The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-25
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

"a frequent recurrence to fundamental
principles" was one of the lessons incul-
Gated by one of the Fathers of our Country.
Surely no period could be more appropriate
for obeying this wise injunction than the
present. We are at the commencement of
ii new Congress, and parties in the House
Of Representatives are much divided. Or
ganization seems impossible without coali-
tionS; and rumors of coalitions, corrupt
coalitions, abound. The only party of the
three that retains its old name, and its old
organ, alton, Is the Democratic party.
Again, we are on the eve of one of those
great political contests which occur every
four years, and in which the several parties
will struggle with unusual activity and
energy for asccndancy.
The basis of the Democratic creed is the
sovereignty and equality of the States of
cdificc. From that it comes that it has
always been Jealous of great overshadOw-
ing, central, federal power. From that it
comes that it has opposed United States
Banks, protective tariffs, systems ofinternal
Improvement, &c, by the General Govern
mcnt. From that it comes that it has
opposed all partial lcgislation-all class
lcgislation-aN monopolieS, and that most
odous, dangerous and federal Of all meas
urcs ever proposed i'll this country-aboli-
tioniSm.
The Democratic party is essentially
Statc-rights party-the State-rights party
of the country. True, there are some men
IN other parties who hold State-rights
opinions; true, there are men acting with
the Democratic party who hold Federal
opinions, or, in other words, give a latitu-
dinous construction to the Constitution
But such men are misplaced politicians.
The first ought to come TO the Democracy;
the last ought TO 90 from the Democracy
and Join the Federal opposition-for at last,
let the opposition be split and subdivided
as it may be by almost imperceptibie and
inapprcciablo lincs--that opposition is, and
Of ncccssitv must be, Federal. central, and
latitudinous in its character.
It is the boast of the Democratic party
that it is homogeneous; that its State-ri@hts
tcncts compel an assimilation and an identity
between its various members, that no ism
and no idea of scctionaliSn can either in
vidiously creep, or burglariously break into
its fold. Jtis both State-rights and national
i'll It's character. Successful as it has been
in consequence of its correct principles and
its warm genial and generous nature, and
great as are the rewards which individuals
may reap from its success, ii would be IN
reasonable to suppose that bold, aspiring,
ana mscrupuIous men would not some times
be attracted to it. We do not deny that
such have cast in their fortunes with it.
But they have been attracted to it not by
an admiration for lis principles but by
love of its rewards.
We are warm advocates for the purgation
of parties. The purer they are the more
certain and enduring will be their success.
An unscrupulous sitting or pretcrmisSion
Of opinions or fraudulent and jesuitcal
rcr5at conformity where there is an actual
and vital disa agreement, mag sometimes lead
to = platform that will secure temporary
success; but experience has proved that
such success can be temporary only. The
most honest party is ever the boldest and
Proudest party, and must always be the most
successful.-[ lFdstington Sentinel.