Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-20
A Call for Redemption ofPledges.

Every now and then, SAYS the Alexandria Ga
zette, some FESTIVE member of what used TO be
called the democratic party tired ont with
waiting for something that was promised preyi
Gus TO the last Presidential election, calls upon
the party for redemption OF lis pledges. We
have case in point before When the subject
of adjournment Of the present session of Congress
was before the House of Representatives, Mr..
Keitt, of South Carolina, spoke as tollows:-
II undl rstand. sir, that the Democratic party
came into power with the principle OF free trHde
inscribed upon its flag. Now, sir, what has been
done to carry out this principlel Nothing lit
eIaly nothing. Should il not do somethingl
Most certainly il should unessits creed be only
a deluson, and Its only object be spoils. The
Democratic party came into power by an over
whelmng majority; and wish 10 know aud ms
far as my vote goes, mean 10 know. if its pro-
fessions about free trade are honest or not. Sir,
if principles be with the party mere iugglers
balls, to play gnme of popular imposture with,
then desire the legerdemnin 10 be understood,
and the dupes to be only the iagglers dupes.-
Sir. if the Democratic party is based up,
principles, LET Us see this by notion am tired
Of mere professions. Let me say, also, sir that
no purity, boated by heterogeneous compounds,
and corpulent with crude sms can ever last long,
Life waits upon health and antagonste ee-
ments carry death with them.
Sir if the Democratic party is divided upon
the great question of free trade, which was born
here, and has subsequently carried its flag OF
triumph over almost all the globe, the country
should know the fact. The Treasury is full to
repletion our great staples are increasing al.
most Incidentally and our resources in every
phase are quiekened with an energy unknownby
any other people or any other time. Sir, we
have made discoveries in everything but the
pra, teal application of the principles of govern
ment We have explored the arcana Of physical
science, laid bare its mysteries, swept over ire
mendous RI vines, aud made he lightning play
postman to the nations of the earth but IN gov
eminent we have pursued only the broad
thoroughfare trampled by the footsteps ofevery
nation which has gone before us, of ccntraliza
ton. financial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. and the spolia.
ton of walker interests.
Sir. LET us retrace our steps, and reour 10 the
earlier principles of the Republic. Let US adapt
Il lie revenue of the Government to its proper
wants and secure an economical expenditure
This can only be done by an entire reformation of
the present tariff. This the Democratic party is
pledged TO; and mean, far my vote goes,
tomake it redeem its pledges. or distinctly refuse
to do so. do not mean, rs far as can prevent
it, that II shall shirk the question by an adjourn
ment- | prefer TO fix the day of adjournment Il.
bout the first of September though | think we
had better postpone the whole question for the
present
Sir, let us look this tariff question in the eye,
and see who of us are for n reformation of the
tariff, and who opposed 10 it. For thirty years
my section has been borne down by an oppressive
system of Legislative .plunder aud it is me we
should fling it off. The Democratic party is
pledged to this, and let ii redeem the pledge.
Whenever the tariff is reformed, or whenever the
Democratic party in this House distinctly refu-
SEES to reform it, am ready to adjourn. | will
not vote TO adjourn that it may shirk this issue.
If it is to continue to manipulate the masses with
professions and, by skilful jugglery to ensnare,
seduce, and delude, it shall have no aid of mine
for any of these purposes. Professions seduee
men; principles rally them"