Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-09-29
A New Phase of Democracy.

We invite special attention to the following ex
tract from the Richmond Enquirer, the organ G
Virginia Democracy. Suing by the miserable in
consistency Of the Democratic Platform and tn
late Democratic Congress, on the subjects of In
ternal Improvement and Land Distribution, tn
Enquireris forced to denouncea flinching or specu
latory minortyn as the cause of all their troubles
But there is more in the Enquirc''s remarks thar
abuse of the Democratic minorities in Congress
as will be seen by perusal of the extract:
CHOW is the time to give proper direction to thu
sentiments of our new voters They will plan
themselves firmly by our platform, if our presses
and our writing and talking friends will speak ou
loudly in true Democratic appeals. The history
of the last session of Congress teaches us unmls
takeably, that there is no safety in nominal Dem
ocratic maiorities in Congress. Unrest,uined bJ
the eeto, we have found, that men calling them
selves Democrats-and elected by Democrats
leave us upon nearly every measure addressed tc
their selfish or sectional feelings-and upon all
measures involving heavy expenditures of money
The majority of our party,in Congress, have gen.
orally proven true to onr platform and principles
but we have as generally been defeated by finch
ing or specializing minority of them cooperating
with solid body of Wings. Look at the votes
upon the Harbor bill, and upon the details of al
most every heavy appropriation bill, and you find
this to be true This would not have been the
case if we had had true Democrat in the Presi-
Dental chair if the exercise of the veto power had
even been apprehended-for the people have al
ways sustained it-and will continue to sustain it,
when welded to check the extravagances and u
surpations of Federal Legislation. Wavering
Democrats will be slow to make issues upon it at
the polls"
In order to relieve the Democratic party of its
gross inconsistencies, the Enquirer has given ut
with all the professions of that party, and at
war with the very gen us of our Institutions They
have always protested rely upon the intelligence
of the people, in the selection of their representa-
tives, and have ever been loud in their denuncia-
tons of the Wing party, as party in favor of tie
some man power" But here we have the dis
tnct admission that the PEOPLE cannot be trust
ed, and the equally distinct avowal that there is
no safety except in the prerogative of SINGLE
INDIVIDUAL-thus sweeping overheard the
doctrine popular supremacy. In other words
that the action of the people through theft repre-
sentatives, should be stayed by the hand of ONE
MAN, unless that action be in strict accordance
with the demands of particular party. Behold
what spirit of UsuRPAToN and CONSOLIDATION
lies concealed under the specious garb of Democ-
racy! How long will the people be deceived
Commenting upon these extraordinary "devel-
opments" of the Enquirer the Richmond Wing
very justly excaims
People of Virginia! we invoke your serious con-
sdcralion of this bold denunciation of the popular
rights-this unqualified admission that without
the one-nan power, the people will destroy every
lineament of Republican liberty. We invoke the
indignant rebuke of every Virginian to this effort
to stultify the people, and place their liberties,
rights, interests and safety under the keeping of
New Hamshire Yankee!