Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-04
THE DEMOCRACY OF THE UNION.

We are free to say, that in our opinion, the
supremacy of the democratic party is in jeopar-
dy. 1t has nothing to fear from the strength
Of its enemies. The elements of its weakness,
if they exist at all, are to be found within its
own ranks. The present we conceive to be an
suspicious time to suggest the means by which
its integrity may be preserved, and the great
ends OF its organization be finally accomplished.
Congress adjourns to-day, and tomorrow the
representative returns to his constituents. Let
those of them who have steadfastly adhered to
that construction Of the Constitution which JEFF
fersou and Madison and Calhoun taught, rest
assured that from every enlightened constitu-
ency they will receive their reward. Let those,
who unmindful of the rights of the State and
forgetful of the fact that they are the constitu-
ionally appointed guardians Of those rights,
have consented, for personal or local adyan-
tage, to lose sight OF the old republican land
marks, pause and ponder. Let the national
democracy, east and west, north and south, re-
member that without that strict construction
of the Federal Constitution, for which they
have heretofore contended, the Constitution it.
self is worse than worthless.
From its birthday to the present time, the
democratic party has claimed to be, and always
has been, the State rights party of the country.
In 1913 they opposed the Alien and Sedition
laws in 1920 they manfully fought against the
worse than infamous principle contained in the
missnamed Missouri compromise, in 1850 they
we're found fighting on the side Of the constitu-
tional rights Of the States and, in 1854, the
browning glory of the State rights party shone
ont in their manful repeal Of the Missouri
compromise. Upon this great question the
State rights men from all sections were found
side by side. Senators and representatives from
the northern States the true, the tried, the
trusted, We'd with the men Of the south in Civ
ing brilliant exemplifcation Of their true de-
yotion 10 the common brotherhood. The State
rights men knew no latitude, no longitude,
no section. All sections and all States re.
ceived alike a common benefit, resulting from
the passage Of this equal law. To deny
those benefits to one section is to deny
them TO all, to extend them TO one is to
extend them to all.
We tell the republican party, through their
representatives, that the great battle which
was fought on the floor Of the Senate cham
Der, has to be fought again before the peo-
pie. The State rights constitutional demo.
Gratis Of the north, with the united people
of the south, can and must ward of the
dangers which threaten this Union. 1t can
only be done by an unbending and consistent
devotion to those great principles of constitu.
tional equality which secured to Kansas and
Nebraska territorial governments. 1t can only
be done by throwing before the body Of the
democracy the broad bright shield Of Consti-
tuition, with powers strictly defined and limited.
The rights OF the States, and the preservation
of the Union cannot be brought out by wild
and latitudnous construction Of the Federal
Constitution. We call upon the old line de.
mocratic republican party to stand firmly by
their old-fashioned republican principles in the
contests that await them. Let them do so,
and abolition fanaticism may howl in impotent
fury around the "temple and fortress which
they defend.