Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-04-16

| dlste- for the pffce- II Common ~@alih'- Attor-
| nv. Sheriff aud Commi .-ioners of the Revenne.
| Ynu rl-o passed resolutions recommending to
each District In your county TO hold party meet
ing- and make party nominations for the tfces
! of Justice If the Pence. Consiable- &c. In a
word you have fully determined to 60 into the
election Of the -e offices strictly party grounds
happen to have been a Democrat from ear
lest life. and have stood by the cause through
good report and through evil report. remem-
Der " hen had to stand almost alone in defend
ing and upholdng my party principles, and when
many who now assume to direct and control the
rariy were either battling against il or sknlking
from bold assertion Of its rights. But faithful
as have been and expect To be. it must be shown
ihnt the election of such officers You have
| nominated party grounds has some reasonn-
be connection with the principles of the party
before can bring myself 10 support your homi-
nee- on party grounds. Party is but an ass'ci-
alton of patriotic individuals to accomplish
,oblic good through given basis of principles,
or to give particular political bias to the admin
is,raton Of the government. Whatever is ne
oe.sarv 10 carry into effect these ends. and which
is consistent with the genius and character OF
the government, is proper and pr..iseworthy. and
is morally binding on every member OF the party
But if the object to be accomplished Is not with
in the puryiew Of the party platform. or it it be
opposed to the princ plies Of the party, either di-
rectlv or indirectly. am not morally bound to
sapport it. but am under the strongest obiga
tions 10 oppose 1t.
But the Democratic party was organized and
upheld principally TO preserve the Union OF
the States MS the basis of their peace and hap
pincs--io support the Union as well in its lini-
taiions a. its auihorities-to respect the rights
and authorities reserved To the States and the
people, as equally Incorporated with and essen
tial 10 the success of the general system; and to
avoid the slightest interference with the rights OF
con science, or the functions of religion. $" wise
" exempted from civil jurisdiction" This, |
believe. j. the bqss Of Democratic principles
set forth by Mr.. Madison, the coadjuor and con
temporary of Jefferson. Will you intern one of
your own number, who does not wish TO separate
from you without cause, which of these prnc-
pies you expect t. promote by these party nomi
nations Show me, pray you. the connection
between these officers and the principles of the
Democratic party. Do YOU expect by them to
support the Union in its powers or limitations
Are they the means you resort to for an avoid
aucc "of The slightest interference mih con
science :" Or j. thi. the way you support reli
g6us lib .ry If one more Of these princi-
pies are not included or ilcludabe in our plat
form, YOU cannot expect the conservative portion
of the party to lose sight Of The public goud to
forget their platform, and to follow you in a
scramble after office and spells, in Wind Give
revenge of political opponents. They think that
the party which abandon- its principles. torgets
the public welfare, and enlists in the cause Of
wicked ambition or selfish aspirations, has al
rcHdy ceased to be party and sunk itself into n
! faction, with motives subyersive of government,
! dastrnctiv" of every right ind degrading to all
murai, They do not recognize any other in
| ducemrnt IL public ncian than the public good
and regard every effort to accomplish selfish or
yindierive purl"-c; through channels intended
| only for thr accomplishment of public good. a.
not en'y not Democratic but exceedingly mis-
/ chirsous. Nor can they see how the election ut
/ your party nominees can affect the principles OF
/ the party, as set forth above, for good or for
! evil.
lou g intend that Americans are more pro-
scripiive than any party that has ever existed in
tie country, and that they ought to expect pro
r. ription at Democratic hands. Let it be ad
| United for arguments sake, that the American
| party IL the most proscrptise and vindictiye OF
all parcs-that ii exceeds. in this particular
any thing ever charged t" its account. They
have thea been guilty of Il conduct condemned
by every good Democrat wicked, uncharitabIe
and facuopS-af conduct much at with
Republican liberty rs 10 make it the duty of the
! Democratic party tn correct it. All liberia
minded men believed this fully accomplished by
the brilliant Democratic victory obtained las
spring, and reoieed at the prospect of better
| feeling and more honorable conduct. But il wa;
not enough for ultra Democrats 10 have secured
the principles of their party. The American
party had dnred, in the conscientious exercise OF
patriotic duty, perhaps t" form "a new party to
supplnri their own; and for this they must be
| hunted down IA criminals. The tactious and
yindictive spirit of Americans they propose te
correct by con.ing the example and improving
on its prescription With them, it is amons,rous
thing for Americans TO prescribe Democrats, but
VERY clever and patriotic in Democrats to pro
sV'ioe Americans. Party rnncour Is heinou'
offence IN Americans, bat model Of politica
virtue in Democrat They seem to think thai
the people will not and condemn in Demo
Gratis things they have seen and SO signally re
buked in Americans.
Il is admitted that no public good is expected
to be accomplished by these party elections in
| municipal Offices, but said that Democrats have
a right TO relnliatc party wrongs. have already
shown that no party has right TO act on public
questions, to fill public Offices, from any other
than motives of public good. Let me now ask
If the right to retaate party wrongs exist at all,
whence Is it derived Not from Religion. " 1t i
not doing 10 others as Others shoaid do unto as.
| Not from Morals An orthodox writer's eth
les are agreed that the principle is as vicious in
theory as it is degrading in practice. Not from
public policy. II appeals from tribunals eetab
lished to enforce human rights and redress human
wrongs. and assumes penal power in individual
and Irresponsible hands. Whence then is it de
rived 1t is derived from that party phrenzy
which di>re CARDS all decency and causes its vic
tim. in the strong but coarse language of the
West. ito shut his eyes, grit his teeth and go
| IL blind"
Your leaders shy that the RICH, is the same that
!iusifes penal punishment and sanctions the de-
oIaration of war. They must he poorly read in
criminal and international jurSprudenoe who rea-
| TINS. Criminal In xy IL fpnp1pl in m moi
vindctive retaliation. Its object is to prevent
crime and to spare the necessity of punishment,
by making an example of known muefactors to
| The terror of all disposed 10 commit like erimes