Washington sentinel., 1853-11-06


on Thursday evening, November 3D.
My qualification at receiving this kind evi-
dence Of your remembrance is only qualified
by the apprehension that my engagements may
prevent me from being present upon the occa-
sion to which it relates. You do me but JUS
tice in the confidence you express of my cheer
full concurrence in "the principles which con-
stitute the basis of your organizations, and the
propriety of their affirmation at this particular
tme.' They are the principles upon which,
in the sincerity of my heart have ever be-
lieved rest the very salvation OF our glorious
confederacy. The shock which our Union 50
lately sustained by the wicked Vaccinations Of
the unprincipled organization against whom
Won are now so gallantly warning, had we'll
nigh brought our beautiful political system to
NOTORIOUS ruin. 1t was, however, met and
acifhstood by the pure spirit and strong arm Of
patriotism; for, disregarding for time all
political lines and affiliations, the great and
good Of all parties came to the rescue, and
Yrested from the grasp of monsters the institu-
tions of a common country.
But the question naturally arises, why do
you find il necessary to renew and republish
these indisputable and imperishable doctrines?
Had they not been recently blazoned on our
banner, and was. not that 6dame, borne by .
resistless majority, not merely to victory but TO
conquest? Were not these doctrines inaugu-
rated as the revealed will of the American peo-
pie, and the fixed rule of their public admins
fration? And why is it that the eloquent
exordiurn which fell from the lips Of the chosen
expositor Of these doctrines requires already
such emphatic reputation by the potent voice
of the people2 However painful the task, these
questions must be answered. The administra-
tion selected by the democratic party to execute
ITS ,oH, whilst its general policy conmends II
to universal approbaton finds itself in oppos
ton, IN one important issue, to many OF the
purest men in the country to whom it owes its
success 1t will meet the Congress to which,
in conjunction with itself, has been confded
the same high duty, not, we fear, in the spirit
of harmonious co-operation-not with the same
bright confidence which few short months
since illumined the pathway of q party united
in the purpose Of impressing its doctrines upon
the destinies Of the country-but with that dis
trust, detection and discomfort which have SO
long agitated and threatened the permanency
Of the Union upon the great question at ISSUE
The united democracy had vindicated the Union
and disarmed its foes. They left them pros
trate and defeated. They find them exulting
in full strength, clothed with power, and die
tating terms to the faithful soldiers to whom
the country had been indebted for their subja
cation. Can it be that, whilst the citadel has
been confded to them, some of them, like the
miserable maiden in Roman history, have
yielded to the fattering seductions Of the foe?
But, gentlemen, while believe the general
principles of our democratic creed will be main
tanned, and while / assert my right to full fell
lowship in the true republican party Of our
country, lay no claim to that consistency
which requires that freeman should follow
the file-leaders of parties, no matter how fex-
ible they may be to the changes of the wind
Though an humble, l have ever been sincere,
friend Of civil and constitutional liberty. i
have never hesitated to sacrifice, if need be, any
pride of consistency to the honest duty of
maintaining the principles so dear to me and to
you. have always given the full measure OF
my limited influence in behalf of strict con-
struction of the federal compact, of jealous
reservation of the rights of the States of an
honest administration of the federal govern
ment, and the preservation of the federal
Union in the spirit and terms which our fore
fathers intended it to be perpetuated With
these views, am constrained to avow that the
recent course Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
towards your distinguished fellow-citizen, Judge
Bronson, is, in my humble Judgment fragrant
violation Of those cherished principles, and a
palpable departure from the true Interpretation
Of the compact of agreement which united the
democratic party upon the platform Of 1852. X
have yet another reason for this impartial
expression of opinion. stood upon the plat
form of 1852, with thousands of southern men
who renounced all affiliations Of party, to over
throw the faction which meditated the destruc-
ton Of the Union, and the violation of the con-
stitutional rights which that Union conferred.
1t had required earnest expostulation and the
most solemn personal assurances to persuade
them into the same political encampment with
IL ,xryho thnu dro0dad an
much. How then, gentlemen, can /, the con-
ductor Of a Metropolitan press, owing its sup
port to the generous patronage of such men,
dare to be silent when / see the compact for
their protection threatened, and vital princi-
pie by which their cooperation had been secur
ed, invaded. .s.
I sincerely hope, however, that by manly,
firm, and consistent perseverance to the end, In
the maintenance Of our true principles, better
and wiser counsels may prevail, and that we
may vet be spared this sacrelegious destruction
Of the ark Of our Union by freesoil conspira-
tors. am Of those who freely acquit the ad-
ministration Of the design to give life to that
fi.ction.-a faction whose incendiary purposes
may well emulate in history him who fired the
Ephesian dome; but this nnwise adaptation Of
means to purposes has verify openedthe casket
in which the spirit of freesolism has been sealed
with the seal of the Union and cast into the
sea- That gigantic spirit is slowly forming
again in all its terrible proportions, and it is
left for the Executive and the people to imprison
it again and forever.
But j turn, gentlemen, from the considera-
ton Of these graver matters with irresistible
inirth at the attempt to read You and me ont Of
the democratic party, because, forsooth, we
choose to lift up our voice Of remonstrance at
the official conduct Of this hitherto unknown,
but now selfmagni6ed mogul of the democratic
party. Who is this Goliah of Gath who has
brought reproach upon Israel, that he should
defy the armies Of the living democracy And
what If he cometh with sword, and with q
spear, and with shield? We come to him in
the name Of our party and the Constitution Of
our country, which he has defied. We acknowl-
edge no such Gamaliel, at whose feet we have
knelt and learned our democracy. We claim
to be real stockholders in the democratic party,
and hold our claim to fellowship from higher