Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-02-09

prescription is applied to all VINO nave
The manhood To think and speak Tor
themselves. Ii would be new thing
under tn sun FOR political caucus 10
pu, in nomination for flee. one OF the
onnosite party unless TO effect some ute
rior. selfish object.
LIT us trace out some OF the causes OF
this servility in our recent history; ahu
shall rui-avor to view the suoJec' IN the
Iiyht Of truth. an II ! as poii'icai par
tisan. Its fresh in the memory oil all
how parties stood during the late war
with Mexico; how those calling them
selves democrats were almost universal
IL for the war--legislatOr and conat'tu-
ents--the minister and laym'n. ortho-
fox. hrter0dox, christians, inhdeis. al!
saw clearly that ii was holy wdr on
our part, beeun by thu "act at Mexico.
But lust on the other siie Of the party
line. often la the same family. the same
CHURCH. we see other men of the same IN
;ellectusl and moral character oil NINA,
and differing only III party name. as 'oud-
" denouncin.ng the war as uhnsi! anu
uncalled for. Now. how Is this &C
caunted for? lid nea arrive at these
opposite conclusions by indie .,en6eni. Iin-
partial reasoning7 Let US see. President
Polk was then in power; he declared.
that WAR existed b. the act of Mexico.
and The democratic statesman III the Cab
met AMI in Congress. found il 10 their
interest TO sustain ;he President, ana the
paaty managers all over the nation, nap
penet to see il IN the same way. aid the
rank an file of the party file in as mat
ter Of course Is no; tae reason perfect
ly transparent!
Bl, il vii! be asked. how Is the con-
duct of the adverse party 10 b. explain
ed? WILL you not alicE that they acted
from the convictions of ihde pendent
Judgments" We must concede. iii can
dor. that there were exceptions Oh both
sides, free thinkers, who framed their
own judgments; but IL is melancholy
truth that the masses were Influenced
more by patty considerations than b!
reason.
Peace came, and brought with il an
immense territory, for which government
was 10 be provided. preparatory to the
organization Of new sis,eshaot of
States. The .errilory was free. eHd n"
policy Of guarding against the possible
Introduction OF slavery b! Incorporating
ia the organic law Of he Territories. d
a prohibitory cIuse similar 10 that III the
Ordinance of 1877, was moved III Cen
g.ess by democrat. and 'ssed ne low
ef House BY an overwhelming ma jortty
OK both parties Throughout the coGn-
Try the pa bic .n,iment went with Il full
Il le for this policy. Ia legislatures OF
most of the free States passed resolutions
Ia favor of IL.
BIT "a chln,a came over ,ha spirit CT
their deans For some political rea-
sons. unknown to the people. tx, party
headers changed their position. and de-
nounced the "proviso' SIS unius; to the
south. Gen. C,ss experienced this sul-
den change--and 10. from Oae en-! of thu
couniry to the other. psFty leaders ana
all. filed into the ranks. anil voted down
the very mpisure thy bad lately passed
with suc Immunity! WIS ever party
s-rvillty mr. som pleir: . pretend no,
h re ~ decide upon the merits OF his rs-
s;tic,Ive policy M subject requires
not this al ms hands; but simply TO show
how destructive ~ free. .nanly thought
ami actioa. is the influence OF party.
Tn. o iher party. however. fIr time
n i,ntainel show of consistency on this
subject. Mr.. Webster continued 10 adj
vocate the prnvisn, Mr Fillmore was
elected 10 the Vice Presidency on the
presumption tn, he was favofa BILE
That parry, all over the free States.
claimed 10 be friends Of this measure.--
Now. mark the sequel. The whig party.
once in power. political reasons again
cause the leaders to ch7rge their posi-
tipn.
Msssrs Webster and Fillmore de-
nounce The proviso ana its advocates
WHIT follows? Does the party stand
firmly upon the position so often reiter
atedl M: party influences again tri
umph. and the party changes its rrinci
pi-s with as much facility as one chang
his apparel
DOES not the history of the times bear
me out in these positions? How. also.
are these sudden changes TO be accounted
for2 Who dors not know that since the
leaders have taken this tack every man
has been prescribed who hos refused ~
obey their behests. and that the whole
patronage Of the government is now be-
ing welded for the same objecR
How long since il was proclaimed from
the capital of the nation. that the great
object of the Administration, in all lis
appointments, was Ito crush out"
tain policy. and to promote the union
of the dominant party7
How ubiquitous and pernicious must
be such an influenced How fatal 90 a inst
ad min ration of the government and
H. ......Au of liz .,Innti..n I'm - .nI