The true Democrat., 1855-08-21
Letter from John C. Palmer.


 Public men are said to be public property; and so they should be in free country My name appears in the mouths of many, who seem surprised at my having united myself with the democratic party, and signed the constitution of the democratic association. might content myselfwith speaking at each meeting of the de- mocratic association as I expect to do. But have been always accustomed to act openly and Independently; and as the party with which formerly acted, with few exceptions have adopted the striped flag of know nottingham; and as the self-conSttuted leaders of that party order the faithful not to attend the meetings of the democratic association. 1 can only reach the masses by writing.
 I am native Catholic citizen of this Repub- lie. When scarcely twenty-one years of age, then citizen of Lexington, Ky, I fought for the supremacy of whig principles, under the lead of Henry Clay, against the democratic par ty, marshaled by James K. Polk. From that hour during the existence of the whig party, and since, when surrounded by it's fragments l have struggled for the same principles. The foundation of the structure was "civil and rell- glous llberty;" next came, the constitutional rights of the south,'' resting upon an equality of ofcltizenship. These two great principles form ed the groundwork upon which all else rested
 
 death--the Union could have no existence. All other questions besides these paled into in- lgmtcancc--were questions of eXpediency me- rely, and might be carried or lost without touch ing the life blood of the republic One by one, 1 have seen these minor questons--questons dividing the two great political parties, topplc and fall before the might of the people What matter! they were not necessary to the exist ence, of the government. Bank, Tariff Distr- button, all have been decided against and pro- nounced obsolete and nobody thinks of at tempting to revive them. These old issues had died out and in the latter days of MT. Cays career, the two great political parties were di- vlded by the imaginary lines of conservatism Us progress.
 Mir. Clay dies; with him dies the whig party, as great national, conservative party. The Dersoaale was left-the secondary leaders, and the masses. But the gigantic mnd whose Catholic tone gave the party d national strength and vigor was gone. Second ra men, with second rate principles, sprung into importance and power. Webster and Fillmore were oyer- siaughed-the democratic party rose magnii- gently triumphant upon the overthrow of those who sought to abolitionize the whig party The whig party north, forsook its nationality and sought an alliance with the free soiers; the whlg party south, was broken and had nc rallymg point Objections to Mr. Pierccs ad- miuistration came in scores. For the moment men, forgetting the essential vitality and life sustaining properties of the democratic party thought chaos was come again. A few amb tious spirits, seeking to control the whirlwind and ride into power upon its velocity, me stealthily, at the dead hour of night, and by tn, dim light of a dark lantern gave birth to the labc al +l,, name of the American" party. It had birtI in the north, where the hatred of southern n sttutions Is conventional. It had its first sue cess there, surrounded by all the panoply and power of an oath bound secrecy. In the dark ness of night when the good citizen slept ill his bed, its cabalistic mysteries and ceremonies were put in operation, and when morning dawned, al iron phalanx was ready to carry the polls. ll towns and cities. apparently for purposes of pu- rlty, 1t tourshed, sweeping over the free States like hurricane, until 1t reached that hot-beC ot corruption Washington city. There il sWelled, and its bloated and detormed body absorbed all the iSms that had arrayed them selves against President Percc's administration when 1t was ready for an exploration South 0 Mason & Dxon's line. There it tloated, some times without habitation or a name, anol sweeping the country o'er like an avalanche 6 flame. Next we hear of national council meeting at Philadelphia, giving to the world a, its public principles, mass of chatl to catcl gudgeons, but concealng within its dark anc hidden recesses, succession of oaths that bint its members slaves to the majority of the order The platform is, comparatively speaking noth ing; but the oaths of the first, second and thirC degrees, destroy the individuality of a man as member of society-his Individuality ire, will-destroy constitutional liberty--civil ant religious freedom--the rights of the south.
 There is no whig party! The fight is between the know nothings and the democratic party The former have described. The latter i. the champion of the constltuton--civil and re ligious liberty--the rights of the south. 1 an a democrat.
 In conclusion, would say that the democra tic association has invited the know nothings t( a free discussion of principles. expect to at tend each successive meeting of the association and 1 challenge know nothings to meet m, there, and, in presence of the people, attcmp to controvert what have here laid down. ask fair field and an open foe. don't wan to be fired at from dark places, nor hidden re cesses nor assaulted under the cover of anony nous signatures 1 pledge myself to mak good every charge l have here made.
 JOHN c. PALMER