Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-07
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER THE
DUTY OF THE DEMOCRACY.

views we entertained as to the duty of the
Democratic party" We gave these views fully
and frankly, and with full sense OF the respon-
sibility which we incurred In the use and exercise
of our immunities as public journalists, said
before, we acknowledge no power of control.
They are derived from, and belong to our own
honest convictions, and announced in good
faith, for the good Of our party. When we ac-
knowledge our allegiance eisetchere than to the
principles of that party, we hope we shall cease
to solicit and will not hope to deserve, the coun-
tenance Of honest men. Parties do not make
principles, but principles make parties. Hence
parties, political or otherwise, are only to be
spected when they live move and have their be-
ing upon this basis
1t is a great mistake to suppose that we are
bound to adhere power, Of our otcn creation
when that power which we have erected, deserts
or perverts the objects and purposes of its crea-
ton. II is not even of questionable morality-it
is downright dishonest to do it. In taic are we
bound to abide the peryersion of the provisions
and objects of trust, because, forsooth, we
created, the trustee In agriculture are we
obliged by any rule precedent, legal or Gus
tomary to retain an overseer, who ploughs our
land wet, who plants in dry season-whe
starves our stock, and who maltreats our negroes:
In religion are we forever committed to min
lister of the Gospel, though of our oirn selection,
who, instead of preaching the salutary truth as
it is in Him who was sent to save, breaches the
doctrines of heresy and schism' In marriage,
even, is the wife bound in duty or religion to
continue in love, honor, and obedience to the man
of her own choice, after he shall have become a
Mormon, and acquired fifty other wives, or, being
husband, to adhere to the wife who has forsaken
us, and gone after other gods All these things
are bargains-matters of contract-and in every
other relation of life they are the same. Why,
then, should our political relations differ from,
or form an exception, to this rule' If it is rea-
sonabs that they should be excepted, what must
be the inevitable RESULT Why, if in State we
may elect governor who may turn out an Abo-
litionist, are we bound to sustain him because
we placed him at the head of afairs' If in the
choice of a Chief Magistrate of the Federal Gov
eminent we give our confidence to one whose
antecedents have fully inspired it, and he proves
recreant to those antecedents to us, and to our
our principles, and our party, by justifying and
sustaining him and his policy Surely not A
party is worth nothing, and its principles less
than nothing, who holds any such heresy. Nor
has an Administration any rested right in party;
its right in IL and its fortune are wholly contin-
gent, and cease so soon as it has proven itself
unworthy of the confidence u the party. This
is the case with the present Administration. The
Democratic party IN the fullness Of its strength
and power, and with an elasticity of faith, con-
fded the reins Of Government TO its guidance.
The Democratic party are opposed TO internal inn
proyement by the General Government This
Administration favors il, and has already given
its official signature to one or two internal inn
provement bills. The Democratic party are in
favor OF free trade, and opposed to protective
tariff in whatsoever questionable shape il comes.
The present Administration favors protective
tariff, and the chief Of that department Of the
Government recommended such a system to the
Congress Of the United States. The Democratic
party are in favor Of States Rights; and are in
favor Of equal rights in the Territories, the COM
mon property of all the States. The present Ad-
ministration has practically and sadly shown its
dissent from these principles, by its improper
interference in State elections, and by the APP
pointment of sympathizer with Freesoilers, and
a traducer Of slavery men, over Territory whose
locality, interests and other considerations de-
manded slavery.
The Democratic party are friendly TO their
National brethren Of the North, and are deeply
interested IN the pemanency and integrity Of
their organization, and equally relentless to the
Freesoil and Van Buren, party. The present Ad-
ministration has trampled under foot the former,
and has raised the latter from their prostration,
to health and vigor. II has, by the exercise Of
its federal arm, given the Offices Of influence,
patronage, and power, TO the Frcesoilers, while
the National Democrats have been not only Gu,
off with shilling, but absolutely prosecuted for
very righteousness sake. These views, appro-
pirate addenda to those published on the same
subject in Tuesdays Sentinel, were suggested by
the leading article in the Richmond Enquirer Of
Monday morning. In referring TO the prospect
Of peace TO our party in New York, IL gives forth
some wise and wholesome counsel to our Demo
cratic brethren there. Il is unnecessary 10 say
how fully we concur with il; Il squares with our
own views, and exhibits a curious coincidence Of
opinion between our contemporary and ourselves
We publish tho article in FULL and commend Il
to the earnest attention OF our readers The
Junior editor Of that paper has done valiant bat
tie during the late canvass. His efforts and en-
ergies have not been confined 10 the editorial
sanctum, but his effective oratory from the hus-
tngs has carried, we doubt not, conviction to
many minds. Like ourselves, he values the
principles Of his party above all price, and in
vokes a rally Of our friends TO their establish
ment, regardless Of their "reatons to the present
Administration. lie rebukes, with us, the
policy Of the Administration in the distribution
Of the "Federal patronage" His tribute to the
Old Commonwealth is as beautiful as il is just
This portion Of the article for the reason that il
chimes so well with what we have said, we take
the liberty Of itaIicising.'
From the Richmond Enquirer
A Pledge of Peace I'm New YorL-Tbe
True Policy for the Party.
The demonstration Of JOY in New York over