The true Democrat., 1856-01-08
From the Washington Union. A Powerful Appeal to Democrats.

At late mass meeting held in Saline coun- ty Arkansas, s. H. Hampstead. esq, delivered an able speech against Know Nottingham which concludes with the following powerful appeal to democrats to adhere to their time e-honored principles and organization:
 "And what reason is there to leave the de- mocratic party? Is it not the only one that can pretend to national organization? On the question of slavery, of so much interest to the south, we have something more than profession we have practice consistent with profession. The Kansas N ebraska bill faithfully carries out the great principle on which the democracy in its platforms have stood, and on which the south must stand in defence of its constitution al rights.
 "That principle is non-ntervention as to slavery in the states and territories-the entire exclusion of that exciting question from the halls of the national legslature-the right of the people of the territories to come into the Unon with or without slavery, as they shall deem most expedient for their own interests in word, the right to establish such govern ment republican in its features, as shall seem to them fit for their wants On these doctrines the national democracy of the south and the north can and will stand and preserve this our glorius Union, and maintain its constitution as the best inheritance which can be left to future generations Know Nottingham cannot do it. for it has already weakened the bonds of socie- ty and of government-marked its local tri- umphs by trampling on the purity of the ball. lot t-box-disregardin the rights of others-in- troducing, as in Louisville, riots and boodshed -the murder of men, women, and children as substitutes for peaceable and orderly conduct in elections. Afraid to trust to honor, they bind each other by horrid oaths; but as an ille- gal oath is not obligatory in the sight of God or man, and ought to be renounced without scruple or hesitation. let them cast off the self imposed yoke while they may, and give us, if they will, a fair, open manly, contest.
 {" How inviting are the principles of our par ty! They are, in short, equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever State or persuasion, religious or political; the right of states or ter ritores to administer their own domestic affairs without question from any quarter; freedom and equality-the sovereignty of the people and the right of the majority to rule when their will is constitutionally expressed: freedom of religion and freedom of the press; opposition to all secret political organizations; the preser- vation of the naturalization laws; sacred pre- servation of the federal constitution, and no re- ligious tests for office; respect and protection for the rights of all. This is in short, the demo- cratic creed, and is it not fit to be embraced? Is there anything in Know Nottingham or na- tive-Americanism, or any other ism, that can compare with it?
 "Our cause is just-our mission a noble one. The protection of human rights, the protec- tion of constitutional privileges, and resistance to policy that would weaken, and, if success fully carried out, virtually destroy, that consti. tuition, are surely inducements enough for every democrat to rally under that good old demo- cratic flag mathematical of thousand tri- umphs of republican principles and of law and order, and to demand from him, in this emer- gency, activity and vigilance, patriotism and frmness, against party the most dangerous of ] any that ever sprung up in America"