The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-07
THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.


THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY
Our oreathers thirteen United Colonies, in acquir
ing their and founding this republic of the
United States of America have devoved upon U.S. their de-
scenants the greatest and the most noble trust
the hands of man, imposing upon ALL and especially
the public viii have invested for the time being
with political functions the most sacred obligations We
maintain nviote the great doctrine OF the inherent
right of popular segovernment to reconcile the largest
liberty he individual citizen with complete security OF the
public order cheerful obedience the laws of the
land to unite forcing their execution and to frown indg
nantly all combinations to resist hem to harmonzea
sincere ardent devotion to the institutions OF religious
faith with the universal religious liberation; to
rights all by causing each to respect those OF the
other forward every social Improvement to the ut
limit of human perectiblity by the free action Of
mind upon mind by the obtrusive intervention OF map
piled force to uphold the integrity apf guard the limita
ons of our organic law preserve sacred from all touch
of usurpaon the palladium OF our political saliva
on reserved rights and OF the several States
and of the peoples to cherish with loyal eay and devoted
affection, this Union, the only foundation which
hopes of civil liberty rest to administer government
with vigant integrity and rigid economy to cultivate
peace friendship with foreign nations and to demand
equal justice from ALL but to do wrong to
ntermeddng with the national policy and the domes
repose of other governments and to repel it from
own shrink from when the and the honor of
the country call but to cultivate in preference the
peace seek enlargement of the rights of neutrality
and and beraze the OF nations ana by
just honorable and such only whilst exang
the condition of the republic to to it the Legitimate
influence and the benign authority of great example
amongst all the powers of Christendom
President Pierce's Message
We desire to fix the attention Of the American people
upon the foregoing from the second annual
sage of President Pierce The great purposes and ends Of
democracy were drawn and grouped together with
more comprehensive and impressive forceno by Mr.
Jefferson in his first Inaugural Address when he laid
down similar enumeration of the leading objects Of
a wise popular government. Starting out with the
fundamental principle that the people possess the in
herent right of self-governmcnt each successive
nouncemen contains sentiment vital to popular freedom
Viewed in detail there of the catalogue of trusts
SO admirably marshaled which could be withdrawn from
the bright constellation without marrng the harmonious
completeness and diminishing the usre of the combine
ton No friend of rational liberty withhold his
dial approval of each and every sentiment in the
ton Strike from the list any one and its absence will at
once be felt essential curlmen of the great mission
of democracy Each puts forth political
truth noble sound, VITAL that it may well cons-
tue issue which every democrat could expend his
energies and enlist his warmest enthusiasm. Taken
whole, they constitute grand democratic arch
capable of sustaining any weight resisting any force
so long as each one maintains its soundness and
tains its appropriate place. All essential to
the attainment of the great ends of democracy that
it is difficult to determine which should be guard
ed and defended with most vigilance and energy If we
read the catalogue by one and and reflect
upon each, will doubt at every pause whether we
then considering the most important of all democratic
truths ave have maintain nvioate the great doctrine
Of the inherent right Of popular is
the foundation which our political fabric rests and
hence the duty of maintaining it nviolste would to
impose the highest possible obligation but passing from
the foundation to the supersucture have ITO reconcile
the largest liberty of the individual citizen with the
pletc security of the public ORDER Hence that
not enough to maintain involate the inherent right of
popular selfgovernment, but this right must be
strained and regulated to consist with the complete
cury of the public order otherwise popular liberty ray
into intocrable RIGHTEOUSNESS and anarchy Hence
follows the obligation ITO render cheerful obedience to the
laws of the land to unite in enforcing their execution and
to frown indignantly all combinations to resist them
Without such obedience to the laws, and such union for
their enforcement the largest liberty of the individual cit
izen would be destructive Of the public order But
obedience TO the laws, and union for their enforcement
cannot be relied for the preservation of public order
unless perform the obligation ITO harmonic sincere
and ardent devotion to the institutions of religious Faith
with the most universal religious liberation" Without
the full enjoyment of freedom of conscience combined with
universal religious liberation there can be guarantee for
the enforcement of the laws for the preservation OF public
ORDER for the maintenance of popular sefgovernment
thus appears that each successive doctrine in the list
sutes essential link in the golden chain adding Its
excellence and its strength and showing that can N
dispensed with without destroying the integrity and ha
cy Of the whole.
There is abundant proof in the results of the late cleo
tons that disregard of any of the essential prnc
pies of democracy fatal to its and destructive
its high mission. The necessity for recurrence to h
principles and for thorough discussion of their funda
mental elements apparent The old land
marks of democracy must be renewed and this only
be done by full presentation of the essential doctrines Of
party President Pierce has enumerated and earm
ed these doctrines with admirable precision and concise
ness We shall take them up hereafter in detail and do
our part towards restoring them their necessary ascend
ency in the democratic party.
THE MEMPHIS NAyY-YARD.
The city of Memphis has sent delegate Washington
for the purpose of endeavorng induce Congress to con-