The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-14
TIE DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ITS 20
SITION AND POLICY.

Never, since the days of Jefferson, has the
Democratic party held higher ground on all
questions pertaining either to the domestic or
foreign policy Of the nation than at present.
and never have its elements been more united,
or its organization and influence more effective.
Crises have arisen--and perhaps they may
arise again--when the condolences Of chance
have served, temporarily to check the progress
and chill the enthusiasm, but never to darken
the prospect, or impair the purity and power
of the principles Of Democracy. There have
been periods in the political history of this
country, when the Government seemed almost
to tottcr with the portcntous throes Of revou
ton and ruin, when sccptics and cynics might
have distrustcd the foresight and sagacity Of
the founders of the republic. But those times
have gone, and the troubles that made them
memorable have been buried, it is to hoped, in
oblivion; or, at least, arc to be rccolected
only as sad souvenirs Of the past, and warnings
and safeguards for the futuc. The American
people have attained pinnacle Of prosperity
and power, that towers high above every other
nation of the earth, and still points on to
proudcr and nobler destiny, not only for our
own country, but for the savage as well as civil
ed world. Oar internccine fcuds aud factions
have been quoted and qnellcd, discord and
disscntion no longer threaten q speedy disrnp-
ton of the Union, fanaticsm has been beaten
back, the enbattled hosts Of aboltionsm have
been routed, the black banner Of the assailants
of Southern rights is trailing in the dust, n
tattcrcd trophy attached to the trumphal ear
Of Buchanan and Breckenridge, the FLAG OF
DEMOCRACY is flying from the masthead and
there is every indication that we have wealth,
cred worse storm than we shall ever cncoun-
ter again. But, Notwithstanding the fact that
the cncmys centre has been broken, and the
dangers dissipated, there still remains much to
be done by the Democratic party, in order
that it may eradicate the ills, the immediate
effects of which it has SO efcctnally averted
Because Buchanan and Breckenridge have
been triumphantly elected over al opposition
embracing every faction and fragment that
could possibly be compncd in antagonism to
the Democracy, it is not to be supposed that
the administration can accomplish all that is
promised and expected, unless aided by the
undivided efforts and encouragement of the
party as an entirety--the incalculable influence
arising from the moral power of outside sympa
thy in every section and in every wing ant
detachment Of the Democracy. 1t is the cs
sence of the prosperity of n republican people
that the party in power, when chosen upon
principles embodying the genuine genius o
the government, must be unembarrassed in it'
action by conflicting counsels and capton
exceptions, so long as it adheres to the polio.
prescribed by its cardinal creed 1t is tru'
there may be and must be difference Of opin
ion among members Of the same party, touch
ing mere matters of eXpediency or opportunl
ty, and sometimes even with reference to TIN
moderation or excess Of certain measures arls
ing from correlatiyc relation with principles
In such instances it is due to the party il
power that those differences of opinion should
be frankly and fearlessly expressed, that TIN
administration many thus be enabled to ac
adyisedly and it, consonance with the wishes o
the country, in matters Oh which no occasion
!, had hitherto been afforded for the popula
! verdict to be pronounced But when an ad
ministration is inaugurated upon principle
proclaimed by the party that carries it int
power, there should be truce to everything