The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-09-30
The Democratic Platform.

| Tho Democratic Platform.
When we speak Of the democratic party A. such. we
speak not a. partisan. bound by any fealy or agree
ment. but ~ an independent spectator With ito
party proceedings and organization in nowise
identified and Judge of them as OF other things that pass
before oar eyes, and which a. journalists bound
TO notice When the Richmond Enquirer. therefore.
states that have assumed that the appointment Of
Mr. John A. Dix 10 The French mission would be salts
factory 10 the democracy of the South" it only mis-
represents the language have used. but it totally mis-
conceives our position in regard 10 party. We said
former occasion, had evidence that the opposi
ton 10 his appointment from the South, and that il
seemed spring mainly from poros Of the democratic
party in his own Stale. This was strictly true. We
doubt if the Enquirer up 10 that date had opened
upoa him with of those guns which has since been
so industriousy dschagng; while the nternecne war
between hunkeIs and barnbuTners in New York has
been waged for these six months.
But The greatest mistake s suppose that pretend
speak for the democracy Of The South In this whole
matter Of o6ce-hoding. we abjure and repudatc all par
iicpaton. We have nothing TO do with il, and we are
neither leaders nor followers in whatever concerns
party organizations In these matters. when we turn
aside the m al all. il is observer. who has
right opinion. and to the free expression Of it, about
contemporary events.
Now, the democratic party in the convention which
nominated President Pierce laid down platform Of po
tical principles and pledges, which was avowed TO rep
faithfully and fully the grounds and conditions OF
party union. We never accepted or endorsed it--the
Richmond Enquirer did. The whole party was bound BY
these conditions The candidates pledged themselves TO
adhere TO them and elected those pledges The
Enquirer will not deny that this is lair statement OF lhe
position of the party and desire TO remind that pa
per that scrupuous dealing among southern presses
having really the defence o southern interests at heart
Is consideration that ought not ts be trided WITH.
We ask our esteemed cotemposary, then. what right
had an administration elected this platform 10 90 be-
yond it, and to criticize the whole pas life OF every in
dvidual men in order 10 determine whether At some
time he may not have uttered opinions in contradiction
deroGaiioa OF these pledges is. at any rate hard
trial to put politicians and in the excited condition Of
parties for the last Eve years il 10 test which, il rgor
ousy enforced, would leave q narvellousy small sup
por 10 any set Of principles that might be adopted
But Mr.. Dix emphatcay denies that be has ever held
or declared opinions in contradiction 10 hese principles
and II even tho investigations Of the EnQsirsr should
prove that this strong pledge il too wde IT will still BE-
apparent that his desire to occupy the position OF
who has never swerved from the democratic ceed and
a. no one questions that since the adoption OF that csse
be has faithfully worked to give it full eject and - no
one denies to him the qualities OF manliness and fear
less expression Of his opinions, have the right to take
for granted that what be says is snce and in good ah
a. TO his present opinions. .f4t f
II was upon these considerations that We expressed
the opinion that there no Legitimate panty objeetion
10 the appointment Of Mr. Dix to the French nissioa.
was admitted on all hands that there personal
objection 10 him that he was gentleman. man Of
di,cs,ion Of good address, and Of liberal cultivation Of
mind. tst faee tae ME
And here We remind ths Enquiret that the Rich.
mond Examiner, the South Side Democrat, the Lynch.
burg Republican, and the Columbus (Ga) Times. four
OF the strongest and consistent Stais-rghs iournss
in The whole South. have taken essentially the same
view a. the Mercury Of the position of Mt. Dix in the
democratic party.