The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-15
WASHINGTON, d. G..
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS IT WAS AND
AS IT is.
SPEECH OF HON. TIMOTHY C. DAY.
In THE HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
April %, 1856.

Mr.. DAY. Nj. Chairman, in the eddying
fght. amid the din of clashing arms and the
roar of artillery, when the murky clouds OF
h.ayenward- wresthing smoke become too dense
for the fell work to go successfully on, there
are lalls in the storm of human passion, to give
breath to the combatants, and enable them to
distinguish friend from foe. So, in the milder
conflicts of the political arena, In the wordy
war Of debate and the thunder OF the press,
when cloud of platforms obscures the held, 1t
becomes necessary to have some pause, to ex-
anime the ground, to see what changes of posi-
tons have occurred-to study, decide, and
fight on. To my mind, such q time is now
upon US, and, for one, frankly confess that /
notice some changes which need explanations,
aud with which we can hope to have results ex-
planned. / propose only a cursory glance at
the main points of the political battlefield for
the last thirty years, to trace the growth OF an
interest which has embraced In its folds the
Democratic party of the past, and made OF 1T a
huge workshop Of new doctrines, resolves, and
wire-drawn platforms.
Since the meeting of this House, during the
struggle through which we passed in the cleo
ton of Speaker, and since, we have had many
able disqusitions on Democracy, by those whose
province it has been, in times past, to act as
tutors; and we have also had some efforts in
that line from pupils, whose rapid progress IN
their Democratic studies, If not marvel to
themselves, is so to some Of us. l have listen
ed to these harangues with some interest, salts
fed that / had widely diverged from the old
paths, or that lights unknown to the past had
recently been discovered which were patent TO
the few who, in the kindness OF their hearts,
were willing 10 illuminate the uninltiated. But
nv attention has been fruitiess; either the pupil
is too obtuse, or the teachers are not as acute
as they should be- / see upon this hoor meu-
bers whose lives have been passed IN bathing
against Democratic ideas and measures-mem-
hers who have won for themselves laurels for
forensic ability In furious onslaughts on what
they then deemed Pandc-a's box of human
evils-the Democratic party; members who
can boast long years of SCARED service IN an
tagonism TO Democratic principles and leaders,
and who now speak of theif Animation with
what Mey call Democracy with all the stald-
ness Of old soldiers, instead OF the blush OF the
new recruit. And l will DO them the justice
10 saw that / believe they consistent IN all
this that their present position has not requir-
ed for them any surrender of the past that
they now stand where they have always stood.
In the recent ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of parties, when
the one they loved and cherished for It's con-
sentative qualities died of political marasmus,
IT lief, to the hotheaded, impctuous rival which
Gus legacy Of IT'S interests, and the care of an
estate so encountered and mortgaged, that, at
ter few years of painful struggles, 1t will end
In the ruin of Its possessors. The remains have
been followed to their final resting place by de-
voted servitors, whose dropping tears have
been dried, and Joy quickened IN their heart
BIZ the more than fraternal endearments OF the
special legatee of the dear delunct. Hence, the
position OF the gentlemen to whom i have al
luded, and thousands elsewhere, throughout the
length and breadth of our Republic, whose be
lief in the doctrine Of the TRANSPORTATION of
souls has been fully and joyfully realized.
1t has been the pride Of my life to rank N.Y.
self as Democrat; it is yet my boast, though
not connected with the party which has the
name, but not the soal, venerate. We frequent
ly hear illusions on this floor to ancestry--of
the Cavaliers and Huguenots of the Old World ;
and, though L have but little of that description
of veneration, i, too, can point to a Demo
cratic ancestry, which may be equalled, but not
excelled-where, from grandfather to grandson,
no vote has been cast other than for Democrats
for Presidents, from Thomas jefferson down
down TO Franklin Pierce. And nov | find my
self Ina antagonism TO what is called the Demo
cratic party; for, when it inherited its legacy of
conservatism, it did not change its name, I'll.
though it did its principles; and, Ike those OF
old who went into the wilderness, ain forced
TO wait for the shifting of the rock Of the future,
out Of which is to gush the pure waters Of prin-
cipie, of which the people may drink and be
made glad again.
No one can shut his eyes TO the fact, that a
great change has taken place within very short
period OF time; that that party which, under
Jefferson, was born TO lead the vanguard of the
Republican army against the conservatism OF
Federalism which was assaulted at Its birth
\ -.
like the infant Hercules, was too powerful to be
crushed; which grew in strength and power,
nurtured by clearly defined principles of equal
and exact justice to all and which had the love
Of every heart not chilled by the icy breath OF
conservatism, drawing 10 itself all who had en-.
ergy, talent, and soul, desire TO advance, and
the nerve to act. This party soas the Democratic
party. For half a century it was the star OF
hope for the oppre sed everywhere; it led in
every conflict with privileged power; it was the
citadel and strength of every movement of the
people. Under such a leader as Andrew Jack
son, it dared to question the might of the great
est moneyed power our Republic has known
and in that contest, as in all others with con
servatism, It came of victorious. When the
people of Rhode Island, who had long suffered
the loss Of their inalienable rights, under char
ter granted by a King, and used by conservatism
TO prolong Its power, wished to free themselves
OF their yoke, this party ranged itself on then
side, though the means TO be used were reDOit
tioRGry. Ii proclaimed as its mission the en-
franchisment of the oppressed, and 1t acted il
consonance with its preachings. Ii was the rad
neal, progressive, revolutionary party, opposed
10 the "law and order of conservatism. Wher,
Is that party now? That great and gloriou,
party of the past, with its living ideas resolves
and bold deeds, is now, by the decease of its ole
antagonist, the inheritor of law and order
instead of being the party Of the people, it is III,
party Of privileged power. With one foot on ih
heel and the other on the head of the negro,
talks of nothing but claw and order" Tn
lion of Democracy has become the jackal O
Slavery.
When We see some wonderful phenomena o
nature, the mind is naturally led to inquire tn
cause; and in human affairs We should not d
less. Why is it that its bold, radical, and pro
gressive policy, has been abandoned, and tn
Democratic party become retrogressive and cor
servative? / have intimated death as onecause-
the departure of the. Wing party having left a
the soul it bad, conservatism, to enter the bed
of the Democratic party; but the great caus
is, instead of being party OF one idea-pr'
gress, il has become a party of two ideas-Sls
very and office / know one-idead parties al
deemed very reprehensibe just now, but woul
prefer such party, il the one idea goo
one, to the party with two, and both bad.
In this connection, Mr.. Chairman, desire t
trace. as briefly and succinctly as possible, tn
Growth of one of the ideas now dominant wit
the so-called Democratic party-an idea whic
has frozen all the generous impulses that one
found n home in that party, and which Ia
made Of il a receptacle Of all that is selfish, al
that is conservative. 1t is an idea that, like tn
frozen serpent placed by his hearth by tn