The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-09-30
For the Free Trader.
To the Den Ccra,s OF the La Sale Dis
,.t

Fellow citizens: An "od line" demo rat
who has fought in the ranks OF the party
from his boy hood, one who can point with
pride to the de0ocraitc test 5ooI and show a
clean record; but whose i'll health prevents
him from taking m active part IN the excit-
ing subject Of the day, (yiz. the Nebraska
question: takes the liberty to address You
The democratic party has existed rs a
great national party from the date OF the CON
stitution of the United States 10 the present
time. The fundamental doctrines of the par
ty has always been "a strics construction OF
the constitution, and no interference by con
rrcss with the reserved rights of the states
or the people"
This is the democratic platform, sane
toned by every natioral convention which
the party has held. 1t is based on the con.
sttItion. There is nothing local or section
al aboutit. It embraces our whole country,
north, south, east, and west. On this plat
form the government has been administered
more than three ourths of the time from the
date Of the constitution. Under democratic
administrations our country has risen from
the smallest beginnings to be one Of the most
powerful nations ON the face of the globe.
The states have increased from IL, to 81 ;
and our territory has been extended from "A
narrow strip on the Atlantic, south 20 the
gulf OF Mexico, ana west TO the Pacihc ocean.
Our commerce covers every sea, and per-
haps exceeds that Of any other nation. Our
country has become the asylum of the OPP
pressed exile of every climc and every creed.
These are the Grand results and effects OF
democrntic prihcibi,sand 8emocrd'ic P0tici@,
and they should stimulate every democrat to
struggle for the permanent assendency OF
the principles of the party, and IAN ocean
bound republic" such as the world never
saw will be the glorious result.
The Old federal party under various names
has held the reins of government about one
fourth the time from the date of the con
stituton; and no great, or glorious result
has, or can follow from the adoption Of then
principles, aud policy. The leaders Of this
rights of The mass of the people. Their prln-
oipies when applied to practice have proved
so Odious that the people have always hurled
them from power at the end of four years
IN the convention that framed the constitU
ton Of the United States, Col. Hamilton
their great file leader, brought forward then
plan of government. The senate were TO be
elected for titc the house Of representative:
to be chosen by the voters having free
hold qualification, and serve seven years
the national executive was TO remain in Of
flee during .,t5. and have an unqualified roi'
on all laws The state legislatures were tC
be abolished, and The governor of each state
appointed by the national executive. Tho
fundamental doctrines of the old federal par
ty, were "tlat the people were not capable
Of government" and their leaders main
tain the same doctrines in disguised form
to the present day. This party has Away
opposed the extension of our national tci ri
tory, and tried to restrict emigration, by The
PASSAGE of "alicn and scdition laws" They
opposed the purchase Of louisiana, by def
fcison, and abused and illuminated him 70,
1t. They opposed the acquisition Of Florida
and the admission of Texas into the Union
They sided with England on the Oregon dis
pute; and oppose the acquisition of New
Mexico and California. They were arrayet
against their own country during the las
war with England, and declared 'that IL wal
unbecoming christian and religious peopl,
to rejoice at victories obtained over our enc
mics They refused to vote supplies fol
carrying on the Mexican war; and denounced
our gallant officers as ',iourneymcn throa
cutters !" and called on the enemy to NEE
our heroic soldiers, with bloody hands an,
ho>ritablc gravc1.'