Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-20
Democratic Law and Order.

Uem0cratlc Law anu Urder.
Ever since the decision Of the Supreme Court in
the "Dred Scott case our democratic exchanges
have been engaged in denouncng the Republicans
for questioning the legality as well as equity of that
decision. Because the opponents of Slavery extern
sion believed the construction put upon the Con-
stitution of the United States by those who had
sisted in framing it, and by those contemporaneous
with the fathers Of that instrument, as well as the
decisions of this Supreme Court during the first
half century of its existence to be as correct and
valid dicta put forth to sustain the position
assumed by the "latter day democratic saints,
they constantly reminded of their obligation to
obey the laws ofhe land interpreted by the court
of last resort Even democratic conventions 60 so
far as to assume that the Republicans will nullify
laws and decisions that they abhor, merely because
they protest earnestly and solemnly against what
they believe to be judicial tyranny. Were we to
believe in the sincerity Of these resolutions We
should suppose our democratic countrymen the
most peaceable and law-ablding citizens in the
world. They would be the last people on earth to
resist law, or countenance those who disregard its
Just claims. How are the facts?
1t is notorious that William Walker went to
Nicaragua, two years since on fbustering,
piratical expedition, fitted out in defiance of the
laws of the land and in the face of presidential
proclamation. After causing the death of thous-
ands of individuals, and being driven from the
country, this fit candidate for hempen honors re-
turns to this country and is embraced by democrats,
given p,olic reception by democrats, and feted at
public hotel in princely manner by democrats,
while not democratic paper in the country pro-
tests against the crimes he has perpetrated
In the democratic city ofNew York, n democrat
&c mayor, sustained by democratic Judge, and
democratic minions from the purleus of iniquity,
has bid defiance to the laws of the State and re-
sisted the officers of the law even to bloodshed. -
The man who was elected the chief magistrate of a
city containing more than twice the population of
Vermont, by democratic votes solely, and whose
duty it to enfore the laws, has been the first to
violate them Systematically and to the endangerng
Of the lives of his fellow citizens In this course of
sedition and armed resistance to civil authority he
has been backed by the chiefest apostles of democ
racy, and sustained by the press Of the party.
On q still larger scale the same open disregard
to law has been practiccd by democrats not as in
dividuals but as party, and with still more dis
astrous results. Under the specious guise of
t'squatter sovereignty crimes have been perpe-
trated in Kansas and in Utah that would put to
blush any nation that makes any pretensions to
civilization. In the latter Territory the officers Of
the United States Government have been driven
from their posts, their records burned, and their
authority set at nought. In Kansas the deeds Of
violence that have occurred are too numerous fol
enumeration, and too revolving for contemplation
The power of any number Of individuals, few OIL
many, to introduce and maintain slavery and poly.
gamy in the Territories of the United States is
cardinal democratic doctrine, for squatter sover
eighty can stop at nothing short Of this.
Such are the men and such are The principles o
the party that howls so pitcously because rcpubli
cans see fit to protest against Judicial tyranny
Disunion and notification of laws enacted by an,
legally constituted authority is not has it BEEF
countenanced by the republican party 1t thel
does not we'll become the democracy to read u
homilies on our constitutional and legal obligations
A party whose members are so prone to make thei
interests or their will the standard by which t
measure their obligations to law, order and deceu
cy, will do well in nstilling into the minds of ii
followers some just conception of legal as well q
moral obligations. When its own hands are cea
its voluntary offerings will be quite as acceptu
Bile.