Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-10-13
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TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.

/ ubt uasiuS tHC 1PtttthoSbJ " ht6SttNA rstN-
communicating with all Of you in person, and
as ! am about to leave the State for while,
adopt this method OF addressing you on a
subject Of the most vital interest to US in Vir-
ginia and the Southern country generally.
1t must be apparent to all that the Demo-
cratic party have in their action and practice,
differing so widely from their profession, }
given up ard abandoned all their old issues,
and acknowledged virtually that the princi
pies Of the Whig party are those alone on
which the Government can be successfully
administered.
Take their Platform, for example, as es-
tablished at Baltimore, and contrast it with
their practice in Congress.
Constitution does not confer upon the Gcne-
raj Government the power to commence and
carry on general system Of Internal Improve.
ments,
This was intended to appease the Strict
Constructionists ofthe South Yet that par
ty. in four weeks after. by large majority, in
House containing Democratic majority Of
fifty six or seven, passed River and Harbor
bill containing appropriations (including works
yet to be commenced) Of million and a hall,
which was afterwards increased to two mil
lions or upwards, and which finally became
law of the land
They declare in their Platform, That they
arc opposed to any law for the distribution Of
the proceeds (of the public lands) among the
States, as alike inexpedient in policy and re
pugnant to the Constitution,
Yet with that same fifty odd majority, the
House of Representatives passed bill dis
tributing one hundred and fifty thousand acres
Of land for every member OF Congress,in both
houses. according to their Federal population,
which bill lies on the table of the Senate, to
be acted on next winter.
1t is known that the Democratic party have
for many years denied, in the broadest terms,
the constitutional power Of protection tohome
OF domestic labor and enterprise, and III their
Platform they assert
THAT justice and sound policy forbid the
Federal Government to foster one branch of
industry to the detriment Of any other, or to
cherish the interests Of one portion to the in
| jury Of another portion of our common coun-
try"
Yet, in view Of this principle, thus laid
down, that same party have, since The adop-
ton of their Platform recognized the princi-
pie of protection in its most odious form,
while the most clamorous members d Con-
gross for reduction Of the Tariff Of '46 have
been found in the So called ranks Of the De-
mocracy. They are opposed to the principle
of protection yet they have 10 its mpst ob-
jectionahle form recognized it. by protecting
ono branch Of enterprise to the detrimcnt Of
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declaration Of principles, as they call them,
(Which unlike questions of-poliey, are immu-
table, Interchangeable, and universal they APP
propiatcd $33, 900 for every trip made by the
Collins line Of steamers upon the ground
that it was necessary to the protection ofthe
navigation Of the United States against the
navigation OF the British Cunard line thus
discriminating not only in favor ofsteam nav
CATION against ordinary Navigation, bit in
preference to all other interests. Our poll
cy is to protect every interest, Commercial,
Agricultural, and Manufacturing without
distinction or preference for any.
But the most extraordinary and alarming
portion of the Democratic Platform and one
that has attracted less notice than ,ny other,
remains yet to be considered and desire to
call your attention to it; and hope it will
not De lost upon any portion of the South.
The Sth resolution Of that Platform de-
clarcs
THAT the liberal principles embodied by
Jefferson in the Declaration Of independence,
and sanctioned in tho Constitution, which
makes ours the land of liberty and he asylum
Of the oppressed Of every nation, have ever
been the cardinal principles Of the Democrat
ic party"
Now what does this mean, and for what
was it adopted?
am sure you have never heard that there
was any issue in Virginia. or any other por-
tion of the Southern country, between the
Wing and Democratic parties upon the prin-
ciples of the Declaration Of Independence, and
never before did you hear of the necessity Of
re-adoptng or re-afirming those principles ;
and the casual reader would at once conclude
that it was but part and parcel Of the same
unmcaning Platform, which expresses opinions
upon other subjects. such as the Bank of the
United States, and the assumption of State
debts, questions that are in no manner at
issue between the two parties. But / pro-
pose to show that there is much meaning and
alarming consequences to be attached to the
foregoing declaration and to ascertain that,
we must first look to the Declaration of indie
pcndenee to learn what are the liberal prin-
ciples therein embodied, to which this clause
of the Platform, thus endorsed and ratified by
the entire Democracy of the South and North,
has reference. s m as
Upon critical examination |. will be found
that the only principles set forth in that de-
claration are the following:
eve hold these truths to be self evident !:
That all men are created equal; tbat they are
endowed by their creator with certain inalien-
able rights that among these are life, liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness; that to secure
these rights Governments are instituted
among men," BE-. &c. Then wehave a long
list Of grievances enumerated; but these are
the only principles set forth in the Declara-
tion--and these principles, although they ne
yer constituted an issue between Wings and
Democrats. have nevertheless been made the
foundation and the cornerstone upon which
the whole fabric of Abolition has been erect
ed--and here we find the Democracy Of the
South as well as the North, endorsing the
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