Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-06-05
New York Radical Democrats.

Democracy" oi the empire State, is pow
erful document. 1t takes strong ground
against the repeal Of the Missouri Compro-
mise, the Kansas Nebraska Bill, and the
administration of General Pierce. The
closing paragraph of their address exhibits
excellent temper and finished style:
There was time, within the memory Of
even youthful citizens, when freedom was
considered as national, and slavery as local
and sectional; but under the concessions Of
the present day, slavery has come TO be re-
garded as the corner stone of our republican
edifce, and the extension Of its domain as
the shibboeth of "National Democrat. y
The period is not remote when it was deem
ed strictly in accordance with democratic
principle, that the people, the fountain and
source of all political power, should prescribe !
the measures Of government, and give direc-
ton to the conduct Of those they placed in
public stations. But under the peculiarly
democratic auspices Of the present hour and
the existing administration, this wholesome
principle is reversed. 1t is no longer the
people who rule, but trho are ruled. 1t is
the President, who, under his own sign
manual, declares what measures shell be
approved, 10 what standard Of ethics the
popular mind shall confirm. and upon what
terms and conditions men shall be allowed
to remain within the communion Of the par
ty. 1t is the President who reads homilies
to his nodhern constituents on the immoral
ity Of aiding their less favored fellow citi-
izens 10 emigrate to the unoccupied prairies
Of the West, and stgmatizes the founding
of free State as O crime against the peace
Of society; whilst, with characteristic con-
sistency, he levies, through his subordinates,
a forced contribution upon the employees
of the Government, for the purpose of in
huencing the election in his native State
The Jefferson test, "honesty, capability,
and fidelity to the Constitutions" is no lon
ger regarded. "Does he approve of the
measures of my administration? does he
stand fairly and squarely on the Nebraska
bill? is he without taint on the slavery
question?"-these are the tests Of charac-
ter and condition upon which men are per-
mi,ted 10 call themselves Democrats, and
participate III the iavors of the present Ad.
ministration. Nor does it stop here. Men
with no stain upon their personal or politi-
cal characters, whose whole lives have been
devoted TO Democratic principles, are treat
ed with contumely, and their counsels
spurned, because they are unwilling to vi
olate their convictions Of right, and join in
crusade against the interests of the coun-
try. The most eminent living statesman Of
the republic, (Van Buren, and Benton,
against whose devotion 10 the constitutional
f rights of the South during quarter of g
century the breath ola cGlumny never dared
} to lisp whisper, are now branded with oh.
loquy and reproach, for no other cause thar
{ a refusal TO enlist under the banner OF sla.
f very extension.
= These are the fruits which belong to the
l existing order of things, and this the shrir,
3. at which the Democrats of New Ycrk or
&. commanded to bow in humble adorc ction.-
5 While we rufuse compliance with The re
QUESTION, we hazard the projection, tina
when time shall have ripened. coming event
into history, the future will belle tn
past if President Pierce do not prove, in hi
; own dear-brought experience, that the graf
itude of the slave-power is as evanesent a
its demands are exacting and imperious.
. Against the legitimate and constitutions
rights Of the South we wage no warfare
Toward its citizens we entertain no hostilI
ty. We concede to them, within their sp
propriate Jurisdictions, the right to regulate
their own internal affairs in their own way
and according to their own convictions o
propriety. But they must cease the attemp
to force upon us an agreement in principles
inlreg ard to which there can be no commu
nifty Of feeling, and no accordance of action
We warn against placing confidence in th'
representations Of men who have not tn,
. power, even if they possess the disposition
to control the votes of the Democratic Elec
tors of the Empire State. These win de-
mand due respect for their own rights
and proper appreciation of the rights o
others. They will require return to thos'
, principles Of public policy which shall Civ,
! to the democracy of the States their tru;
, weight and position in the direction of af
fairs, and secure them against the abuse o
= federal power. They will ask that the ag
1 gressive policy which has marked the on
o ward march of slavery shall cease. They
will demand for their brethren in Kansa.
t the just protection to which they are enti
), tied against border ruffianism, and cessa
tion of that anomaly which, under the op
pellaiion of "popular sovereignty" impose.