The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-12-15
nemocrniic State Convention.

pursuance of the authority granted by the
democratic state convention Of 1902, recon-.
mend to the democracy Of the several coun-
ties of the state to apo Mt delegates to meet
in state convention ~ Springfield, on We'd
nesda,, The lat day IF hay merit, for the
purpose of nominating candidates for COVER
nor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state
auditor, treasurer, superintendent Of public
instruction, and the appointment Of dele.
gates to represent the democratic party Of
the state in the democratic national convcn-
ton. In accordance with the instructions
of the state convention Of 1862, that the re-
presentation in the next convention be based
upon the vote cast for the democratic prcsi-
dental electors In that year, the committee
su 'gcst the following apportionment of re-
presentation for the several counties, it be-
ing based upon the said vote, and allowing
one delegate for each 800 democratic votes,
and one delegate for each fraction exceeding
$50 votes.
In the election which will take place in
November, 1856, the people will again be
required to decide the principles and policy
which are to direct our state and national
governments, for the ensuing four years
II must be the wish of all true men. that
these governments remain in the hands Of
those who love the Union, who reverence
the constitution, who reverence the consti-
tuition, who will defend and support them,
and enforce the laws Of the land
The malcontents, the intolarants, and the
religious bgots of the country, have deter
mined upon making desperate effort to
seize the reins Of government Their only
wish aud hope is to excite popular passion
and upon it ride into office and ride into
power They have raised their black flag,
with "ABoLIrIoS" upon the one side and
"DIsrNIoS' upon the other surmonntcd
with the know.nothing deaths head and
cross bones, and with hdeous outcrics are
rallying their motley troops for the coming
struggle. They pretend to be the peculiar
friend of the negro while they would make
slaves Of white men they pretend to be the
friends of freedom, yet murder men for
exercising plain constitutional right; they
pretend to love liberty while they denouncc
the constitution as "a league with hell :"
they make loud professions Of piety while
they prosecute others for difference Of reli-
gious opinion, and SANDER and belle all who
entertain sentiments differing from their
own on one day they profess to be charmed
by "that rich Irish brogue and that soft
I German accent and the next thov shoot
down, burn and murder mel, women and
children, Tor not being born in the same
county as themselves they illustrate their
pr!uclpc Of Americans ruling America by
mobbing the elections, breaking up the bal
lot boxes and destroying the votes they
urge their own will as higher than the con
s,itution, while they deny to the people Of
the territories the right to have any will at
/ oil. ,h.u IN
hy violence when its acts conflict with their
aims they resist the constitutional act, OF
congress BY armed mobs, which is treason
b, the law Devoid of political principle
themselves, they are for fusion with men Of
every shade Of political principle, and men
of no political principle, so that they can
"vote vote" and add strength to their po-
litical organization.
In bold contrast and aloof from all TN.
confusion and corruption stands the demo
cratic party. The party that has, since the
formation Of the government, with but few
and short intervals, conducted the affairs Of
this nation--and that too to its honor, its
power and its rcnown. In war it has borne
our flag to victory and to glory, and in
peace it has scattered the blessings Of wealth
and plenty, or private protection and public
order as wide as our vast domains. This
great party stands now rs il has always
stood, a national party, and party Of
principle On the broad folds Of its unsul-
: fred ilag are the words Of Jefferson, as they
were written upon It with his own hand
Equal and exact justice to all men, OF
whatever state or persuasion, religious or
political; peace, commerce, and honest
friendship with all nations-entangIing ALI
anccs with none; the support OF the state
government in all their rights, as the most
competent administrations for our domestic
concerns and the surest bulwarks against an
Ii republican tendencies the preservation OF
the general government in its whole constl-
tutional yigor as the sheet anchor Of our
peace at home and safety abroad jealous
care Of the right Of election by the people
a mid and safe corrective OF abuses which
are Topped by the sword OF revolution,
where peaceable remedies are unproyided !:
absolute acquiesconce in the decisions OF the
majo.ity-thc vital principle Of republics,
from which there is no appeal but to force,
the vital principle and immediate parent OF
despOtsm, a well disciplined militla-our
best reliance in peace and for the first mo.
men,s Of war, till regulars may relieve them;
the supremacy OF the civil over the military
authority economy in the public expense
that labor may be lightly burdened the ho-
nest payment Of our debts and sacred pre-
serya ton OF the public faith encouragement
Of agriculture, and Of commerce as its hand
maid the diffusion Of information, and the
arrangement of all abuses at the bar Of pub
lie reason ; freedom Of religion; freedom Of
the press and freedom Of person under the
protection of the hdJeds corpus and trial by
luries impartially selected; these principles
form the bright constellation which has gone
before us and guided our steps through an
age Of revolution and reformation. The wis.
dom of our sages and the blood Of our heroes
have been devoted to their attainment
They should be the creed Of our political
faith-the text Of civil instruction-the
touchstone by which to try the services of
those we trust and should we wander from
them in moments of error or alarm, let us
hasten to retrace our steps, and to regain the
road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and
safety.
"And let us reflect, that, having banished
from our land that religious intolerance I'M
der which mankind SO long bed and suffer.
ed, we have yet gained little if we counte-
nance political intolerance as dcspotc as
wicked, and capable Of as bitter and bloody
prosecutions"
These are the principles which constitute
true American republicanisn, and under
which the democratic party have fought and
conquered for more than half a century, and
under these the democracy will continue to
fight and triumph in all time to come.
We once had an antagonist party--and it
too national party. 1t had Henry Clay for
its leader and its head-a leader beloved and
contided in by his followers. They differed
from the democracy upon great national
questions, but their opposition was open,
bold and manly. They opposed, while they
respected each other. Neither ever aban-
doned its nationality, but in 1850, at that
fearful crisis upon the slavery questions, Mr.
Clay and his friends united with Gen. Cass
and his friends in establishing the great
principles of the adjustment measures, those
of non intervention by Congress with the
question of slavery in the territories and
that of leaving the people thereof perfectly