American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-10-04
STATE ELECTORAL TICKET.
OLD DzNEccR.ATrc DocTR7rGE.

OLD DEMOCRATIC DCCTRIWE.
The sclf-styled Democratic party Of
this day, is not the Democracy of the
Jefferson era, if principles distinguish
party. They now style political
PRESCRIPTION, what, in 1899 they pro-
nounccd wholesome American doctrine.
They now oppose the very principle
which they incorporated into the stat
utes of the State. Virginia Democra-
cy was among the very earliest, as we'll
as iirmest friends and advocates Of the
doctrine that "Americans should rule
America" now, Virginia Democracy,
following, as u glorious leader, Henry
A. Wise, q renegade Wing, is in the
front rank of the most inyetorate OPP
ponents of that doctrine. How chang
ed is Democracy! The time was, and
not long ago, when the Resolutions of
$3.50, were the touch-stone of De-
mocracy-the creed upon which all
who sought it's communion were to be
catcchiscd, and by it were to be pro-
nounced by the high priests of Democ-
racy, orthodox or hereto. Let us
turn over the leaves Of the Record and
ascertain where Virginia Democracy
stood in 1899. We quote from
"Henning's Statistics at Large-Ncv
Series" j Vol. 2, Page 1914.
"Friday, January II, 1900.
"The General Assembly of Virginia
considering that the privation of per-
sonal rights solemnly sanctioned by the
Constitution of the United States, is
arbitrary and unjust; that the right of
election to Office is one of the most i'm
portant secured thereby to the citizen;
and that it ought not to be destroyed
or impaired, especially by regulations
having Retrospective operation:
Therefore, Rcsoloea, That the pro
position from the Legislature of the
State Of Massachusetts, having for its
object the exclusion Of certain citizens
their eligibility to Offices, which they
now actually possess; and the exclusion
Of other persons, who may become pos
scssed thereof upon theperformance of
certain conditions held out to them by
existing laws thus by retrospect
i've regulation improper in itself, ana
inconsistent with the spirit of all our
civil institutions, infringing the rights
solemnly guara"rcd by The constitution
and laws---is arbitrary and unjust, and
that it ought not to receive the appro-
baton Of tho General Assembly.
"Tho General Assembly, noyertho-
less, concuring in opinion with the leg
i8laturo of Massachusetts,, that every
Constitutional barrier shouldbe opposed
70 tho introduction Of FOREIGN INFLU-
UTcG inc our national councils:
<'HRa: Z, That the Constitution
ought to We 80 amended. that no For
elmer who shall not havo acquired
rights under the constitution and laws
at the time Of making this amendment,
shall thereafter be eligible to the Office
Of Senator or Representative in Con-
eress of the United States, nor to any
Office in the Judiciary or Executive de-.
\ partmcnts."
nsyr. That is, if anything, stronger
Amcricanism than that advocated by
tho American party; yet it was enact
ed andresolved by the pure and uncor-
ruptcd Democracy Of Virginia in 1919!
How corrupted by time and the spoils
has Democracy become to wage o war
of prescription against those who stand
up now to defend the principles which
they have abandoned in their Wild and
reckless hunt after ofIiecl When the
above measures were doomed salutary
as q safeguard against foreign inhu.
cncc, the foreign arrivals were but a
drop in The bucket compared to hun