The Winchester appeal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1856-1856, 1856-04-26
touching the public territory, for which his

touching the public territory, for which hi
southern friends give him so much credit
Is it not legitimate to present these rec
ord facts Of history? Still it is just t
say, that Messrs. Douglas, Shields, an
Richardson are OF the very soundest q
Northern Democrats, and are really emit
tied to much credit for the patriotism an
general nationality of their sentiments.
They are far better than the masses 0
the Democratic party at the North, VIII
have been so fearfully complicated wit
Freeoilism and the Wilmot Proviso.-
So generally has this been so, that, afte
Mr.. Pierce's nomination for the Presiden
cy, the Washington Union, edited by
Tennessean, Yves forced to say-at leas
| have often seen this language quoted
form it,
sThe Free. Democratic leaders o
the North are a regular portion Of thu
Democratic party, and Gen. Pierce, i
elected, will make no distinction between
them and the rest Of Democracy in tht
distribution of the official patronage, ant
in the selection of agents for administer
ing the Government,
What is the present ostensible position
of Democratic party? Why, its platform
is not founded upon principle at all, bu
upon a solitary measure-the Nebraska
bill-which is construed variously by its
supporters. General Cass, for example
heads those who see in it squatter SOW
ereignty; my colleague is one of those
who understand it differently; General
Shields is of the class who think it a
measure for freedom; and the distinguish.
ed G. c.. Camberleng, as orthodox a
democrat as any of them, is in love with
it because he says it will so operate as
to leave mot single square inch of slave
territory in the United States
Where, then, is the identity Of primci.
ple-where the soundness of the Demo
cratic party, of which my colleague
speaks? The same radical differences Of
opinion which characterize them on sla.
very questions, also attend them on 9th.
er leading branches of public policy
But my colleague claims that his party
are strict constructionists; and, before |
leave this slavery question, let me call
attention 10 the fact that there is large
section of the Democratic party who are
such strict constructionists that they deny
that the Federal Government had the
constitutional right to pass the fugitive
slave law.
Mr.. Zollcofer. l will give my col.
league another instance, not of North.
ern man, but a Southern man, mean the
present Secretary ofWar, who is report.
ed as saying, in published speech, that
when any State in the Union shall choose
to set aside the Fugitive slave) law, it is
within her sovereignty and beyond our
power And further to have said, that
in such contingency,I, for one, will new.
err give my vote to extend the arm of the
Federal power for her coercion Such is
the extent to which strict construction is
carried in the Democratic party!
Now, as we have seen there isno uni
ty of sentiment among Democrats upon
slavery questions, where do we discover
the unity? Is it to be found in questions
relating to the disposition of the public
lands? Look at the votes taken in this
Hall, and you will find that the Demo.
cratic members have been divided upon
every sort of land questions. Is it upon
drivers and harbors?-up.
on the homestead bills?-upon the Pa.
cifc road?-or any other leading subject
of legislation? The same contrariety OF
position is fonnd among Democratic mem.
bers in all! TWAS but the other day that
the Democratic member from Virginia
T Mr.. Letcher] read us a strict construc'
ton lecture upon the Pacific railroad,
and yet my colleague is in favor of that
measure.
y 4
1t is proper to say, that while belong
to the American party, and am an ardent
American, for reasons which | have as.
signed my constituents, and am ready to
assign on all proper occasions, there are
those who are said to belong to the Amer
lean or Know.N Nothing party from whom
differ so widely upon slavery questions
and upon other questions, that | can have
no political utilization with them. There
were some such for time in the Nation
al Council at Philadelphia, and very
plainly so declared to them. 1t is right
and proper that we should be candid up.
on such matters; and think my colleague
has fallen into very great error in prop
agating the idea the other day, and in bis
speech year ago-and as he is in the
habit of doing-that the Democracy is a
unit in elementary principles, of sound
national materials, and ought to be Sc
curely trusted by the patriotic masses,
who would guard and preserve the Con-
stitution and the Union. 1t is great fal.
lacy, sir.
s VI
The Americans have nominated sound
national men for Preaident and Vice
President, who will faithfully regard the
rights of every section Of