Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-30
NATIONAL AND STATE RIGHTS DEMoCRA-

CY.
The Democratic party is founded upon principles
directly derived from the Constitution. Its preceps
and itspractices applicable alike 10 each State and
all sections. II is impartial in II. cperation devoted
TO the maintenance of the Union, and 10 the ndivi.
dual as we'll collective interests Of the several
States of the confederacyi and. hence, the ustnese
snd appropriateness Of denom:uaaDg those, who up.
hole its principles In their primitive purity, "The
National Democracy" from whom il seems to be sup.
posed by some the State rights Democracy are con.
radstingushed by peculiar tenets pertaining espe-
cia!ly TO the rights of the South Such euppo,iton
Is the result either of intense sectional prejudice or OF
an ignorant misapprehension of the organization OF
tie Democratic party, and the basis Of principles on
which il rests.
The true.t types Of National Democracy are found
among the most Incorporating supporters of the
rights Of the States and interests of the South. In
the slave States it true, there exists schismatic
school Of sectionalists, the members of which lay
claim 10 an especial patronage Of Southern rights
and are always suspicious Of national parties. Blu,
this captious little clique is altogether too preudced
in it's views and sectional in it's aims be entitled
any other consideration than that which attaches to
the recklessness OF fanatics and the obstinacy OF b
gots. The factonists Of the South may profess fel
lowship with the Democratic party, but they fal
from being guided by its principles, or influenced by
its constitutional liberaty They repudate the idea
of National Democracy; and their doctrines are moi
even exaggerated limitations of the principles which
Estate rights"
E.~k orJ
apart from true Democracy in any of its forms oi
phases. They are iInbittered and reentles. enemies
OF the North, and misguided zealots in the cause Of
the South. Their ideas Of State rights all centred
on the institution OF slavery, and, consequently, con-
6ued to contemplation Of the usefulness Of State
sovereignty, Win reference to the slave States alone
They to forget that the free States have sove
reign rights well the slave States; and that the
Northern Democracy make practical application o
the doctrines Of State rights in their own affairs az
well as ours.
New York or Illinois, has within Itself separate
sovereignty, independent Of any and every other
State, as we'll ss Virginia or South Carolina. Between
National and State Rights Democracy, the distinc.
ton that exists s similar to that between the several
States and the Union. Deprived of the doctrines OF
State rights, the National Democratic party would
not be- ITSELF II would be beref of one of its prnc
pal elements, and would no longer be equal to the
purposes for which II designed And a. the
Union, without the confederation of the States
would be nothing more than name, 30 the Ms.
tional Democracy, without the State rights princi.
pies, would be mere mockery Of its original
organization. Nevertheless, it appears to be the
paramount idea of the Southern maconteuts that Ma
South because, forsooth, it extends over the whole
country, embraces Northern men and confines the
rights Of the States, ss we'll as the powers of the
Federal Government within their Legitimate and re.
spective spheres Of Influence and action. National
and State Rights Democracy are one and the same,
or they are closely ccpoined. TO be insepsrabe
without destroying the one, and rendering the other
an mpracticable abstraction. The Democratic party
proper extends equal and exact justice to every part
and portion Of the country it regards the General
Government as the arbier of all those interests and
rights which affect all the States alike, and pertain
to the welfare Of tbs natlon and it defends the
reign;y Of the separate States from the encroschments
of the Federal Government, by a jealous guardian
ship of IFS sacred precnct. 1t seeks to preserve the
Union, by enforcing the Constitution, and maintain
ing intact, the doctrine of State Rights. And those
who contend that National Democracyis contradcto.
ry to the individual sovereignty and safety Of the
States have little appreciation Of the principles they
profess to espouso.