ,,layy

Broken, defeated, anlagonized against itself,
as the Democratic party has been, and feeling
the severe chastisement it has consequently
suffered, sufficiently, it is hoped, to lead its
members to a general determination to cast old
quarrels behind it and out of sight, there must
still be method, interchange Of thought, and
organization, to make its best individual deter
limitations successful to the great object Of party
union. In order to effect this, however, thank
Ing them for their cheering response to our 10Y
mer call, we make fraternal appeal 10 the
daily papers, those breathing lungs of the peo-
pie corporate, to respond to us again fully; to
speak tor themselves, as we have spoken for
ourselves. just thought, and the independ-
ent expression Of it, is the key of all practical
sound, and beneficial harmony.
The strength of the Federal Union is greatly de.
pendent upon the integrity of the two national
political parties: the cen,ra!izing, known under
various names since the administration Of John
Adams; and the Democratic, which since the days
OF Thomas Jefferson, its great founder and expo.
nent, has battled for State rights. 1t is of vast i'm
portnnce 10 the country that the national doctrines
OF which the two parties the respective defend,
ers, should not be lost sight Of in the blinding
smoke of local faction but should be ably and fully
argued. and kept before the whole people; not for
the sake of discord or party triumph, but to
preserve just balance in the popular sentiment
upon the great interests of National and State GO
vernment.
In all irankness, the Democratic party proper
desires to see its divisions healed and all irritating
issues closed. But it repudates all alliances.
1t wants open, avowed action and one set of prin-
ciples boldly proclaimed from Maine to California.
To such platform invite the Hunkers, the
young Barnburners, the Union men, and the State
Rights men.
And here we earnestly appeal 10 such southern
men Mr.. Toombs, against fractional partes of
any kind. We want no Union party. The Demo
cratic party is the Union party-s the State Rights
party. Faction has always been the evil demon Of
republics. We desire 10 the two great national
political parties Of the Union stand facing each
other with unbroken front. And for Ourselves we
will say-and trust the IRE embraces a vast ma
ority of Democrats-tha. in all earnestness rather
than the people broken up into local factious
fragments we would thousand times prefer 10
come up TO manly contest with the Wing party 4,
and be distanced in the race State rights intact,
and firm national policy, arc the beacons Of the
Democratic party.
Mr.. Toombs's great mistake was in bringing
General Taylor into power. OF this We believe
him sincerely sensible With his fiery southern
heart and ultra democracy of constitution, let him
not, however, now commit the greater error of die.
turbng the unity of the party to which bic feel.
ings and principles naturally ally him, by cncour-
aging tho sending of any other than Democratic de
legatcs to the Baltimore Convention. Let there be
attached no superluous preiixcs of Union or State
Rights. Such fearless, energetic and talented
Statesmen as himself, Democratic policy imper-
ously needs at this hour, and We shall be happy TO
welcome him into the ranks.
We must not cheat ourselves. The darkest of
all blindness Is sclfdelusion. We have 10 oppose
a talented, far-reaching, sagacious ntagoni5t.
And we rejoice at II; the thought nerves us 10
vigor and animation. But il is necessary for tie
whole party, down 90 its most passive member, 10
be awake 10 the fact. Not one of us must quietly
settle into the belief that msjority will protect
US. Still water has little force. Our numbers will
only lead TO defeat if VIC are not actively com
| bined, prudent, and wntchful.
We trust, too, the Democratic party, amid the
| whirpools and rocks between which II must be
skilfuly guided, will be sufficiently warned by the
| tribulation preciptaied on the country through
General Taylor's election, not 20 commit thc
gravor iault OF selecting similar candidate in the
| person OF an inferior man The country has soft
Tered enough Tor the next fifty years for ts sins in
the elevation # one trust candidate or candidate
on trust without repeating the folly IN the person
| Of General Butler. We use the name merely 10
| represent the class, General Butlcr being rood
sample OF the no.policy statesman.
ifoil diiilosi tOlhl llltifs5nCBs pub
lie affairs, il denied at the last Presidential
| election, even in his own ncighborhood, that be
WAS Democrat Mt all conclusion justified AZ
| once by his inertness and caclusivsrl, and HE
habit Of voting for Whigs. No longer than the
late election for State officers in Kentucky, he
voted for the Wings against the Democrats, thcrc
being three Democratic and two Wing candidates
in the field.
The charge against bic Democracy was consid.
cred sufficiently we'll founded 10 demand personal
denial. And General Butler went 10 the polls in
ls4s and voted for hinsolf 90 prove bis own Dcmoc
racy This vas only oNcrci.ing the right vhich
every citizen has ~ vote for whom hc pcascs md
Gen. Boiler acting on the principle Of "overy man
for himself" selected this new way Of paying old
debts TO the Democratic party. But IL IL a fair in
stance of the ridiculous antics a weak man may
be made 10 exhibit before the world, when impro-
perry dragged upon the stage, where the part 20
be performed IL not In a comedy. but in the graud
drama Of national politics. Tank Of ThOmas JEFF
fcrson or Andrew jackson marching 70 the polls
and gravey voting for thcmselvcs to establish thcir
"Democracyw
Under the same state Of ignorance as to bis views
Of to-day. the members Of the Frankfort Congen-
ton found themselves in January last. series
Of resolutions was then drawn up by the more nc
tive and decided members, declaring the senti.
mcnts OF the convention, especially 10 southern
interests; the convention refusing act in favor Of
General Butler until his sentiments were expressly
declared. The resolutions were shown TO General
Butler, who was on the ground; having consistent
~ gone IN pcrson 70 supcrntcud he own nOuIinn.
ton, his fret national" since voting tor himsef
u was declared tothc convention that G. neral Butler
fully sustained all the resolutions; aud II was sun
posed at the time that this would give his friends
something to stand on in the National Convention
besides mere State pride.
BY this seeming lairncss on his part, the opposi
ton TO General Butler was quictcd; and the vote
was then given recommending General Butler 10
the Just consideration OF the National Convcn-
ton. General Butler might say, however, with
the Irish dcscrer: Justice, yer homer, il tbe last
thing dcsrel"
The New York Hcening Post the Butler organ
IN the North, rnystcriously informs IA, however,
that General Butler is innocent Of "thr resolutions
adopted by that body" that 1t j. not considered
prudent az present TO publish" all its information
on this subject, but that "the convention were
greater foo.s than he wac"
This leaking out Of confidential ncws iustif.s the
distrust which pervadcd Kentucky a, the period of
the Frankfort Convention.
The Democrats Of General Butler, own county
NOS having confidence in his Deinoc racy, * Drcssy
Instructed their delegates 10 The state Convention
(as dld large majority Of too counties Of the
Stntc) 20 send the delegates 90 the Baltimore Con-
vonton untrammcled and uninstructed in regard
TO the Presidency The most the State Convention
did, or had authority TO de-, was 10 pass compli-
mentary resolution; and even this could not be
d