Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-29
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IdE DEnnUChA1AC III
1t has been our high privilege, in times past
to be an humble member of the Democratic
party, and to utmost extent of our ability to
aid in the advancement of the great doctrines
that party professed. We have been brought
up in those doctrines, and educated in the lib
eral principles enunciated by Jefferson, and his
compeers, which have been the textbook of
every democratic administration from the for
nation of the Government, until the South Sc
lected Polk.
We have belonged to the Democratic Or
ganization, because it has been the means by
which the principles re revcred, were adyanc-
ed. 1t has been the aim and object of that
party heretofore, to extend the blessings of
liberty ; to perpetuate and strengthen our free
Institutions /; to promote the public welfare !;
to defend the freedom of speech, and thought /;
to secure to every man the largest liberty of
conscience and action, consistent with the we'll
being of community to oppose every form of
tyranny over the mind of man and to sympa-
thize with, and endeayor to relieve the oppres-
sed and down-trodden of every cline and ma
ton, of every tongue and persuasion.
With the nomination Of Polk the Democratic
party became diverted from the high and holy
purposes which almost Sanctified it, and was
made the machinery by which the then just
developing schemes of the slayery-eXtensioaists
were to be carried out. 1t will he recollected
that a large majority of delegates elected to
the Baltimore Convention of 1874, were in
structed for MARTIN VAN buren,. But that
perSpicacious and far-seeing statesman, early
took ground against the annexation of Texas,
and the influence Of the South was set at work
to defeat his denomination, with success. From
that Convention dates the prostitution of the
Democratic party to advance the ends of sla-
very. The work then so successfully commenc-
cd, has been persevered in, to make the party,
what the South declares it to be, the natural
ally of Slavery" How far it has been success
full, may be judged by its action since, and by
the attitude it now presents.
Previous to the Convention of 1913, the
Democratic leaders of the South, ana their
prominent journals, openly and boldly declared
that they would support no man for President
who was not pledged and devoted to the sla-
very interest. The declaration was publicly
made, that any man holding the views which
JEFFERSON taught, would not receive the sup
port of the South. Hence, Gen. CAss' new
doctrine of popular sovereignty" as %cnuncia-
ted in the Nicholson letter, which failed in its
object, only because it was liable to different
interpretations. Even previously to the assem-
bling of the Convention that nominated Gen.
CAss, the South were content to declare their
intention not to support any man who was in
favor of the Wilmot Proviso. The platform
laid down by that Convention, if strictly con-
strued, does not set forth any doctrines such as
are at present held up as orthodox.
The facility with which the North was con-
quered in that Convention, and the general
subserviency which has been manifested by
Northern politicians, has encouraged the South.
They have succeeded in interpoIating into the
Democratic creed, doctrines to which no repub-
lican can subscribe, and have set up tests which
should arouse the indignation of every indepen-
dent freeman. We ask those who acted with
us, in the battles of the past, to look at the
position which the once great and liberal De
mocratic party now occupies. Is it anything
more than a machine for carrying ont the de-
signs of the slavery-propagandists In the
deepest sorrow, we make the humiliating con
~fession, that the Southern leaders have succeed
ed making it, what they have always claimed
it to be, " the natural ally of slavery"
Can there now be any fellowship with the
Democratic party, without aiding and advanc.
ing the schemes of those who are seeking to
cover every foot of our territory with the curse
OF slavery? This is the question which should
meet the careful consideration of every true
Democrat. If our Judgment tells us that such
is the case, then our duty is clear. We have
been Democrats because we revered the prin-
ciples Of Democracy, when Democratic