Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-23
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,

10 ~ oECIiCNHL OH IiONHLf
The principles Of the Democratic party have been
subjected to the severest tests since the organization
OF the government. They have been denounced,
analyzed, discussed, rdiculed and combatted by not
q few OF ths ableat inteccts to which our country
has given birth. They have, nevertheless been
always popular, and, being put into practice, they
have proved pre- eminenty fitted for the foreign, not
less than the domestic, policy Of our government.
Other parties have arisen and baed for the control
of the country but they have all been cried
down by public sentinent-and now the Democracy
are in the ascendant everywhere except in the land
Of Black Republicansm. In til, South nere is little
danger OF division. The Democratic banner is
TOO heartily hailed whenever !. comes in conflict
with the opposition, to admit doubt, that this
ton Of the Union will be undivided when the con-
contest cones in 1860. But while the Democratic
party s irresistible in the South it by no means fol-
lows thatt at all sectional, either in s organizations
or it's aims On the contrary, the very fact that it is
in almost undspuied noase-'inn "f the political field
in the slavehcding States, is evidence Of ,hs Const
tutiunality and pfacticabity Of ts principles. Our
national elections hinge upon the slavery question:
and the ascendancy of Democracy proves at once,
that it CONFORMS in precept and in practice to the r"
quremens Of the government, as they wsre origi
nally designed and understood. The Southern peo
pie have nevtr contended, and cannot contend, fer
any other authority than that granted them by the
Constitution.
If the institution OF slavery is to be circu,nscribed
or extended all We a is that the people Of the States
and territories shall decide for themselves whether
they will receive or eject it. That is Democratic
doctrine, in louisiana as we'll as Wnconsin. Such
being the position Of the party, it becomes interest
ing to enquirethe causs Of is success and its nation
atty 1t has survived every other party and extend
ed it. iuhuenc throughout the ccuatry, solely and
simply becsus its principles practical Illustrations
Of those teues of the constitution, which apply
alike 20 one section and another. Nationality IS
;.s soul and essence. And it is 20 from the
aot that pOprlar sovereignty and the rights of the
States are the cardinal canons of lis croed. Those
great principles which, in the more quiet days OF the
republic were essential to the interests OF the nation,
are found equally Indispensable when the fabric of
our government totters On its base A republican
country require republican institutions. And in the
Democratic party those elements Of conservative
equality, which impe while they restrain ii.o ,n-
pulses of liberty, exist to degree 10! attained by
any other political organization ever effected in this
country. Tas Democratic party has always been,
and is STILL distinguished for it's uniformity In Maine
or Massachusetts, aa in South Csrona and Virginia,
the true supporters and firm adheren:s of Democracy
stand upon he same platform.
Indeed, il in point OF attachment TO the institutions
of the whole country there precedence to be given,
We rea;r link it stc-ld he conceded to the North.
ern rather the Southern Democracy 1t is true, there
are thousands in the ncn.slsvehoidng States who
were once associated with ihe Democratic party but
are now given over to the infamy of aboioni4m.-
But those who still stand firmly by the Constitution
and the Union are as the genuine metal separated
from tbs dross uncorrupted abd incorruPti6le They
are actused solely and purely by PATRIOTISM while IN
the South we are all more or less, under the influence
of interest and education That slavery is conducive
n the welfare of the African as it is inaeparab.doa
the dssny ofthe AngloSaIon races is evident to US,
without argument and almost without investigation.
Blu, to the Northern Democracy, it s to be studied
with all the preiudices Of association and education.
And hence say they are more entitled to the rl'
butte Of political heroes and patriots THAI wa
The administration now in power exempfes in ita
personnel its principles and its policy the true nature
and nationality of the Democratic party. There s
no man connected with it who is not true to ths
S,ates and not oua who hes ever been recreant to
he Constitution and the Union. The Democratic
party is as national row :rhen it originated Sec
ionasm is contradictory to its creed.