Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-10-18


that platform from one end of the Union to the
other? III any one doubts, she points exult
ingy to the recent elections in Maine, and says
Behold the triumph of National men standing
on the Democratic platform over Abolilionists
Freesoiers, and all the other vile factionists
that have lifted up their infamous hands in OPP
| position to the Constitution and the Union.
She points you to the national platform put
forth by the Democratic State Convention of
Massachusetts, to that adopted by the Demo
cratic Hard Shells Of New York, to the able
and patriotic address OF the Democratic Cen
trail Committee of Pennsylvania, to the resolu-
tons OF the Democratic State Convention of
Indiana; and then she points to her Cass of
Michigan to her Douglas of Illinois; to her
Bright of Indiana TO her Toucey of Connect
cut; to her Jones and her Dodge of Iowa to
her Thomson of New Jersey her Brodhead
of Pennsylvania; and to her Gwin and Weller
of California; and says these are the men who
in the Senate of the United States risked all
for the Kansas and Nebraska BILL the Union
and national principles, and now stand at the
gate that opens to the temple of freedom as
faithful sentinels with flaming sw ords to hew
in pieces the northern vandals that would de-
stroy the Union. She may not be able to unite
sufficient strength in the free States to defeat
lHe aDollllOH anu TetSOll cdnuludleS lOF IreSl-
dent Of the United States, but she has plat.
form on which to stand, and men of stout
hearts and stalwart arms to WELD the falchion
in defence Of the Constitution and of national
principles. The American party South has no
such platform in the free States, and no such
men to defend it.
"And now, said he, it could not be disguised
from the most common observer that the coun-
try was rapidly approaching most fearful
crisis. The contest must be between the Abo-
litionists, Freesoiers, and Know-nothings of
the North, and the national men Of all parties
and of all the States. What the result will be
none can tell. 1t may be the involving the
country in all the horrors of civil war, the dis.
solution Of the Union Of the States, and the
extinguishment of the fires which our ancestors
kindled on the altar of freedom, and which
they fQndy hoped would burn there in unex-
tinguishable glory forever At such time the
country requires every man to do his duty, and
it will require the united efforts of every ma
tional man to save her. Her voice comes
borne upon every wind, in mingled accents Of
sorrow and despair, crying help, help me, my
children, ere perish beneath the dark wave of
faction and fanaticism, which is threatening to
engulf me. She calls on the Freesoilers and
Abolitionists of the North and their response
L
owe you nothing! She calls upon the Know
nothing party in the free States, and they but
echo the response of their twin sisters, Adolf
tionism and Freesoilism, and cry, Perish,
perish, or give up the institution of slavery
:" She calls upon the American party South;
but, 'alasr they cry, I'VE are to help you; we
have no power to save She calls upon the
Wing party, her once great hope and support,
and a voice from the tombs Of Clay and Web
ster calls around her all the national men Of
the country, and bids her lean upon them, for
they alone can save her. She calls upon the
Democratic party from the North and from the
South, and she spreads out her national plat
form on which can stand the national men Of
every party and of every State and on whose
shoulders she may lean and weather the storm
OF faction and repose in security. And now,
said he, men say, You are going with the De-
mocratic party / am for my country. She
points the course and follow her directions.
When the great Wing party again resumes her
erect position, ! shall be where have always
been-with her."
This is a noble tribute, and from a noble
source, TO the Democracy of the country.
When such man as Senator Dixon renders
it, no rejecting man can fail to open his eyes
and unstop his ears. he says, and says truly,
and illustrates forciby, that the only sound con-
stitutional party, that is national and can effect
any thing against Abolitionism and Freesoi-
ism, is The Democratic party.
We hardly know which to admire most, the
ability or the patriotism Of the honorable Sen
ator. Yet history informs us that true ability
and true patriotism almost universally 90 hand
in hand.