The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-31


by every or OF contradiction spokea written and acted
hat had heard from the prominent Of that wing OF
the party what had read from their pes ths yo'es PAD
seen them give and all their recent action when the subject
fof slavery involved, had convinced me that so
kay from entertaining. free-sol views or wispng mem
aoptedby Congress they held in the man sonna
ken other parties az the section II tried bX Tue
same tests Their ready and enth ssc acceptance otne
principles snnouaced in the Cincinnati PLATFORM on teis
subject which were satisfactory to the southern peos
1cpul bnt confirm tins conviction The sort Of
so zsaousy supported for the presidency, whose ayowcd
weknown ptncipes and whose whole career prominent
" recorded marked him as one all disposed TO coun-
enance freeso agitation in any shape left no room Tor
suspicion dstrust c. them Besdes this the very ba-
els of opposition them the very hatge upon which they
were arragned for condemnation very hing which
urged their crime by the heterogeneous republican
party was, that they belonged to prosavery party
IT, after all this the boldness with which they have been
accused by both republicans and Americansn iratenal
union still when the work of war upon the democratic
party Is to be undertaken-should have caused some
anxiety who will say that what have since heard from
the accused themselves lie sufficient TO tY For
one the gentleman from Maryland says that but the in-
creduous takes in plain story reluctantly There are
none SO deaf those who will not hear That between
democrats there is difference of opinion some points,
be urges is undeniaby rue but that this difference
leads any different policy on the part OF Congress Just
undenaby And this is the point which gem
emen obstinately refuse to look at else they could
be mistaken in their view of democratic oganiza
ton. For instance: while some hold slavery to be an
evil and doubtless declare unreservedy, and others
hold contrary belief yet they agree perfectly as TO the
duty upon Congress to abstain from interference With
it. So too while some advocate what called asquatter
sovereignty and others oppose it, yet there difference
between them what shall be the action OF Congress- for
the doctrine comedies the essential
point insisted upon BY its opponents that the question o.
slavery in the Territories not within the sphere of
congressional action Now the man who sees that in fed
era politics we organize parties and announce principles
in reference only federal will that not
witbstandng the differences mentioned there be-
there really s true unity Of action Their difference 10
of that kind which their agreement in constitutional doc
rne to the powers of Congress puts entirely out OF the
way That difference cannot be reached bt by overriding
this fundamental doctrine. lille the doctrine Stands, IL
cannot go into the sphere wic the national party hold
ing it belongs aud hence be opetathg differ
ence in that sphere Elsewhere might be otherwise In
the spuo.e Of territorial politics. il w5d produce conflict
But while od that this latter sphere shall not bo en-
tered by the national democratic party, organized with
reference federal objects alone it can cause no conflict
nor lead to the divisions which opponents 80 ndustri-
| ously insist should destroy us. .
The true explanation of the unity oi the democratic
party otwthsandng The diverstes of opinion alleged
against it, is that it is neither prosatey nor an anti
slavery party II holds that whatever may be the opinion
of this man that man id reference to slavery the const-
tuition forbids him thrust that opinion upon the theatre
Of the federal government lie must be confetti with prl-
vate indulgence of his views SO far every State OF Ter
rtos but his own may be affected though in this whether
State Territory; be IL at liberty and it is his duty ss
an intelligent citizen TO exercise these views when he
may properly do SCI as he may dset rect fer the local
good But outside of that when acting in conneadn with
those of other States and Territories where the citizen has
the pteilsge that he in his enjoys he must leave
the subject to be dealt with as those locally interested
may prefer. Mark the simplicity Of the distinction
local government for local PURPOSES national gov.
ernmen for national purposes; local party for Local
purposes, national party for nntional purposes It Is
the very distinction characerzing our sysen OF govern
men in which is lodged its greatest security-the .eas-
ing fundamental distinction BY which we Eecure the lar
gest liberty Of the citizen and At the same time the most
effective agency fof his protection. rarty that in its
organization and objects thus adopts the very spirit OF our
institutions and plants itself upon basis corresponding
with that upon which rests the superstrucitre of the
| Ame huf
has often DONE the confidence of the people BY those
who understand it its triumphs be traced to far deeper
sources than that which has been literally insinuated
in this discussonthe guliibe ghotanee OF the masses
Now sir under this view of the proper sphere ana busi-
of national party can well conceive that in the
late canvass northern democrats may have expressed
repuenace to the establishment of slavery in Kansas,
just southern democrats may have expressed wish
that it should be established there for differing IN this
they nevertheless could cordially unite and act together
upon their agreeing dea that Congress has no commission
enforce the preference of eherno power to establish
it, or prevent it from being established and therefore
their wishes n the matter have nothing to do with
their party Objects and could not interfere with the result
repeat sir the democratic party is neither proslavery
nor anisaverynot pro Slavery, because 1t has no bns
ness with the question not antslavery for the same rca
son. All it proposes the subject is to recognise and
protect the institution to the extent that the constitution
recognises and protects it-nothng more, nothing less
ii gentlemen will take this fact into their minds, they
will readily that the bond OF aiaon between north
and southern democrats bears upon it only the gea
seal OF the constitution That atests their common obi
Their sep obligations those which rest upon them
members OF different States confined each to his own have
mention in the bond They excluded from IT, They
cannot properly get there They left correave
those powers mot delegated to the United States by th
constitution, prohibited by it to the States which
reserved to the States respectively or to the people"
Mr. Chairman, this fraternsl of Americans and
publicans upon the democratic party while sustained by
common enmity, is waged by movements to very opposite
points The Americans seeking to destroy southern
confidence in the party while the republicans seeking
to destroy northern confidence in it. The former wout
produce the belief that the southern people have been dupe
into the admission Of free-soi allies their camp; th
latter that the northern people have extent bee
duped into the admission OF proslavery allies to theirs
The difference between them is that while the American
readily accept such munitions the republicans dis
posed TO furnish for the southern field of operations IT,
latter thus generous because what they contribute
of avail TO themselveon the contrary would encumbe
themmus move to their point of attack carefully strppe
of every piece of armor and every weapon which wou
the former 1t would not suit them to show to thei
section as it would suit the Americans to show to tn
South that northern democrats advancing free-so
objects and hence when they have paraded newspspe
paragraphs and exhibited pacards about Stree Kansas
furnish aid and comfort to southern opponents the
stop short wheel round and charge that all this in
tended to deceive the northern people, inasmuch it
. well known here that northern democrats reall
Strengthening prosavery men and proslayery schemes
e. 1t is evident sir that there is mistake betwee
them 1t is equally evident to that it arises from t
party socitude OF Americans TO fasen freeeo object
upon northern democrats and Of republicans asten
slavery objects upon them, when fact neither right
the truth being, as have insisted and you have hear
them declare here again and agau that they regard
treat the subject of slavery in the Territories wthou
the jurisdiction OF Congress- where opinion of their
= whether for against il rightfuly be permitted
interfere one way or the other How easy TO avoid tn