The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-04-29
The Reason why Democracy is the Natu.
raj Ally Of the South.


We are a regular reader of the Washing
ton Era, which is the Abolition organ of the
United States The last number contains
an article on Democracy and Slavery" the
object Of which is to account for the fact that
on all questions involving the right Of the
south, the democratic party, as a party, is
the ally of the south, and sustains its con-
stitutional rights. The reason given by the
Era is SO philosophical, that we cannot refrain
from presenting it to our readers in a con-
densed state and in our own language
That reason is the different principles adopt
ed by the two parties in constituting the grants
of power contained in the Constitution.
The whig party believes in what it terms a
liberal construction, but what Jefferson,
Madison, and the Republican fathers regar-
ded as latitudinarian and tending to the
gradual destruction of the constitution it
self. The democratic party on the other
hand, believes in strict construction and
denial of all powers not granted or absolute
" necessary to carry into effect granted
power. To this different principle of con-
struction may be traced the fact, that north
ern democracy is, as mass true to the
south, while the widest free soilism finds its
natural abode in northern whiggery. To il
lustrate the operation of this principle, lei
US take the case of the exclusion of slavery
from the territories, or the fugitive slave
law.
TIE sentiment of the northern people ii
against slavery. They think it an evil anC
would desire to see its extinction. Particu
larly would they desire it excluded from thu
territories and confined to its present limits
The Wilmot proviso is introduced, which
excludes it. Northern democrats look at it
They would, perhaps, like to see slavery ex
cluded from the territories, but strict con
struction comes in and asks, where is tn
power to do so :? This excites their investi
cation, and finding no granted power, ant
not seeing how it is necessary to carry int
effect any of the granted powers, they ar
compelled by the cardinal principles of thei
party to vote against it, even should preju
dice against slavery incline them to fave
, its exclusion. The influence of this primo
pie does not stop with the representative
bnt extends itself to the democratic mas
whom it also restraints within constitution;
, limits. A portion of the democratic peopl
in the northern States, are, perhaps, again'
o slavery as an institution, but recognizing th
principle of strict construction, they can 81
; no right of interference with it, and cons
; quently sustain their representatives in tt
southern position of non-intervention. II
strong barrier Of high principle, upon whiC
/ their party organization is based, checks Il
q impulse Of abolition, an abstract sentimel
! from consumating itself into aggression u
), on southern rights. This is the why al
~ wherefore of the whole matter, and explai
W the different positions held by northern del
# ocrats on the slavery question, from thathe
+ by northern wings.
,e 1t explains, why twenty-six northern del
= Gratis voted for the fugitive slave law, VIII
If but three northern wings voted for it wi
10 them and FIFTY-sEvEN against it. 1t e
plains, why democratic conventions in t
:. north sustain the compromise, while VII
- conventions but rarely have the nerve to
u it. 1t explains why in every attempted a
y gression upon the south, northern democl
8 cy, like Butcher at Waterloo, comes up a
!. saves the day. 1t explains why the inf
~ ence of Cass, Buchanan, Douglass, Dick
= = son, and other distinguished northern de
: ocrats, was thrown against the Wilmot p
u u viso and in favor of the late compromise.
= 1t furnishes the assurance too, that as Il
~ principle of strict construction has alone s;
~ ed the south in the past, so TO IT must I
country look in the future, as the OF
on ground of safety and the only basis of p
We manent peace and HARMONY
Ia Nashville Union.
"A