Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-15

party that achieved the work. Is that lust
/ ground for disbanding them? Do we change
our physician because he has heretofore cured
/ us, or our preacher because he has convinced
us, or our HORSEPOWER because his work has
pleased us? But how can it be said, that the
great principles Of our public policy in regard
70 commerce and currency, or the great doc
trines OF constitutional construction, can ever
| become obsolete? Whilst our government
lasts, they must constantly recur, and be APP
piled in its daily legislation. But why disband
the Democratic party? For the greater part
OF period of more than fifty years, it has
administered the affairs of the federal govern.
ment IN such manner as to enforce respect
abroad, to secure to us at home such peace and
harmony as have never been found TO exist
! elsewhere, IN connection with the enjoyment Of
so much liberty, and to develop the moral and
| material resources of the country to an extent
heretofore unparalleled in the history of the
world. 1t has shown itself, too, to have been
the only party with spirit broad and compre-
hensive enough to steer the ship of State safely
through the storm OF sectional contests. When
| section was arrayed against section upon the
protective policy, it was this party which inter.
vened TO adjust matters satisfactorily enough,
for peace, at least, by the application of the
| great principles of free trade. Under the still
4
the South has found chiefly within the ranks Of
4 this party, the Northern friends who could dare
| to be just to her and true to the Constitution,
without fear OF the personal consequences
| which such course was sure to involve Dur
| ing the last Congress- so far as the free States
| are concerned, that party entitled itself to the
| lasting respect and gratitude of the South for
removing the odious ban Of the Missouri re-
strlction. Throughout the representation Of
the whole of the non slaveholdiDg States, no
| man was to be found, outside of the Democratic
party, who sustained the Nebraska BILL And
| now that they are in difficulties for so noble
discharge of their duties to the Constitution, is
| this time to desert or distrust them?
Fellowcitizens, | have spoken of the issues
which we are to meet and of the trials which
await u.s. In view Of these, would ask every
man, who has Southern heart in his bosom,
if he would not, instead of the present state Of
things, restore, if he could, the Democratic
| party as 1T was in the last Congress- to its for
mer power in that body? If this could be
done, every friend Of peace and the Union
would breathe freer and easier; there would be
no fear OF successful attempt in any branch
OF the Government TO abolish slavery in the
District OF Columbia, or in the Territories or
the slave trade between the States, or the repeal
the fugitive slave law, or to restore the Missouri
restriction. If, then, such change would be
desirable, the next best thing, assuredly, would
be to unite the South, as body, to the con-
sentative men of the North, who are doing
battle for the Constitution, and dare to be Just
to our rights. Let us, in this way, keep to-
gether party strong enough to defend the
| Constitution and the peace of the country,
until the sober-second thought of the people
comes in to the rescue, if, indeed, we are to be
rescued at all. What other road is there so
| probably safe as this? And where are those
conservative men to be found, in any strength,
IN the free States, except in the Democratic
party? But why of all the States in the con-
tederacy, should Virginia be exhorted to desert
the Democratic party, and at such an hour ss
this? Has she lost faith in their principles?
Are they not, for the most part, her own prin-
ciples? Loring Of Massachusetts, in late
eloquent letter, has ascribed the origin of that
party mainly to Virginia. 1t has been said
that all the great religions of the world have
| issued from the tents of Shem; it may be said,
! think with as much truth, that many of the
great principles of the Democratic party ema-
mated from. the log-cabin Of the Virginia pio-
neer The foundations of much of its public
policy are to be found in our colonial history;
and IN the outset of that party, under the Fede-
raj Constitution, it was led by Virginians
| The very banner which is now waving over its
hosts in the field, is, to great extent, the work
OF Virginia hands. How much Of its web and
Its wool were contributed by Jefferson and
Madison; how many of its notices were in.
scribed by Virginia intellect; how much of its
establishment is due to Virginia genius? Why,
then, should Virginia desert the Democratic
party, and at this time? That party has met
with succession of reverses in the free States;
the tide of the battle has now rolled to our
/ foaf ar,A he r.1.a II -.--
fixed upon us. Are we invited to leave our
| posts now because of so many defeats else.
where2 is it the cry of "sduUe qui pe,a''
which runs along the line? Are we to desert
our friends in extremity to seek for personal
safety or, worse STILL to wheel out of line and
hire upon them, that we may make our sepa-
rate peace with the foe. Perish the base
thought! Why is it that our friends are in
difficulty Because they did Justice to us in
| the Nebraska BILL and refused 10 wrong the
South. Is this, then, time to desert and
abandon them to the tender mercies Of the
cruel odds which are against them2 In such
an event, well might the old Commonwealth
hang her head in shame, and bow her neck to
the yoke of the oppressor; for how could she
! hope for the trust of friends or the respect Of
foes, after such conduct?
| Sirs, it seems to me, that no true son of
wish her to change now, TO leave the field when
such desertion would attach so cruel an attaint
to her shield off she is to change" we ought
to say, " let II be at some other time ;nnot now,
when the eyes ofthe whole country are so intent.
y fixed upon her, and when the hopes Of her
Democratic brethren every where are concen-
trated upon her, to redeem the fortunes Of the
| 6ght. Should we fail them now, they might
well say, as Bruce said to his friend at Ban
nockburn: "Ah, Randolph, there is rose
fallen from your chaplet," because his enemy
has passed when he kept ward.
But, fellow-citzens may not say in your
name, and in that Of the great body Of the
Virginia Democracy, the enemy shall not pass
when we keep ward we will roll back the
tide of battle which has reached our feet, and
redeem, as more than once before, the fortunes
Of this fight And why not both say and do
it2 They are the principles Of Virginia which
are at issue; the principles to which for more
than fifty years she has adhered through good
and evil report, and which she has ever regarded
as constituting the bulwarks Of her safety; they