Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-01
Address in Behalf Of the Republican Association
Of Mineral Point, to the Electors Of Iowa County.

Of Mineral Point, to the Electors OF Iowa County.
Friends of free thought, free speech, and free
men, is the time to draw the blade and
strike for Freedom Too long have borne
those evils which are no longer siderable, and
the spirit of resistance which shone forth so
brightly in the dark days of the Revolution is
again re- kindled in the hearts of Northern free
men, The war cry has already gone forth, and
it remains to be seen whether the threat eve
viii subdue you may be executed Ameri-
can soil.
Let us enquire little into the sgnifcancy of
this Understanding menace and for more COM
prehenslve yet succinct account of this matter
let us pass i'll brief review some of the I'M
portant recent events IN our political history.
Founded on he immutable principles set forth
in the Declaration of Independence, the Con-
situation Of the United States comes to US as the
connecting chain between our revolutionary IA
theirs and the present generation. 1t ordain
ed in order to form a more perfect union, estab-
fish justice, insure domestic tranquility provide
TOR the common defence, promote the general
welfare. and secure the blessings of liberty TO
ourselves and to our pos Gritty, teaches the pow
ers and duties OF the general government, and
guarantees those unalienable rights for which
our toreiathers yalan,ly contended. But
there have been two principal political part les
in this country since the achievement of our
National Independence, which have held the
destlnles of the nation under their control and
have construed this instrument widely different
These parties are essentially antagonistic in
their fundamental principles and although nell
Their can lay just claims to be the hneol descen-
dants OF the great parties of the times of the
Revolution. yet they both may claim the hertz
age OF their respective prototypes The one
now very inappropriately claiming the name of
Democratic, Is the embodiment ofnonopoly, tyr
amy, and aggression, and represents the aris-
tocracy Of Wealth at the North and of Slavery
at the South, while the other, the representa-
tive OF the People, has the aPpro Pirate name of
Rep"bt1ca'a 2hd must henceforth be looked to as
the genuine democratic party of the country
with which rests the defence of those broad re-
publican principles which uuderlie the founda-
ton OF our government. And 1t should be borne
III mind that 1t Is not the name which distin-
cuisines party but the doctrines and princ-
pies which animate it for while any set of men
may be distinguished by one name to-day, to-
morrow another may be applied to them and
although men and names may change, princi-
pies never.
We have, therefore, only to refer to the party
history of our eoGntry TO prove that the Demo-
cratic party OF to-day, advocating rs it does the
anti-democratic principles which disting lished
the Tories of Revolutionary times, is the natural
descendant of that party, and that the Repub-
lean party is the only great representative now,
OF those principles of freedom, equality, and
Justice enunciated by jefferson, reiterated by
his coadJutors in council and contended for in
the field by that band OF invlncible patriots IN
der the immortal Washington
The principles advocated by Jefferson were
once claimed the basis of Democracy, and
he was the chosen apostle of the Democratic
faith bat now, alas how changed. Since the
Democratic party was sold out" under the adj
ministratinn Of Mr.. Polk, to the nullifers and
slavery propagand.sts With John q. Calhoun at
their head, ii has been the fashion Of the party
to scout at the principles set forth in the Decla
ration Of Independence and fatty to deny,
what Jefferson declared, and all true democrats
believe to be " self evident" ~ that all men are
created equal" Do you believe, does any true
democrat believe that the Declaration of indie
pendence with all It's attendant solemnities was
d mere rhetorical flourish " and that the noble
statesmen who proclaimed it to tie world with
one unanimous voice. were merely enacting
children. play: The good sense Of the Nation
must revolt at such monstrous hereses promul-
gated by the degenerate" chivalry now lead
ing the would be-calIed National Democratic
party.
But il is unnecessary to go far into the history
of the past to determine the present position,
aim. and objects of the Democratic and Of the
Republican parties respectively. Wehave before
Us the declared principles of each, by these let
them be Judged and We would urge upon all
independent thinkers careful perusal and i
candid consoles ation of both. They stand III
bold contrast and We cannot doubt the result of
such eonsidera ioi by any competent and IN
prejud4ced mind.
Compare the principles avowed in the Cincin-
natl Platform, the Kansas Aeb. aska Act, and
the Fugitive Slave Act, with the Declaration Of
independence and the ordinance OF 1851 These
selt-styied Democrats claiming jefferson as
their great head and teacher, boldly repudiate
his doctrines and set forth principles entirely
antagonistic to his and to the dictates of a COM
mon humanity. lie sought to make freedom
universal they strive by all the means that pow
er can give to force slavery, not only into all the
territories OF the United otaes, but also into ev-
cry State Of this Union, and over the whole ex-
tent Of this vast continent, and as conclusive to
that end the lucrative business Of piracy, in the
way OF slave the trade, Is sought 10 be revived
and placed under the protection Of American law
and arms. And now, adhesion to the policy of
The present administration in furtherIng these
democratic @ objects, approval of the Kansas
Nebraska Act, aud of the Cincinnati Platform,
Is made the lest of Democracy.
Oh Democracy, low hast thou fallen and be-
come the waiting maid Of slavery the scourge
OF humanity, and a by-word among men
In the light of their declared principles let
Us inquire a little more definitely what some of