The true Democrat., 1856-11-04
A Democratic Duty.

Among the multiplicity of objects to be sought and attained by the democrats of the present Legislature now assembled, an impor- tant one is the peace and harmony-the unity and preservation of the democratic party of the State. We are not of those who imagine or admit that an allegiance or devotion to our party has any thing in it hostile or antagonistic to the welfare of the country. On the con- trary. it Is through our party-through our de- votlon to 1t and the great principles that con- trol and guide it, that we hope to subserve and advance the best interests of the State and the people. Believing this, as we solemnly do, and believing that the democratic party is the great conservative and constitutional party, on whose success depends the prosperity, the improvement and the liberty of the country, we contend it Is the highest duty of all democrats to promote and maintain its harmony and ascendency.
 In very great measure, this duty is now contded to the democratic members of the present Legislature. While We do not pre- sume to proffer our advice, as superior to any that may be offered by wiser or older heads, we cannot but remind our friends of the universal practice of all parties in power--the use of the caucus systena-and the happy and beneficial results that have, at all times, always flowed from it. There IS not democrat, we are sure in the Legislature who has not witnessed and deplored the differences and divisions in cur party in years gone by, and there is not one either, who, if he has ever, reflected upon the subject, has not been able to trace them, in part at least, to the abandonment years ago of the caucus system. When the party takes all the contests for office in its own hands and settles them authoritively, by its own action, inde- pendent of any outside pressure or foreign in- fuence, all good democrats cheerfully submit to and abide by the decision. Croakers are hushed, the disappointed are silenced, and peace and harmony reign. But when this sys- tenn is thrown aside, when there is no party ac- tion and field full of aspirants the result how ever it may fall, whether upon the worthy or the unworthy candidate, engenders animosities that at once destroy the unity of the party
 Already our enemies are calculating conf. dentIy upon disagreement and division in our large majority that will impair its useful ness for all practical purposes Are the demo- crats prepared for the realization of such call culations? If they are not, and we know they are not, we beseech them to apply the remedy, or rather, the preventative which they now have the powor to do.
 Let them, in caucus, take charge of all the contests for office and settle them, by the power and ill the name, of the democratic party. Let this be done, and every cause of complaint will be removed and the unity and harmony of the party preserved.
 The people of Arkansas expect much at the hands of this Legislature, for there is much to do. And whether much or little is done. and whether 1t Is well or badly done, the democrats will have the responsibility of it all upon their shoulders. They cannot escape from this po- sition. They are in the majority-they have the power, and it is for them to act We trust that each democrat feels this emphatically; and, casting aside all selfish considerations, rejecting all baleful influences, regarding only the people whom he represents, will so act as to advance their interests and secure their applause
 At the very beginning, the democrats should knit themselves together, and, in the whole course of their legislative duties, preserve a concert of action so necessary to success.- Peace and good will exist among them-they stand as band of brothers who have been tried in the fire; the interests and the honor of the State are in their keeping, let them prove worthy of the trust, so that when they return . to those who sent them they will be greeted with " iosH done tiOu good and Jait.ttA seryants"