Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-08
Progress---Democratic Party
it's PRINCIPLES and Measures.


and abounded in appropriate and truthful al
lusions to the principles and character of the
democratic party of the country. We should
be glad to publish it in full, but must content
ourselves with publishing an extract or two
from it this week. We may recur to it again
hereafter for the same purpose.
The first extract aludes to the principles of
the democratic party, and gives the true and
only proper connection of the Compromise with
these principles
Mr.. Chairman, the Democratic party has
won many and great trlumphs in this country,
but it has always won them upon an avOwed
creed of principles. That creed, in fair
fight, has never yet been Overthrown. That
creed, in nv Judgment, never aciH be over
thrown, when il is fully and fairly before the
people, so long as our institutions endure
But, sir, there seems to be now more occasion
than usual for reasserting it in all its length
and breadth. From the excitement of the last
three years, single subject has So come into
prominence, as to threaten TO overshadsw ev-
erything else. The gentleman from Florida,
! Mr.. CABELL who opened this debate, came
here, as he says, with the intention of taking
| his position with reference only to one single
issue, and that issue The issue of the compro-
mise. He selected, then, his seat on the Wing
side of the House, because, as he told US, in
the Democratic caucus at the beginning of the
session, there was not found majority who
would endorse that series of measures. But
after the vote which was taken here the other
day-when it was found that there was Dem
ocratic majority in favor of the Compromise,
quite equal in number to the whole of those
who assembled in the Wing caucus at the be-
ginning of the session and when it was also
found that the decided Wing majority which
was said then TO have affirmed the Compromise,
was, on the late vote, non est inuentus-I do
not see how, from his own showing, the gen.
tleman can remain longer where he is. |
think he must change his position to this side
of the House provided, always, he can find
seat here for the Democratic party is really
getting so crowded, that there is but little
room TO accommodate any more. But, Mr..
Chairman, his position and his course show
the prominence, to which | have alluded, of
this subject. 1t is not strange, perhaps, that
this prominence should exist. do not speak
of it in order to complain of it. am not at
all unmindful of the circumstances ont of
which the Compromise grew nor do | under
estimate the services and courage of those men
who, in doubtful times, stood firmly by it, and
carried it forward 10 success. Since that pc
Rod, it has furnished its own vindication 1t
has gone abroad through the whole length and
breadth of the land, with healing upon its
wings; and wherever it has appeared, the
waves have subsidized, the storm has disap-
peared, and there has been peace among the
people. Sir, am a Compromise man myself.
If had been in the Congress which passed it,
| would have voted for it; and hope there is
now no serious intention in any quarter of the
Union TO disturb it. have no right to speak
for the whole North, but from my observa-
ton in that section, do not believe that any
such disposition exists there; and assure gen.
tlemen, if they desire to know the Northern
sentiment upon this subject, they should gather
it, not from the discordant voices of Massachu-
sets, but from those sounds of victory which
have Just come TO us, distinct, emphatic, and
cheering, from the good old Democratic State
of New Hampshire.
But, Mr.. Chairman, however valuable it
may be, and however much 1t may deserve,
upon proper occasions, to be affirmed, yet the
Compromise is not entitled to be digniied into
political creed, by itself / concur with the
gentleman from Georgia Mr.. Hillyerl who
spoke upon it yesterday, that it is not even po-
ltical principle. 1t is only the fruit of certain
old and established Democratic principles, APP
Piled to a serious exigency in affairs. Had
the Democratic party trlumphed in 1913, do
not believe the Compromise would ever have
been necessary. But the Wings first plunged
the nation into difficulty, and then called upon
the Democracy TO come 10 It's relief. The
Democracy always true to the call Of patriot
ism, obeyed the summons; and every difficulty
was thus safely overcome. But now, instead
ofdwelling too earnestly upon the remedy then
applied, is it not rather the part of wisdom to
guard against The recurrence of any exigency
which may make a similar remedy necessary
Our safety lies, ii seems TO me, in administer
ing our Government faithfully, according to
the design of its founders, and never permitting
its accurate adjustment of powers 10 be dis
turbed, or any of lis compromises violated
1.-The Government of The United States" said
President Polk, the youngest of our Presidents,
as he was one of the purest and soundest of
our statesmen, sis one of delegated and limited
powers and it is by strict adherence to the
clearly granted powers, and by abstaning from
the exercise of doubtful or unauthorized i'm
piled powers, that we have the only sure guar
antee against the recurrence of those unfortu-
nate collisions between the Federal and State
authorities, which have occasionally so much
disturbed the harmony of our system, and even
threatened the perpeluity of our glorious In
ion."
We commend the extract which we next ap-
pend, as correctly setting forth our constitu-
tional privileges under the Federal Constitu-
ton, and the workings of our system of govern
ment under it -
Mr.. Chairman, when our fathers emerged
from the Revolution, and had had time to look
about them and to understand their own politi-
cal wants, they met in convention and framed
for themselves a constitution. That admirable
instrument, for its structure, its simplicity, lis
wise adaptation Of means to ends, is still one
of the wonders of political science wherever it
is known. Yet what, after all, is its great
merit? Why, as it seems to me, that gou-
ems so lille. Other systems have failed be
cause they have attempted too much Ours
has succeeded, because it undertook only what
it could perform. Our fathers had a just ap-
probation of individual freedom, and wise
confidence in the usefulness of local govern
ments. Hence they were cautious and limited
in their grants to their Central Government,
and as far as possible, avoided all interference
with the freedom of individuals and the soyer-
eighty of the States. Thus, a man may live
lifetime in the interior of this Union, without
feeling, directly, the action Of the General Gov
eminent. His business is with the parish, the
town, the County, the State; and the Central
Government operates chiefly to protect all these
IT, the discharge of their respective functions.