The true Democrat., 1856-06-24
Enthusiasm of the National Demo


 The enthusiasm in the great national demo- cratic party, since the selection of the candi. dates and the promulgation of the platform at Cincinnati, is unparalleled. The whole coun- try north, south, east and west, seems to be excited. Never before was the action of any body of men assembled in the broad limits of the Union, from the inauguration of the Amer can independence down to the present day, hailed with so much intense excitement and oy Ratification meetings are the order of the day thousands that heretofore stood aloof are now tiocking to and gathering around the democratic standard. Know Nottingham at the south and black republicanism at the north, are trembling before the mighty voice of the people as it rolls in thunder tones its indorse- ment of JAMES BUCHANAN, and JOHN C. BRECKENRIDGE, throughout the land
 Among the numerous trem endous mass ga- therlngs of the democracy in the various DOT tions of the Union, the one at Washington City, at which figured those eminent statesmen and patriots, PIERCE, CAss and DOUGLAS, is truly gratifying. PEARCE and DOUGLAS were the rivals of Mir. BUCHANAN before the Cin- cinnati convention. They are now rivals no longer. They are the warmest friends and supporters of their more fortunate competitor. Patriots in the highest and noblest sense of the word, they have laid down their hopes of per- sonal preferment and rallied around JAMES BUCHANAN, the CONSTITUTION, and the CoUN- TRY.
 We make few extracts from their speeches. GEN. CAss fervently and eloquently said:
 "And never was there time which more de- manded the patriotism and devotion of every honest hearted American than does the present Evil days are upon us, and in the very wanton- ness of blessings and prosperity unknown else where, Tn ancient or in modern times, we are engaged in an angry and fearful sectional con- troversy, whose consequences no man should contemplate without the most gloomy appre- hension. One portion of our country, not sat- isfied with enjoying the rights of self-govern- ment, seem to desire to govern the other. The day of trial has come, and the destiny of the Union, under the God of our fathers and our own God, who led us through the waters and the desert to the beautiful land, not of promise but of performance III under his overruling Providence the destiny of this Union is in the hearts and hands of the democratic party- Our old and honorable opponents, the whigs- the whigs of the days of the lamented Clay and Webster-who so long carried on contest with our party upon great constitutional ques- tions, and in a spirit of liberal patriotism, are disbanded. Its leaders are dead or discouraged; !; its standard is in the dust, and its honored distinctive principles are among the things that have been and mainly out of the ruins have arisen sectional parties, some of them with avowed designs, fatal to our national existence, and all of them without any other connecting bond than opposition to the demo- cratic party. Let us not underrate the strength of that opposition; but let us prepare for it, and we can overcome it in fair combat, and save the Union. And here, this night at this democratic meeting of approval and ratification in the political capital of the republic, let us pledge ourselves to each other and to the party to do our duty, and our whole duty; and if this example is everywhere followed, as it will be, the battle will be half won by the determina- tion to win it. Let every democrat sacrifice his personal prejudices and predilectlons, if he
 
 of his party. And if have one single friend in this numerous assemblage who for the sake of auld lang svne, has any regard for my wishes or opinions, ask him to do as I shall do-support zeaously, heartily, earnestly the election of James Buchanan He will find his reward in the good of his country and in the stability of her institutions.
 As to the candidate for the vice presidency, tn,u ol ;c 1lo .L to the party Those who know MT. Brecken- ridge best, know his true democracy, his high and honorable character his eminent talents, and his claims upon the public confidence. He will be faithful co-laborer with James Bu- chanan in the cause of the country. Success to them both but above all, success to this glorious Union, which has given us a greater measure of prosperity and freedom than ever before fell to the lot of any nation! Withcred be the hand that is stretched out to touch the ark of the constitution.'
 Thus spoke that great and good man--GEN. CAss-and his speech was greeted with pro- longed and deafening applause that never be- fore was heard at the capital. At the concu- sion of CAss remarks, Douglass was called for We extract from his speech
 Hon. Stephen A. Douglas said he came be- fore the meeting with hearty good will to en. dorse and ratlfy the action of the national convention at Cincinnati. Applause. He came not as a matter of form, not in compIi- ance with a custom, but with heart and soul in the cause. He came to congratulate them upon the unanimous adoption Of platform which commands the appreciation of every democra- tic heart; to congratulate them upon the nom- nation of candidate for the presidency and vice presidency worthy to stand upon that plat form, and to receive the unanimous support of every democrat. Cheers The platform and the standard bearers were worthy of each other-each acceptable to the whole demo- cracy of the entire country.
 "We have candidate for the presidency whose reputation was as wide, he was about to say, as the republic, but he would say as wide as civillZatlon--a man who has filled the highest offices in his country, save that only to which he IS to be naugurated on the 4th of March next great and continued applause "a man of wide experience in the House of Represen- tatves, in the Senate, in the Cabinet, in the foreign service, and wherever commanding abilities and stern integrity were required for the discharge of high duties. Everywhere in the line of duty you have found James Bucha- nan eevating his own reputation, while sus- tainng and carrying forward the interest and honor of his country. He was man without a stain upon his private character, and with a political record equally untarnished, from the days of Jackson down to the present tme"
 After passing a high and deserved euogy upon President PIERCE for the religious fidelity with which he had stood by the constitution and the Union, Judge Douglas conclud ed, amidst tremendous cheering, as follows:
 "Following the example of my illustrious friend from Michigan, Che continued, ] 1 will say here, as hope to have the power of say ing in good many other places between this time and the first of November, that if I have friend in the Union who loves me, or regards my opinion, or has any respect foEmy memory, let him put his shoulder to the Wheel, and do every thing in his power to win great and