The Panola star. ([Panola] Panola County, Miss.) 1856-1857, 1856-06-21
LETTER FROM A. j. DONEL-
SON-HIS VIEWS ON DE-
MOCRACY.

The following letter is in reply to
one addressed to Mr.. DonelSon, by j.
Powell, Esq, of Sacramento City.
Sir: Your letter of the 18th
ultimo, forwarding to me the pro-
ceedings of the American Party
at Sacramento, ratifying the nomi-
nations at Philadelphia, reached
me yesterday; and | thank you for
the kind terms in which you have
communicated them.
| took ground at an early day,
in favor of the right of California
to come into the Union, with or,
without Slavery in her State
Constitution, as her citizens might
determine for themselves, UNI
influenced by the action of Con-
gress; and no one 0as witnessed
with more satisfaction than | have
the peaceful solution which was
thus given to Il question OF much
claim to our country. The prin-
ciple Involved was that upon
which rests all our Republican
institutions; that is. the right with
in the limits Of the Constitution,
of the people Of the State and of
the Territories when forming a
State Constitution, to govern
themselves, and noblv has this
principle been yindicated by Cali
tornia in the unparalleled prosper
ty she has so soon attained under
her own laws. Itdoes not there
fore surprise me to find her citizens
prompt to lay hold of the great
national doctrines which form the
basis of the American creed. En-
posed as she is to an immigration
from countries which the lights of
civilization have scarcely yet
reached, she feels perhaps more
keenly than we do here, the ne
cessity of guarding the balIot-box
from the dangerous influences
which Will act through it, if no
discrimination is to be made here
after between the Native Ameri-
can and the Foreigner just landed
on our shores. So too with the
other great reforms proposed by
| the American Platform, which are
| the restoration of the Government
to its original purity, and the cor
rection Of those abuses which have
converted sectional issues into an
element of political power, and
have brought the patronage of the
President into alarming conflict
with the freedom of elections.
The principles here involved ma
turally strike the minds, and COM
mand the support of a young and
enterprising people, who are fresh
from the task of forming a Govern
ment of their own, and have learn
ed to appreciate at their proper
value those old party acatch-ar0rds
by which the many have so often
been made the dupes of the de-
signing fer.
The only matter of regret to me,
Sir, is that the friends of these
necessary reforms did not bring
forward, in connection with the
name of Mr.. Fillmore, some in
dividual for the Nice-Presidency
around whom could be rallied
stronger guarantees for their sue
cess than belong to my humble
character and services. But how
ever inadequate may be my name
In this respect, you may Eest as
sured that / will sanction nothing
adverse to the great movement
/ should have been recreant to
the lessons / received from Gen
Jackson, if | could have witnessed
in silence the attempt, within ten
miles of his tomb, to revive the
odious doctrines Of the Hartford
Convention, or if / could sub
sequently have given sanction te
that coalition of sectional ultraists
which has secured to the infuen-
ces engaged in that disorganizing
) attempt, in the name of Democra
CIV, the control of the Fedora
Government.
General Jackson's whole life is
!, reputation of the leading characters
: tics of what is now termed Democracy
| In 1917, recommending 10 Mr.. Mon
! roe the appointment of Federalist
! he warned him against the excuses o
party spirit. In numerous publica
. tons he announces his conviction tina
wrought to be more Americanised