Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-08-01
Northern Democracyi

The great effort of the anti American presses
at the South, is now, and has been for months
past, to create the belief in Southern minds,
that the so-calIed Democrats Of the North, are
sound on those questions which affect the peace,
safety and prosperity Of the South, and to
make the impression that the American party
is unsound on those questions. No candid man
will assume for moment that the people Of
the North are in .tuuor Of the institution of
slavery as an abstract proposition, either as
connected with the social organization of So
ciety, or with the political relations which the
institution involves.
1t is natural, perfectly SO, that persons rear
cd at the North, where African slavery does
not exist and where the practical workings of
the Institution are not understood, should feel
a repugnsnce thereto, and should readily inn
bibe the strongest prejudices against it. On
the other hand it is equally natural that South
erners by birth, education and training, should
believe that this institution produces much
move of good than Of evil, and that the rela-
tons which exist between the races in the
South are equally advantageous to both, and
could not be sundered without disaster to both
These antagonistic opinions on this subject, we
say, arc natural.
Northerners by birth and residence, how
ever, no matter how clear may be their own
convictions on this abstract question, and no
matter to what extent their prejudices against
slavery might otherwise induce them to CO.
should remember that there are political rea-
tons existing between the North and the
South, created by the Federal Constitution,
and which relations must be maintained and
faithfully preserved, or the Union itself will be
broken into fragments. Rights are created,
and obligations are imposed, by the Federal
Compact which cannot be disregarded with
out involving the destruction Of that compact
The aohole question then, as to the sound
ness Of the people of the North, on this sub
ject, whether they belong to the pseudo Dem
ocratic party, to the American party, or to any
other party, resolves itself into their devotion
to the Federal Constitution, and to that Union
which it created, or their disregard Of the Fed
eral compact, and Of the relations and obliga-
tons thereby imposed upon all the citizens of
the United States. To be sound on the ques-
ton of the rights of the South, is to be firm in
tuition, whilst to be unsound on this question
is simply and only to ignore those Compro-
misses
We repeat..the idea, that to be sound on the
question we are discussing involves no sur
render of priuate opinion, upon any abstract
,boto ,t
to consider African slavery blessing, nor
prevents him from considering it an eciL--it
simply and only requires him faithfully to OBJ
serve, maintain and carry into practice the
duties and obligations which the Federal COM
pact has imposed upon eoery citizen o. the
United States, and from the performance of
which, no right-minded and patriotic man can
desire to escape.
Let us bring to this test, the pseudo Demo
cratic party of the North, and the american
party" Of the country and II can be readily
discovered, which Of the two is the more sound
on this question. OF the present Republican
party, we need say nothing objects, aims,
purposes and principles, are wholly and en-
trely sectional-thc result Of its action, IL sue
cessful, would destroy the work Of our patri-
otto fathers, and SOW strife, discord, contention
and ruin, broadcast over the land. Such, we
believe, are the views and wishes of its demo-
MAC lesders-we trust that their blind follow
ers win get behold the light
The Democratic party Of the North has pro-
duced such men for leaders, as Martin Van
Buren,, Thomas II. Benton, David Wilmot,
Galushs A. Grow, John p. Hale, Charles Sum-
ner, Robert Rantoul, Salmon P. Chase, B. =.
Wade, Benjamin Tsppan, Lyman Trumbul,
@. T. Stuart, James Harlan, Charles Durkee
Hannibal HsmliD, w. p Fsssenden, A. H.
Reeder, y. p Blair, and hundreds Of others Of