The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-05-02
REASONS or A WEEEG
For Joining the Democratic Party

shond feel on the democratic platform. VIII endfa
vor 10 satisfy them on this point. ! presume ths
curiosity receives edge from the anticipation on Their
part that many citizens. perhaps themselves OF fhf
number, will be under the necessity in The conFsed
the coming year. 10 take s.locofoeo" pills, and q
course they would like TO know their operation and
efrct. own up TO having swallowed the Democrat
ic creed "Smple and pure, as the French diplomar
lists say. Like all medicine, the anticipation ~
worse than ihe operation llntend hereafter 10 act
and vote with The democratic party, for the foov-
ing reasons, and hope these few lines Will find the
Courier 'senjoying the same blessing"
III the FIRST place. that is the only party which neW
exists which has history. principles orpolicy lts
great antagonist, who contested the victory wihlt
IN many a well Tough battle. is The naurs
ei lts statesmen enbalmed in The history Of the
past, but ii has present and future. One ty
one all its stronehods have beeu storEied, lis art
lery silenced, leaders h the captivity of retiremer
and the rank and file scattered or forming in power
less factions. The democracy has history, whlth
of itself is a Tower OF strength, and prestige D
iutuIe good 10 the country. Born amidst the sfoas
throes OF the popular heart, It's cradle rocked BY
storms and its first triumph 10 place the Philn
opher and statesman OF Monticello at the head oi ha
nation. This done sgainst the prestige of fhe
name Of Adams, in spite OF the most accomplished
eloquence, the strength, of wealth, and the posses
sion OF power and place. TiInd men predicted the
prosiration OF the affairs of religion, the overthrow
Of morality aud the ordinary course Of nstice and
order, the reign OF inhdelify and red republicanisn
None OF these things came to.pass and have lived
10 see and hear the very men " no were then In the
opposition and Others who their mantle, praise
10 the very skies this very Thomas Jefferson, and
claim be democrats Of his school.
he democrats loiHed the issue, carried the
war OF lSl2-li aud its victories, in the face Of
an opposition hch, If it did not oven the line.
approached the fiery border Of that volcano " here
patriotism is swallowed mp by treason. The count-
rY was ruined then, SAID the opposition; bot now
all parties claim the honors, all have shared in
the beneficial results Of that war. The next great
battles OF democracy have been with their oppo-
nents IN matters of national policy. In every me
stance, so far as recoeet, they nave not only
victory, but have eXtorted the admission, rofn
opponents, that they right
read long and tedious debates in Congress, about
tariffs, before we'll knew the meaning of the word
and it ended by party claiming stariif for rev.
enue'' aud the Other tariff" The
test has been abandoned, the democratic ground
ceded. ''luternal Improvements was the
cry OF party The conviction IS all but universal,
that private enterprise is more sagacious and eco
noniical than national supervision. The suggestion
made by Mr.. Otis 10 Mr.. Webster, when he hung
fire for wnrd-s.there is national road-but-the
road of suiu''-is more truthful than sarcastic. A
few Cumberland roads would have ruined the tTeasa-
~ OF the country.
A national bank affirmed 10 be absolute ne
cessity. Yet Mr.. Webster lived 10 say sit was an
absolute idea" The democratic party, have always
favored an extension of territory. Il is fraught said
the oppotirion, with the most Imminent peril. And
row the classic and accomplished Everett shakes
Cuba into the lapof the nation, gently her trep-
ic fruits fall 10 the earth.
When Gen. jackson candidate for the Pres
idency, the records Of antiquity and the pages OF
modern times from Nimrod the great hunter doan
TO Bonaparte the first consul, land under conir-
button TO show the peril 10 republic of uniting The
civic wreath with the sword OF the military hero
bot in ten years after this, the same PARTY which
brought such an array Of argument against the hero
OF New Orleans, seized aged general bv the en-
phonious name OF the place where he won victory
the savages, and passed hm by his title on the
wave of popular song into the white house. Tie
experiment so successful that it was twice re-
peated; the last general breaking down on the rich
Irish brogue and the sweet German accent.
Out OF this brosue and accent there sprung forth
another party. which has swallowed the whole whig
paTy-a fire out OF the branbIe which has devonred
the tall cedars OF Lebanon.
What party How but The democratic party avows
It's principles or proclaims its poljcy The Anoaei1
can party has platform for the latitude of S54.
delphIa, another for Springfield One week il il,
ged IN republican conventions and the it, clar-
ION notes heard In every lodge and echoed
back from every town and village. II will vote Tor
no man who owes allegiance 10 a foreign power-by
some thus IS admitted 10 be religious test by Others
denied Here all Catholics shut out from office,
in southern state they are elected to Office under
the same banner. Al time it is strictly section
/ at, at another intensely national. Now most thor
o02hiy anl-siapeiy; and then non-intervention is
the law OF its action. When their trumpet gives so
many end such uncertain sounds who can have conf
dence III them! In regard to The subject of slavery
the conviction has been growing stronger in my own
mind ever since 1918, that can do no good 10
master or slave by attempting act upon it poli-
eaIy The old liberty party which up to that point
acted on principle. translated not 10 heaven bur
TO the purgatory OF barnburnerisn by the snlendid
eioquence OF Charles Summer, and the winning
smiles of Martin and John Van Buren,. From thai
day TO his it has been known as freesoiiism true
democracy, coalition, native Amercausm, changing
position as often as its name. il has been used in
iac as a make weight, either for party or for men
, as circumstances required. Now nearly all parties
profess TO be NATIONAL and affirm that they will abide
by the provisions of the constitution and let slavery
/ alone.
The compromise Of 1920 has been repealed and
The whole new territory opened to settlers and the
question OF slavery TO be left TO the actual settlers
when they form the constitution. There but few
who would vote for the restoration OF this comDro-
mise Both parties prefer the chance ot what they
may gain rather than the certainty of the restora-
ton. And one can hardly see the very great differ
ence 1t can make either 10 the slaves or the country
whether the old states Of MARY land Virginia and
kentucky shall continue slave states or be drained
10 supply new regions, while they gradually but
surely 10 become free.
As the north has presented the subject 10 the
south IN all lts phases morally, politically and eIi
gionsly--as they have coulessedy power TO eman-
cpdte slaves without he consent of the state where
they aFewoHld il not be wiser and better 10 leave
them Tor time 10 their reflections and tile ST.
Ieht operations OF farscelng and wonder working
providence, than 10 drive this quesou 10 civil war
aud division OF the Union? The slave will gain
nothing by such catastrophe and the country and
the world will lose all the hopes that hang upon our
success. Nine weeks or anarchy in the House OF
Representatives nine heavy blows upon the heart
OF the natlon and nine great shadows upon the Light
that we were shedding abroad upon other lands
Sectional strife was one of the rocks of which
Washington warned Anarchy is the rock on
which the ancient republics were wrecked Ii the
republican party succeeds, of which there is small
probability, thrown upon the former; If The