The Winchester weekly appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-08-23
Gen. Houston ON the Presidency.
WASHINGTON Cry, July FL, 1855.


9th Of June ult., addressed to me al
Huntsville, did not reach me until my ar
rival here. / thank you for your kind
sentiments, and assure you / recipro.
cate all that you have expressed. Any
apology was unnecessary for addressing
me on political subjects, as they are
now so interesting to the public as well
as to individuals. thank you for your
views and suggestions, and will render
mine with perfect freedom and fidelity
You say in speaking of yourself, that
"having been reared almost beneath the
shades of the Hermitage, and in every
sense a democrat, feel all the rever.
ence and confidence in the principles
and integrity Of the motives that actuated
Gen. Jackson in his political course that
| should do. The issue formerly divid.
ing tho old wing and democratic parties
may no longer be said 10 exist, yet there
is difference in principles, arising out
of the Interpretation Of the constitution
of the United States, that must continue
TO exist as long as our present form of
government continues"
Now, let uv reflect for moment, and
observe that |, too, if not reared "beneath
the shades of the Hermitage" was taught
under the pure, vigorous and national
democratic teaching Of the revered and
brave old chief, whose wisdom brought
honesty, purity and vigor in the
public service, with strength, love Of un'
ion, honor and renown to the whole coun.
try. | marched with that old chief, and
kept step with his democracy throughout
his public life; and since he departed, |
have never deviated moment from his
principles; and l tell you, you can say
most truly, that not only the issues FORM
erly dividing the old wing and democrat.
ic parties can no longer be said to have
any practical existence, but that those
parties themselves have no distinctive
character. They have faded, becom ex.
tinct, and expired
One, the wing party lives only in the
memory Of its great name, its great abili.
ties, and its great failures to accomplish
practical results; the other, although it re-
tains thEtname Of democracy, has no
memories to which the present organiza,
ton can refer without bluse Of shame.
The democracy Of to day is "compound"
Of heterogeneous materials; it has dwin.
died down to mere sectionalism, and is
now but faction. 1t has lost the prin.
ciple OF cohesion, and boasts no longer
uniform policy. When it followed with
us the flag of the cold chief" it had a
consistency of principle and frmness of
purpose which gives a clear conviction
Of right. 1t had clear heads, and patrot.
ic hearts, and clean hands ever ready in
itssspport. Itspoke wisdom and quiet
at home, and every section rejoiced in
our general prosperity; it announced its
foreign policy, and negotiations abroad
were no farther necessary than to commu-
nicate that announcement.
Where is that democracy to-day
Swallowed up in unmitigated squatter
sovreignty-in sectional chickering's and
disputes-in disregarding compacts be.
tween the different sections Of the Union,
the repeal of which has led to insurrec'
ton in Kansas-in getting up Indian
wars wherever Indians could be found, as
apretext for increasing the regular army,
the estimated expresses Of which, at
this Zine are 100000 per annum,
when 100000 judiciously expended.
would secure peace with every Indian
tribe on the continent, and induce them
10 embrace the arts of civilization.
The foreign policy Of the present dem.
ocratic President has been far from cred.
itble to our government. 1t, too, has
shown disposition to court alien inau'
ence to sustain it, while it has declared
and practised relentless prescription
against native born American citizens
| will pursue this point no further. To
ruminate upon it is painful enough for a
man who loves his coutry, but when call
ed upon by friends, | feel it due to them
to expose my sentiments plainly. You
and |, and tens Of thousands ofold demo-
Gratis who were the true Covenanters un
der Jackson, wash our hands of these alb
surditiss, follies and evidences Of cul
pable Encouragement.
None Of these things are fraught will