The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-09-20


TO be relied On ~ strictly accurate. We hav'
no doubt the Nebraska question had something
to do with the defsat of the democracy in Iowa
but other causes were equally, it not more po-
leal for our defeat. In our opinion the causes
are various. The divisions in our party from
local and personal reasons; the failure Of ou
chief candidate 10 canvass the state; the mis-
representations Of the opposite party allowed Z
pa.s uncorrect~d; the gratuitous distribution Q
large quantities Of foreign papers Of wide influ
ence; the Industrious lsbors Of the Clergy
and of Temperance fanatics against Us; the influ
ence Of Know No,hingism; and the fear ana
srsmb'isg with which a large number of oul
leading men aid few Of our journals entered
the canvass and conducted the battle, are
among the prominent causes for our defeat
The Nebraska question, separated from every
thing else, was mere drop in the bucket. And
had this question been met upon its merits, 81
1t ought IN have been, in place Of initiating
against, would have saved our party. This il
seems to Us every man Of observation must be
aware OF. -,a a is4,ss "a - 7es
But let ~ hear thed editor Of the Enquirer
!. upon the subject Of oar defeat -, 81,
aThe prime cause of The defeat of the demo-
cratic party in this State, and the other north
ern states, in which elections have been held
lately 10 this:
Txs leaders Of he demoeratie party absndo.-
% fks Bsttimors platform Of 1852, and RIO :
~hA4N L. ~ r -
The Baltimore platform forbid, in the mos;
emphatic terms, the agitation Of the subject Of
slavery; yet in the face Of that platform, the
party leaders renewed that agitation BY intro
ducing into Conyress the famous, or infamous
Nebraska bill. The fundamental principle Of
democracy Il that the Representative shall be
governed By The viii of his constituents-the
very word democracy signifes, "the rule ofthe
peope," And yet ia direct violation Of that prip
ciple. democratic National Representatives
passed the Netraska bill-repealed the Mis-
souri Conprcmi:s No petition called for that
sepssl-n6 e0nstituency, North or South, in
structed il Representatives 10 vote for that
repeal-putiic sentiment spoke in thunder tones
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the
Lakes to The great Gulf against the repeal; and
yet the repeul was consummated. Those who
did this work, and their organs throughout the
country, psoclaimed the repeal Of the Missouri
Co0psomise democratic act, and sought to
brand thote Who opposed it A. abolitiunists, and
traitors to the democratic party The repre-.
sensasives assumed the right to dictste to their
cons'ituents, and to prescribe "test Of de.
mncracy" u those to whom they owed their
Political exissence, and whose sentiments and
opinions they were bound to faithfully represent,
and carry ont IL legislative sction, And the
summing up Of the whole matter is, the people
have repudisted the test which the politicians
sought T. impose.
i il true ikst sks leaders Of The Democratic
party sbssd0ssi the Bslffmsye platform of
1852 ssd risi~ted the fxxdamsnfai yriRcipls IF
dsmsesseyf IL il true that the leaders Of tie
demoesstie party rese,osd sgisas;en .pos tAs
sia0evy qssseiss, by iafrodseisg into Congress
the fsnssy, - i.tsmoss Nssraska BAL? No il,
10 not, and 40 man can sh.wi,. The demo
cratic psrty has sasic,iy sdhesed t,the platform
Of 1854 ard ses leaders are not, MIR cannot be
m,ds rssponsible far the agitation spon this
question. What are the facts in this case !.
They are - fsllows. People from the Western
psrt Of Iowa and tho.s iocs:ed in what is now
Nebuska and Kansas, pettioned fer the or
ganisation Of this Territory, The Senate Of
the United States Instructed Mr. Douglas a. lie
Chairman On Territories, to repor, bill for the
-esganisa.ion Of Nebraska. fle complied with
this ins,ruction ~ ne was bound to do and re-
ported hill in precise accordance with the
Compromise msssurss Of 1850, without one
siagle word upon tho subject Of the Missouri
Compromjss line. The momens that bill wss
n A,.e~A el,~ 4 h.l;x:~.. C...e~-. s..l -
commenced their war Of sgitation a. they have
slways done. They Published flaming mani,
sssto. dsclaFing The Missouri Comprsmise as.l
sa;lsd, when sst word had been said upon.
he subject and dsnooncing lhe Connittee a.
moral traitors. L vas not until after this ex.l
traosdiaary man.testo had been thrown broad
cast over the country, sAat The friends Of the
bill and Of The constitution, determined to meet
The issue and plant themselves upon the repeal
Of The odious Missouri restricGon. Was this
Esnewing agisasioa on the part Of leading dem
ocsats! No, for not one word was said upon
~ subject 81 rrpealine this Coqssemi.e. un,
I'll Seward, Sumner, Chsse, Wsdss sad Gid
dinss, had lsssssd shsniselves Into i fury of
Abolition aadnessa Snd aroused their friends
throdshout The county to pitch Of extsaer,
dinasy excitement. Il vas this class Of men
Who reneSed ssitstion spsa simple PROPOSE,
sioa . orsiaissa Tesritosy and who al~ays
held themselves il readiness whenever q bill OF
Mis- kiad b % be insssduced. 10 gel uP an Abo.
lition wss, as1 sss.. seas,
Il i ssssnes n u, that democrats who are