The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-06-02
From the Raleigh Standard.
LETTER FROM LIB. SANDERS. ESQ.

we publish g. A''N
Sanders. his circular letter TO the people of
Johnston county on the subject of Internal
Improvement, Free Suffrage. State debt,
Distribution. SC. Mr. Sanders has long
acted with the Democratic party. and for
..auld lang syne." and as matter of simple
Justice 10 public man. we felt that we
ought to give him hearing in our col
umns.
We do not propose to offer any elat crate
reply to Mr. Sanders. nor to discuss the
points which he has made. We differ with
him in his views on Free Suffrage and In
ternal improvements; and the difference
between Us on Distribution is radical and
perpetual. How he can hold the Free Suf-
frage measure and its advocates response
BILE for what ne deems Il wasteful, useless,
AID highly objectionable system of internal
can appreciate his opposition to an increase
of the State debt and to all appropriations
for internal improvements, for the first duty
of a representative Is TO his constituents,
and their will should be his, in all cases not
involving conscientious scruples or consti-
tutioml objections; in which latter event
the only course is to resign. Many good
Democrats voted Mt the last session Mr.
Sanders did on questions of internal inn
provement, and differed as he did with the
majority of their party friends; yet not one
of them has seen proper to aSSail the party
on this subject as Mr. Sanders has done
not one of them has assumed, looking to
the whole State. that he was right and those
who voted the other way wrong; and not
one of them. holding his party associates
responsible for what men of all parties have
done. or united in attempting to do. has
like Mr. Sanders sOlemnly warned the people
against democratic proclivities" in this
respect, and thus cssayed to injure the par
ty which he Processes to support. Others
have contented themselves with simple
and honest opposition to the Western Ex-
tension. and to further involvement on ac-
count of internal improvements. in ODE
dience to their pledges TO, or the will of
differed with them, has, so far as we know,
either questioned their Democracy or GEN.
sured them in the slightest degree for their
course. But Mr. Sanders, wiser than many
others, and uncharitable just in proportion
to the stock of wisdom which he possesses,
takes his party to task for the resolution
adopted on the subject of internal improve
memts when Gov. Bragg was first nominated
charges in substance, as the Know Moth
ing presses and leaders have done, that the
people were deceived by the use made of
this resolution in different localities, and
then holds his own party up as the main
taxes, dating these latter from the passage
of the Central Railroad bill in 1913, for
which he admits he rOted! Not one word of
warning is uttered against the tendency of
the opposition tn involve the State in debt,
no reference Is made to the fact that me N
of all parties and from all sections voted
together for internal improvements in 1854
and 1856 but the Democratic party is
solely to blame, says Mr. S.. and Gen. Dock
cry. who deliberately broke his pledges to
the Western people in moving that vote of
reconsidrration-Gen en-. Dockcry is patriot
and deserves his gratitude" and the ''gra-
titude" Of the people of Johnston. Gov.
Bragg is placed upon strange plank" in
the platform-Gov. Bragg led the Demo-
cracy i'll contests in which the party gave
different constructions" to plain resolu
ton in different localties-Gov. Bragg and
the great mass of the party in the State
have ceased to be "old fashioned Demo
Gratis, Jackson Democrats" but Linn B.
Sanders, Esq, has kept the faith-Linn B.
Sanders, Esq, has been uniformly right.
except when he gave those votes in 1913
for Free Suffrage and the Central Railroad
L. b. Sanders, Esq, is so sound and true
upon all these issues that he censures his
own former political friends, warns the peo-
pie against them, and eul"gizes Gen. Alfred
| Dockery as the embodiment of statesman
ship. judgment. and patriotism!
Mr. Sanders also takes ground for "a dis
tribution of the proceeds of public lands
among the States. and substantially, for the
assumption by the general government of
the State debts. This is high-toned federal
doctrine. He also absurdly assumes that
the State would be rendered more depend
ent on the federal centr, by loan than
gift for he opposes deposit and advocates
redistribution"
1t is sufficient to say that Mr. Sanders
differs on the subject of distribution with
Gen. Jackson. Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Polk. Mr.
Pierce. the Democratic party of the United
States as represented in its national Con-
ventions, and the Democratic party of North
Carolina as represented in its State Con-
venti"ns. That is all. Mr. Sanders must,
therefore, be in error. He cannot te right,
and millions of Democrats wrong.
The only issue now made against the
Democratic party is this exploded issue of
distribution. The old Wing party had an
opportunity in 1S4I to carry it out. bat fail
ed TO do so; and the Know Nothing nartv