The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-10-06
The Dcmocratic Convention.

floor.
I he Democratic Convention.
The proceedings Of the democratic con
ycnton which met at this place last Satur
day will be found in our columns to-day
and we refer to them with pride. The res
olutions are such as we knew Democrat,
convention Of this county could not fail &c
adopt unanimously. They but rcailir
those great national principles, the firm ad
hcrence TO which has for now over half a
century made, with few Interruptions, the
democracy the dominant party Of the coun-
try, and has raised it to that proud position
It at present occupies among the nations OF
the earth. Slavery is placed where the con-
stitution lef, it, local and domestic institu-
ton Of the states and the doctrines Of pop
ular sovereignty, the foundation principle of
our government, is trusted to regulate it in
the territories; so that strict non.intcrvcn-
ton or non.intcrlcrcnce on the part Of con.
gress is made, as the trainers Of the consti.
tuition contemplated, the only just as it is
consistently with the peace and pcrpctuty
of the Union, the only safe rule of action on
the subject. And while popular sovereignty
is thus announced as principle, everything
like border ruilianism or foreign interference
by which the full and free action of the prin-
ciple may be impaired or embarrassed, is
pointcdly denounced
And here we cannot avoid the reflection,
how Droudis the position thus occupied by
the democratic party compared to that Oft the
piebald masses opposed to it. Composed of
half dozen Of different factions, no two
agreeing on a single principle, they present
the strange spectacle ola fortutous combina,
ton ofhostc elements, having fora bond of
their temporary and piecarous union, the
single common aim of oycrthrowing n strong
or party, whose principles many Of them hold
in no more adherence than those of the mass
OF their associates. Know nothingS, ntolcr-
ant and proscriptiyc, and more than half pro-
slavery, united with rabid abolitionsts, stout.
ly contCnding for the brotherhood Of the
whole human family, black and white Clay
wings side by side with free sellers, who
denounced Clay as man stcalcr aud rob-
Der; Garrison and Buntlnism whiggery
and amalgamationism. What good can the
triumph Of such a confused mass accom-.
plish? The first day of their accession to
power would be marked by such a family
quarrel as would rob Tie Kilkenny cat story
Of ali its poetry.
Not only as regards principles, but in the .
men nom mated. the democracy have the .
advantage of their opponents. JARED b.
FoRD, for treasurer, is a man whose integrity |
and personal worth need no commentator .
here. There are few men in the county but .
know him, and whether political friend or OPP
poncnt, no man has learned to know, but |
lie has also learned to esteem him. Com
Parsons are odouS," and we will not in
dulgc in any; but if it suited our inclna.
ton, it would afford material for an amusing
chapter to present a contrast between the
devious course off, wircy free soiler and an
Tx. n. politician, who stole nomination
from n wing H. n. convention, and the
consistent, open, blunt, and straightforward
politics of j. b. Ford.
In reference to candidate for circuit clerk
the democracy have an equal right to boast.
Though not as widely known, Mr. BGLFoaD
is a young man whose qualifications will
compare any day with those of his orpo.
ncnt. \ superior clerk, enjoying classical
education, and not unacIuaimtcd with the
mysteries of Coke and Blackstone, he would
soon be found as much at home among the
musty records Of the circuit clerks Office,
As he is now at home on his well titled farm.
Maj. HIT and d. F. JONES, Esq, as can
didates for surveyor and school commission.
or, have not only been well tried in the po-
sitions for which they arc nominated, but
have never been found wanting. The peo
pie know them, but not their opponents.
Such are our candidates, and it is further
due to them to say that none sought nom-
nation. They were the free choice, lay open
ballot, of the members of the convention,
nniniucnccd by any prior midnight caucus
OF dark lantern dictation or arrangement;
md if elected, will owe no fcalty or service
TO any such skulking order, If elected,
their success will be claimed as triumph of
democratic principles alone, and beyond the
success Of these, the democracy ask no bond
or Quitrcnt of their candidates.