Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-04

the brightest pages in the history OF gu
party. 1t was not the first time that til
democracy. have been defeated whilst con
tending for Just principles and wise pub
lie policy. This late cbhtsst, said Gov
B., will be recorded as another instance il
j wltitl, that party have commended for right
regardless Of the consequences have pre-
ferred principles to unworthy success.
Since The election, Mr.. b. said he hat
noticed with much interest, and in some
instances with establishment, the efforts o.
certain Of the opposition press to save then
party from the consequence Of thi; fusion
tliumph. Conscious that some OF the false
issues which they had raised are likely to
cost them dearly in future. they are as
tempting to attribute the origin OF these to
the action. of the democracy. Dreading
the ultimate effects of the intolerant doc.
trines that have Just triumphed in Penn.
sylvania, and the trightful error of array
ing one class Of American citizens and
one denomina,ioi Sf protesting Christians
against another, they are vainly attempting
TO escape a jus, responsibility. By what
facts or process of reasoning this work ac-
complislled, Mr.. B said, he was at loss to
imagine. As yet he had seen no argu.
ment on this subject that could mislead
tho mo st dull Of comprehension. The de-
mocracy did not in the late Contest, nor
III any other. nor will they in the future,
attempt TO mingle matters Of religion with
politics. They have distinctly denounced
all such attempts. As member OF that
party, he had done so. and should continue
to do so ON ali proper occasions; nor had
he ever sought to coneiliate any sect or
class Of people by ,amrering with their
feelings 81 Yielding TO their prejudius.
How these new Questions arose in feErf-
sylvania can be readily discovered. The
wing mayor OF Philadelphia, in his matt
gural address, had distinctly avowed the
doctrine that citizen born out Of the
country should not be trusted with civil
office, and he should make this principle a
rule of action in the distribution Of the pat
ronsge OF his office. the democratic par
ty, deny the justice Of his dnctriue, and
insist that the guarantees O. the constitu-
tuition must be scrupuously observed that
no administrative Office should lay down
rules inconsistent with just adminsitra-
ton Of the laws; that each American cit
izen, wherever bon. should be permitted
to enjoy all his rights and opportunities
under the constitution. Our opponents,
who has thus commenced an aggression
upon adopted citizens, Immediately raise
the cry of "foleign influence" and charge
that the democracy are the specsgl friends
and apologists Of our foreign population,
and address themselves to the National pre-
judices OF our people. We deny this alle-
CATION that we SIRE the special guardians OF
any class &c citizens. The Democratic
party seek only to defend the constitution.
and to maintain that each citizen shall be
permitted TO enjoy the rights. privileges,
and opportunities which it guarantees 10
him. Where the cncroarhments made
upon any otLer class of people the position
ofths democratic party would be changed.
They would still Insist uPon just admins
istration of the constitution. They would
then be called the partisans Of tAe native
born citizens.
Secret and oath bound soci.tie. have
been formed for the known purpose Of
abfidging the constitutional rights OF Amer
lean citizens because oii,he place Of their
birth. and the tights of a certain religious
denomination OF the people, whether born
in America or elsewhere. The democrat.
ic party again insist that the constitutional
guarantees must be observed; that no citli
zen shall be prescribed from civil place be-
cause Of his religious belief !; ana. again, a
false charge is raised, to the effect that we
are the apoi5gisfs or the Catholic religion.
We dehy this allegation, said Mr.. b. The
democratic party are the guardians Of no
religious denomination, but simply defend
the constitution against itiAs fati0ns tina,
would render lis guarantees dead letter,
Were similar combinations made against
the Presbyte rian, or Methodist, or any
other denomination, the democracy would
resist such cncroachment. Then, with
equal Justice, they might be called the
special friends oil these denominations
'fhe democratic party is not the guardian
Of ony particular religious denomination
It seeks te secure the spectral favor of none
but maintains the constitutional rights o.
all. 1t has not, and he trusted it never
would recognise the de,nahds'of any sec
or class OF people, as such, OF Office oil
honor. l. will maintain the legal and
moral rights of all, and leave each citizen
to depend upon his own merits aud quail
fcations for Office and h5nor.
The doctrine, said Mr.. b., that the ac.
eid-nt OF birth is to determine the rights
and opportunities Of an American citizen
to attain to and to hold civil office, is in.
consistent with justice and right. Citi'
zens, agreeabiy 10 the constitution, ale en-
tltled to like benefits, rights, privileges
and inmmnlties and, for one, lie denied
the justice Of all attempts, either by power
or secret combinations OF by laws, TO re-
strict or withdraw those blessings. aud liber.
ties as to particular citizens. The propo,
sition, said Mr.. b., is unjnst, illegitimate
and revolutionary, aud lie was at a loss IL
understand how any one making preten
sions 10 Christianity could countenance SC
great 4 Wfohg The acceptance OF oii
conditions by the people 81 dtiief countrie,
made a covenant which we have no mora
or political right to break, and whirhths
government is bound TO maintain. Tn,
savage rule, that might make right, ant
that only, can be made to reach the objec
Of this new organization. But certainl,
such doctrines are not to Be countenaneed
in our enlightened age. We native-borr