The American patriot., 1855-06-23
Democratic Resolutions.

lnat WOulQ upon tne rack OF tnlS tough w0flC
Stretch him out longer"
1t is not our purpose to review, seriatim, the
windy Resolves enacted by the Democratic
party of this parish on the 9th instant. The
vocabulary of political invective is maliciously
discharged at that party, which, claiming the
instincts of American nationality, the Consti
tuition and the laws for its guides and land
marks, numbers among its members not few
Of the countrymen, friends and ncighbors Of
the trainers of these spiteful resolutions. Did
no silent monitor suggest to their heated minds
the very equivocal propriety Of applying to
any portion of their fellow-citizens, of at least
as high an average ofintelligence and respect
ability as they can lay claim to, such whole
sale anathemas as these resolutions embody:
Intolerance Of dissent produces no conviction
of the justice Of any set of opinions; and an
assumption Of infallbility, is simply, and su-
premely ridiculous, whether the assumption
emanates from Parish meeting of the "old
liners, OF from secret ccnclave" of the
clark legions" of a midnight, oath-bound po-
litical order" Nations, sects and parties have
erewhile cherished beliefs in politics, which ex.
perience has convinced us should be rejected,
and this reflection should teach the cautious
thinker that his views and opinions, however
confident he may be in his convictions, are at
least debateable.
Detachable, the resolutions certainly are but
as we regard them merely as coarse re-hash
Of similar enactments, launched in desperation
at the sturdy young giant whose terrible shad-
ow interposes between the hybrid hosts of the
old Liners, and their darling fesh-pots, we
deem it quite unnecessary to enter upon an
elaborate refutation of them. The fact is,
"Sam," albeit, quite youthful has heard so
much Of that sort of 'vox ct pretmria nihil''
thunder, that it does not startle him in the
least and although he may regret the abomina-
bic bad humor displayed throughout those
stereotyped inanities, he cannot afford to COM
promise his position so far as to hazard criti-
cism, in the same ill-natured strain. A calm
and equable bearing-a mild, conciliatory, dig
nified forbearancc, are far more efficacious in
the advocacy of good cause, than fierce in
vective and indiscriminate denunciation. Be-
sides, there are in the ranks of the American
party many who yet revere the name of De-
mocracy, who, while honestly dissenting from
the spirit of these resolutions, do not desire to
see fierce war of words waged upon the po-
litical acts of men, who, however, mistaken
mo~, were once political bretheren; by whom
they have stood shoulder to shoulder upon
many hard fought field. Entertaining views
unchanged, sacrificing, as they conceive, none
ofthe principles of Democracy, as it was taught
by its earliest and best cxpounders, they have
chosen to abandon an organization, which, un-
der the name of Democracy, has forfeited its
clam to their confidence. Their action has
been ratified by the unreserved approval of
their own conscience, and, although, they may
regret to abandon party name around the
ancient glories of which their memories still
tenaciously cling, yet, in the loss of the name
they console themselves with the reflection
that they have at least carried with them the
substance of their political faith unchanged and
incorruptible
After ALL "whats in name:" If it is es-
sential to those of our fellow citizens who met
together on the 9th instant, that they appro-
pirate to the exclusion of all others, name
once potent in this land, because it was the
synonyme of rational liberty and republican
virtue, we arc content. The name is not worth
a contest, when all its proud associations-its
glorious nationality, and its majestic power,
have dwindled to be the play-things of schemers
to consecrate their corruption, and veil within
its protecting folds the unhallowed tricks of
charlatans and demagogues
Once, side by side with many who now
stand with lis upon the American platform, We
kneeled before the affairs of Democracy with
all the fervid zeal of devotee, but then their
fires were lighted by patriotic hands, and
pure incense filled the air around, nerving our
youthful spirit with an ambition to emulate in
high resolves and patriotic deeds, the great
American hearts of the Democratic galaxy.
lhen Democracy was rich in all the elements
Of nationality-the mighty Democratic host
was "like the leaves of the forest when sum.
mer is green;" and confident in their might
they scorned to truckle and cringe, and duck
the head to every sectional puff which agitated
the surface of the political sea. Then Pierce
nor any other miserable counterfeit of great
ness had been uplifted upon the brawny shoul-
1ers and muscular arms of Democracy into the
seat of Washington, Jefferson and jackson;
nor had foreigners without merit crawled into
high posts, to sit in naughty Judgment upon
the groveling claims of native seekers for pre-
fermcnt
Noe, how changed, alas! Where now is
the Democratic party of those better and purer
lays of the republic? One by one its states
men and orators have been summoned from
the field of their usefulness, while hungry
train of camp followers-polit:cal Dalghettys,
lighting for pay and provender, are the inglo-
rious Substitutes, who answer for them unon