Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-03-13
Fhe-esmpaign Of Is5s-Ths Issue.

Fer the FIRST time since The foundation OF
our government says the Ohio Eagle, the
campaign OF 1856 viii present the issue Of the
great Amencan doctrine Of popular sovereign
ly on The one had and ceniralism on the
other. "a
The Democratic patty, true TO lie doctnne
OF Self government which led gu Revolution
airy fathers 10 shake OF the shackles Of Eng
land who denied them the right TO settle their
domestic Institutions in their own wey, adher-
ing 10 the Constitution as The only chort by
which the ship OF the States is to be sieereG'
recognizes the sovereignty Of States, as guar
anleed by that instrument, and will forever
resist Oh The part OF Congress, or the General
Government, any and all attempisto interfere
in the local coucer rms Of fine States orteriitories.
On The other hand the party opposed 10 the
Democracy, by whatever name il may choose
10 be called, l. . party rendering 10 The people
this only issue as o paramount TO all Others,
the several States are not sovereign and ince-
pendent IN all thai pertains 10 ,htir local gov
|efnmtnts; and they shall NOT form and rega'
late their domestic institutions in their own
way, subject only 10 the Constitution Of the
United States, but Congress shaH prescribe
what local form ofgoyernment they shall adopt
what institutions they shall establish, and
what prohibit, Herei is the issue already made
L.. lua. nf ron,;nattons hv Aifher nnrfv.
aud for one or the other Of these propositions
the people will be called upon TO cast then
Votes on the FIRST Tuesday Of November next.
On The one side is ranged the Democratic
party. having for its platform the Constitution
of the Union; which binds into o lengne o.
States, a sis,erhood OF sovereign and indepen-
dent governments, each ns free and indepen-
dent OF all the others and of the Fedenlgov-
ernmcatfn everything pertaining 10 their do,
nestle laws and policy, as hey are OF Grea'
Britain; and on the other hand is the Anti
democratic, Know Nothing, American or Re-
publican party, which denies that call power
not expressly granted in this Constitution, is
reserved to the people OF the States,S' denies
also the great proposition upon which our
fathers achieved The Revolution, and which
undetlies The Constitution. that The people are
capable OF self government; and in lien there
OF sells up The Federal government as a great
central power, which shall dictate to these
different soyereigenties what form OF goyetn
ment they shall adopt.
II strikes the mind as stronge that the spirit
Iof de~magogueism and fanaticism should seize
such fast hold upon the minds OF American
citizens, that after near a century Of the prac-
licsl workings of our government, in which
the sovereignty Of the States was never doubt-
ed but by a few anarchists who despised The
Constitution, that a great party should spring
up, basing itself uponthi!.Anti'Amer dog
ma as the fundamental article in Its cieeG.-
Yet sttonge as it may seem, it is alarmingly
true: and should thisparty succeed in gaining
the control Of all the departments Of the gov
eminent, there viii be an end 10 republican
ism in these United States. No scheme wa
ever invented by which so dangerous a doc.
time could be carried out, as Know Nothing
ism affords. BY its system OF secrecy ant
atohs, the spirit of inquiry and free discussion
is s,ined; the people are made the slaves Of al
irresponsible oligorchy who seated in the deel
~recesSes of the order and shronded in myster,
manufacture whatever schemes Of personal og
grandizement their guilty thirst for power sug
gests ns the readies: means OF success, and III
honest masses under the terrible lash Of oaths
no longer free are compelled 10 vote the,
through. Such is The scheme; but The attemp
10 destroy the sovereignty Of The State in orde
10 concentfa'e power into the federal heav
was loo soon made. The people had not ye
lost their taste for freedom, and they will brn
these jemasogues 10 account.