Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-04-26

threatened at the present period, the admins
tration of President Pierce is evidently re-
sponsible; but instead of finding his party en-
gagged in the prosecution of measures to avert
the dangers he has brought upon the land. we
see it more active than ever in scattering the
seeds of sectional strife and social anarchy.
When Gen. Jackson came into the Presi-
dency, he acknowledged in his inaugural address
the obligation of the Executive to restrain the
patronage of the Federal Government, so that
it should not be brought into conflict with the
freedom of elections. But modern Democracy
stands in direct antagonism to this obligation.
There is scarcely an election precinct in the
United States which has not witnessed the
most shameful interference with elections By
the agents of the Federal Government acting
in the name of Democracy.
In former times, when parties were created
by patriotic and national sentiments, upon
measures of general interest to the whole coun.
try, we never heard that a measures could be
declared Democratic in one place, and not
Democratic in another, by leading men pros
Tossing TO belong to this party. Yet we see
this enormity exhibited daily by the party press
in the pay of the present Executive.
The necessary result of such corruption, if
not successfully opposed, must be to destroy
all political morality, and to continue power in
unfaithfu! and incompetent hands by the mere
influence of the money derived from the taxes
which are paid by the people for far different
purposes It'll undeniabIe that the antagonism
now prevailing between the North and the
South, is mainly attributable to the political
artifce which has enabled men holding directly
opposite opinions on the power of Congress
over the institution Of slavery in the Territories,
but vet protesting to belong to the same Demo.
cratic party. The Nebraska-Kansa act is
constantly called by one portion of Democrats,
a law y hich will prevent the extension of slave
ry to the Territories, and by another portion,
a law which will enable the South to carry
the slavery to Territories. By the same falla~
CIV, secession, notification, abolition, and all
other is7ns have found a shelter under the flag
of Democracy, explained as it is by modern
interpreters.
In former times, also, our best patriots, with-
out distinction Of party, spoke of the necessity
of guarding the baIIot-box from the dangers OF
foreign influence, and of keeping separate the
Church and State; and of the advantage to be
derived from a frequent recurrence to the ear>
lier of our Fathers, which incnlcated a rever-
ence for The compaets of the constitution, and
the abstinence for whatever tended 10 form ge-
ographical parties, or array one section of the
Union against another. Now, however, the
whole power of the Federal Government is
brought to bear against any individual who has
the independence to declare his attachment to
these old-fashioned sentiments. Whole classes
of men stand prescribed and ostracised for no
other offence than that Of joining an ~associa4
ton which seeks only TO correct the excuses of
party spirit, and to restore the government to
the purity il possessed when we received it
from the hands of hose sages who founded and
reformed ii.
Looking, gentlemen, upon the American rar.
ty as destined 10 eradicate the evils to which |
have thus briefly adserted, | am proud to be
called one of its members, and can only regret
that 10 selecting its fag-bearers, the choice for
the Vice President had not fallen upon one
who could bring to the cause higher guarantees
for its success than can be drawn from the
humble services | have heretofore rendered my
country.
Thanking you again for the kind manner in
which you have expressed your personal grati-
fcation mt the nominations, I subscribe myself,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. ]. DoNELsoN.
To Messrs. Alex. H. H. Stuart. Get