Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-06-04

ina >Whigs to rule orer them!
There Is hardly place, from that OF C0n
mander-in- Chiefto Corporal, which is not nile
by 'IVhig.
This offers strong inducements to ambition
Wings, and they are prompt to avail themseiVe
of the opportunity Mr.. Wise knows huma
nature well, and he therefore knows it Is nc
eosSto "reclaim" men when such temptation
are set before them!
Democracy Pah They make good foo
for grthpowderl They will fill political gray
as we'll as other men But as for scearing tn
epanlettes that is another matter altogether!-
THESE Jby the immemorial usage OF the party
belong to the concerted Wings. ~
Now these things being true, l respectfull
submit it to Democrats, Americans and Wing
to say. whether the Democracy have not su
perior claim to the distinction of mongretasm
Certainly if incongruty of sentiments t,antagonlsn
of former opinion, and irreconcilable oPposltiol
of political antecedents, constitute claim U
that distinction, theirs is pre-eminent and lndls
putable!
Before leaving this subject let us advert t
another striking fact in the history of the Dem
ocratic party.
For the last twenty years the creed OF th'
Democracy has been embraced in four neganv
propositions.
1st. Opposition to Bank of the g. States.
Cd Opposition to Protective Tariff.
3d. Opposition to Internal Improvements b.
the General Government.
4th. Opposition to distribution of the public
lands. UHf ..i =,
No Democratic Convention has failed to ful
inmate its denunciations against these heretlca
measures. Every Democratic orator declalmet
until he was hoarse against them as damnme
federal abominations The rank and file were
taught to regard each and every one OF them a.
dangerous to the liberties of the country
And yet what strange spectacle is now ex
hibited to the public by the democratic party
Besides General Pierce, the present incumbent
of the Presidential Chair. there are four proml
nent aspirants for the succession. And who arc
they, and what have been their relations tc
these articles of Democratic faith2 ai4a't
1st. We have the Hon. HENRY A. WISE, who
in 1887, said in Congress, 'Sir,I yield to no mar
in friendship for a properly organized, properly
located, and we'll managed National Bank
= With Mr.. Madison, believe that wa
tional Bank is absolutely necessary, and must
try whatever other experiments you please, D.
resorted to IN the end
2nd Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN, the very mar
who by his vote aided by that of the peerless
democrats, Silas Wright, passed the Wh'g tar9J
Of 1912!
Sd. Hon. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, who as repre-
sentative and Senator, has voted for all the IN
ternal Improvement bills which came before
Congress. during his service in the two houses
4th. Hon. r. M. T. HUNTER, himself the au
Il Il. - q
the schemes of distribution that have ever beer
proposed for the consideration of the nationa
Legislature
Here is consistency with vengeancel Here
are democratic professions and democratic prac
tice placed side by side and beautifully lilustra
ted
Here is a noble example of a rigid adherence
to principle!
But, behold another example
During the session OF 1S4S-9, of the Demo
cratic Legislature of Virginia, the House OF De
legates, by vote of III ayes, to l3 noes, passst
the following resolution.
Resolced, That if, IN disregard Of the sparl
and principle of the act Of Congress, on the ad
mission of the State of Missouri into tile Union
qenerallN k,.opn as the Missouri Compromise
and of every consideration of justice constitution
al right and fraterna feeling, the fearful issue
shall be forced upon the country, which will re
suit from the adoption and enforcement OF th'
Wimot proviso, as an act of the General Gov
ernment, the people of Virginia can have no diff
fculty in deciding between the only alternative
that will then remain, of abject submission Il
aggression and outrage, on the one hand, or de
termined resistance on the other, at all hazards
and to the last extremity"
The democracy seven years ago. were read.
to fight for the spirit and principles Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise yes! to fight "to the last er
tremity" for the integrity of the principles EN-
braced in that great measure of concliation ant
harmony!
But 7loao change has come over the spirit o
their dream! Nou, the Missouri Compromis'
is, not only unconstitutional, but an abominatiol
in the eyes of democracy NoD, the test o
democratic orthodoxy is, willingness to JSght q
gainst the principles of that measure, which
seven years ago every democrat was pledged tt
fight for!
Verify, Democracy is hard task master tx
serve. when it requires such sudden facings Il
the right about
And yet what party prates with so grave
face, about principles and consistency!
But let US now inquire into the title OF tn
Democratic party to be called the white man
party.
By this | presume Mr. Wise intends to asser
for his party, superior soundness over all other
on the question of slavery. Ifso, it must be ad
mitted that he is somewhat unfortunate in tn
selection of his language. His words woul'
rather imply an opposition to the black race,an'
as the practical question now in issue, is, wheth
er the blacks are to be permitted to occupy tn
new territories,-the inference might be draw
that Mr. Wise wished the unsettled territory re
served exclusively for ''the white man."
But whatever may be the natural import o
Mr. Wise's words, am satisfied that such wa
not his meaning. He intended to intimate tha
the Democracy were the true friends of the in
stitutions and guaranteed rights of the South.
That all the Southern Democracy, and man,
members of that party in the North, are prepar
ed to maintain the compromises of the Constitu
ton. am willing to admit. But that the Who'll
party in the North--as a party-possesses an
peculiar claims on the confidence OF the South
stand ready not only to deny, but to disprove
by unQuestionable facts.
What is the history of the rise and progres
of this Free-soil party, which has done, and
doing, so much to disturb the harmony of tn
country2 When did it have its origin? Wha
is its parentage9 Who are its sponsors in bar
tism2
Prior to 1s4S.we had no such party,eo nomin
in the country. We had the Abolitionists, it
true, but they were few and weak, and number
ed amongst them only such men as Gidding,
Garrison & Co. No statesman of any respect
ability or eminence thought, for moment, {
identifying his fortunes with theirs. They wer
looked upon almost with derision and contemp
In May, 1s4s, the Democratic Conventio
met at Baltimore to select a candidate for til
Presidency. Mr.. Van Buren,, who had been Sc
aside in 1874, under the operation of the two
thirds rule, was again prominent candidate
But again, under the operation of the same rul,
he was overslaughed, and Gen. Cass was nom
mated. This second disappointment was NOR
than he could bear, and he and his friends a
q