The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-09-13
Democratic Principles, ever the
Same.

wy "o 'ouoWiuS eAceHeut dItlCi6
from the Pittsburg Post, and ask our read.
ers to give it an attentive perusal:
1t suits the enemies of Democracy TO
aiiegs that Democrats. as we'll as Wings,
change their principles. But the charge
is untrue. For tho last hall century the
great cardinal principles of The Demo.
cratic party have been ever the same, as
comparison Of the past with the present
will clearly illustrate. II is we'll to review
the past occasionally, to see that our an.
cient land marks have not been removed.
The Democratic party of this country
has ever advocated entire religious free
dom. They place all religious sects and
denominations upon an equal footing un.
der the law and the constitution, and pro-
tect them equally in all their civil rights
Our party neither proscri5es nor prefers
any sect on account OF its religious opin.
ions, but considers all, OF whatever faith,
equally entitled not only to the privileges
OF citizens, but to the emoluments of Of
flee. if they can win official position by
the popular vote, or other constitutional
means. Thomas Jefferson. the founder
OF our party, was among the first to con-
tend for the principle of religious freedom.
lie secured the passage of bill by the
Virginia legislature recognizing the prin.
ciple in its broadest sense. before the
federal constitution was adopted; and he
ever afterwards looked back upon that
statute as one Of the proudest monuments
of his active political life. No proof is
needed that our party has ever since con-
tended for and sustained the same great
principles. Even now the Democratic
party over the whole country is arrayed,
and zealously and actively contending
against q secret political combination that
seeks to prescribe a religious sect; and
would revive again the intolerant spirit
and religious prosecutions of the days OF
ignorance and despotism. In this task,
. as in all others that Democrats have un-
'dertaken, they will surely triumph.
liberal spirit prevades the American re.
public in this nineteenth century; and re.
llgious warfare, and sectarian bigotry cen
never become q successful or permanent
element Of American politics. Demo.
Gratis prefer no one religious sect TO an
other. They merely prefer that all sects
remain FREQ and unmolested, and that
religious questions shall never be drag
gedi diinto the political arena.
le Another Democratic, principle. time.
honored, and still active, is the extension
Of territory by just and proper means.-I
sltcommenced with the acquisition Of Lou.
isiana under Democratic administration,
and has continued until the area of. the
srepublie is almost doubled. Each, new
acquisition has removed dangerous or
Itroublesome neighbor, given US increased
facilities for uninterrupted commerce, and
new and inexhaustable sources of nation
salwsalth and strength. Louisiana. Flor
ada, Texas, New Mexico. California, Ore.
gon, Utah, Kansas and Nebraska, Ar.
kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota,
are all acquisitions of Democratic admin
,istra,ions; and. added to the original do
main of the republic, gives US one of the
widest and richest empires of the world
The Democratic party is still in favor OF
. just expansion OF the domain of, the
republic. 1t willingly accepts the mani.
fest destiny Of this country TO extend its
freedom, its civilization, its admirable con-
stitution and liberal laws over the whole
North American continent.
While Democrats would thus extend the
borders Of the republic from ocean TO
ocean and from the frozen north to ;rophi-
cal south. they would people the. realms
acquired with a liberty loving. law -abi.
ding intelligent and industrious popula-
lion. For this purpose they contend for
and enact liberal laws OF naturalizaiion;
and welcome TO our shores the oppressed
Of other lands. During the administra-
ton of John Adams, the federal Wing,
the term Of residence before ,naturaliza-
iion was limited 10 fourteen years. Dur
ing the first or second year Of Jefferson's
administration il was reduced to five years.
There it has ever since remained. not
withstanding repeated exerions Of The op-
ponents Of Democracy to have the time
! extended to fourteen ortwenty-one or years,
and even to repeal all laws giving the
privilege Of American citizenship 10 those
born. in other lands. Agsinst secret
political combin alton that would discour-
age immigration, and exclude all of foreign
birth from participation in our freedom
and prosperity, the Democratic party is
now arrayed, contending still for the prin-
ciple and policy adopted by the Democ-
sracy half century ago. @
se The great fundamental principle Of our
free Institutions is the right of the people
40 govern themselyes. Popular sovereign
~, in it's most extended and practical
sense, is the cardinal principle of the
Democratic party. Ii has done battle for
that principle, against furious opponents,
often. earnestly and successfully. The
last struggle for its just application was in
the last session ol Congress, during the
; passage OF the new territorial bill-and
again the principle tramphed. Intimate
ly connected with this is the doctrine Of
/ States Rights, for which our party has
! ever commended. Ii would allow the peo-
pie of each State and Territory to form
and Determine its local institutions, and
acontrol all its own local affairs. For half
n century, The opponents of Democracy
have sought to subvert this most salutary
e1snd benefeent principle, but without sue
cess. The Democracy has sustained it.
s~ad again applied it in the kansas-Ne-
braska bill.
sseThe subject Of slavery has been, since
1910 cnn ofont therpa of aaitafion nd