Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-12-11
A "RECURRENCE TO FIRST PRIN-
CIPLESo THE DEMOCRACY.


"RECURRENCE TO FIRST PRIN-
CIPLES" = THE DEMOCRACY.
"a frequent recurrence 10 fundamental prin-
ciples," was one of the lessons ncucated by one
of the Fathers of our Country. Surely no period
could be more appropriate for obeying this wise
injunction than the present. We are at the com
mencement of a new Congress, and parties in
the House of Representatives are much divided
Organization seems impossible without coali-
tons, and rumors of coalitions, corrupt coali
tons, abound The only party of the three that
retains its old name, aud its old organization is
the Democratic party.
Again, we are on the eve of one Of those
great political contests which occur every four
years, and in which the several parties will
struggle with unusual activity and energy for
ascendancy.
To defeat all other parties and factions, and
to retain the aseendancy which it now holds, it
is proper and necessary that the Democratic
party should replensh and trim its lamps, so
that they may shed clear light. 1t is neces-
sary, too, that it should recur to its time
honored chart of principles by which it has all
along been governed and re-impress upon its
memory The wise and patriotic counsels of the
great fathers of the republic and founders of
the Democratic faith.
We do not design attempting profound and
philosophical disquisition on the subject Of
Democracy. That we leave to other and ADLER
men. Nor is our purpose to undertake com
plete analysis of the principles of that party. We
shall content ourselves with reference to the
most prominent, the first, and fundamental
principles which democrats have all along pro.
fessed, and TO which all Democrats, whether
from the North, the South, the east or the
West should adhere. The basis of the Demo
cratic creed is the sovereignty and equality of
the States Of the Union That is the corner
stone OF the edi6ce. From that it comes that
it has always been jealous of the growth of
great overshadowing, central federal power.
From that it comes that it has opposed United
States Banks, protective tariffs, systems Of
internal improvement by the General Govern
ment, the erection of great eleemosynary insti
tutions for the education of orphan children,
and for the protection and maintenance Of the
blind, the halt and the lame. From that it comes
that it has opposed all partial legislation-all
class legislation-all monopoles and that most
odous, dangerous and federal Of all measures
ever proposed in this country-abolitionism
The Democratic party is essentially State
rights party-Me State rights party of the
country. True, there are some men in other
parties who hold State-rights opinions; true,
there are men acting with the Democratic
party who hold Federal opinions, or in other
words, give latitudinous construction to the
Constitution. Bdt such men are misplaced
politicians. The first ought to come to the
Democracy; the last ought to go from the De.
mocracy and join the Federal opposition-for
at last, let the opposition be split and subdi-
vided as it may be BY almost imperceptibe
and inappreciable lines-that opposition is, and
of necessity must be, Federal, central, and lati-
tudinous in its character.
II is the boast Of the Democratic party that
it is homogeneous; that its Staie-rights tenets
compel an assimilation and an identity between
its various members that no ism and no idea
Of sectionaism can either invidiously creep, or
burglariously break into its fold. II is both
Staterights and national in its character.
Successful Is i has been in consequence Of it's
correct principles and its warm genial and
generous nature, and great as are the rewards
which individuals may reap from its success,
il would be unreasonable to suppose that bold,
aspiring, and inscriptions men would not
sometimes be attracted TO it. We do not deny
that such have cast in their fortunes with it.
But they have been attracted TO it not by an
admiration for its principles, but by love Of
its rewards.
We are warm advocates for the purgation OF
parties. The purer they are the more certain
and enduring will be their success An IN
scrupulous sitting or pretermission Of opinions
or fraudulent aud jesuitical rerbal conformity
where there is an actual and vital disagree
ment, may sometimes lead to platform that
will secure temporary success. But expert
ence has proved that such success can be TEN.
porary only. The most honest party is ever
the boldest and proudest party, and must al
ways be the most successful.
COLONEL JACK HAYS.
Among the MANY distinoniahad oantlaman