Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-20

hlo achievement Of American Independence, it be-
came necessary to form and adopt Constitution for
the new nation. Then, warm contest arose be-
tween the prominent men If the country, as 10 the
extent Of power 70 be conferred on the Federal
Government. This contest temporarily ceased up
the adoption Of the Constitution but was short
" Afterwards renewed with increased fervOr and
bitterness. The great Republican party, (now the
Democratic party OF the cOuntry,l emerged from
that controversy under the leadership Of Jefferson
He may be jusly aud fOrcbly called the apostle Of
political liberty. He originated q system Ot poliii
cal dOetFines directing, almost unnterrupIedy, tile
administration Of the government to the present
day. system which torm% the basis OF true De-
mccracy, aud the elaboration and practical opera
ton Of which, has secured our prosperity US pcO-
pie.
Il is pleasant 10 glance over the truInPhs "f the
party which has adhered To ystem. Twenty fur
years sTecessi" IN waging war against its opI"MSn.s
TOe,-thcn came defeat, and for four years John
Quincy Adams was at the helm OF State. II tri:
umphed again twelve years, led by jackson and
Van Buren, lit was defeated by "cOOn-skn>, hard
cider" and Harrison--when the popular mind seem
Cd for the first aud last time in our history crazcd
by . single desire for change. Again were lis hosts
ed On IN their victorious career four years by James
K Polk, aud again did they experience defeat III the
hands Of Old Zach" Finally, fur eight YEARS.
der Pnrcc and Buchanan, the rcns Of power have
been will be under the control Of the party Of the
people. Thus We see that the great Democratic
party has triumphed forty weight, ard been defeated
twelve, out Of the sixty years, which has elapsed
since the plastic intellect Of jefferson shaped and
conferred political individuality upon it. Within
that period it has numbered among its followers at
different tincs, almost nft Oi the great men "i the
country. Those who have adhered, with undcvia
ting fidelity, to its standard, have filled the high
places 10 our national councils, and transmitted gl0
TOWs names to grateful pOSteFity. -
What has been the fate Of the dcScrtcrS? Some
Ut them HrctyS EfTcd ,-nuturgg nubiCmrr,- have
also played conspicuous ihrtsin our national DRAMA,
and secured unques0ned immortality; - others.
given them all their celebrity, dropped imin tho pool
Of oblivion, md only mcnt"dcd, I" point II
moral or adOrn tale" All of them, guilty ot de
fectiOn lived long enough to behold the gr"s>nr -
Of their errOr and to taste the bitterness i its fruits
Rives, Of Virginia, Clay, Of Kentucky, Van Buren,,
Of New York. signal instances Of the nstncsS If
our observations Van Buren, cast balcful Shad-
Ow over his reputation, which can never bc dis
State AND Clay, the most gallant spirit Of the trio,
Nike the Roman general who attempted to lead the
enemy into Rome, after deserving the city,-tricd to
storm the citadel Of Democracy, and lhs thereby
left an impuiation upon his Judgment, if not stig
ma upon his patriotism. There are other more
moderate cases could cite, to illustrate the abs0-
lutte ruin sure IL track the footsteps of those great
~meu If tho country, WIN seek personal aggrandiZc-
mcnt by trcading under foot the usagrs and doc
trincs Of Democracy. Benton, after doing honor Ia
the American name, by thirty years ut distinguish
ed services in the Legislative chambers OF the land
because Of his shakincSs TN some OF the issues,
whereOn the Democratic party was firmly planted,
was driven from public life. Senator Douglas
came near to being another example Of the rule We
have referred TO- and escaped the penalties {" drfec
zion only By his endorsement of the English Kansas
Mill. As it was, he found himself in woul mil Or
ity in that same Senate, where ho had for 50 many
years been hailed by the most distinguished Demo.
Gratis Of the country, rs q brother and hnnorcd
champion of their partisan creed One other refer
cnce aud We are done.
II is said I" straws show which way the wind
blows, and on this theory we quote the sud fate o
l..,tI
.her warning tn teserters from the ranks of Dc
%.cracy. Less than two short years have passed
y By what means will not stop 10 discuss,
was triumphantly elected U. ;. Senator. Then
the word Ot Brodcrick might have stood against all
the politicians of the State now, none 80 poor ia
do him reverence. This abascmcnt is due To his
recreancy To the great party of progress and I" That
alone. To do justice to the man, had hr chung Ia
the system Of principles which he had ever declared
~ be his political guide and guard. instead ct be-
ing now 'n byewOrd and rcprOach," thing Of 0tll'
ing to respectable men everywhere: because Of his
dupcity, incorporate paSsion and undi'gnISed
scurrility,-he would have been regarded ia Il man
VI ex :cent common sense fair Judgment, and toll
cradle legislator. Violating his party 0bligaton.-
conscious of the infamy Of his c0uIsc,-he rushed
~ madness for relief and became the vile and mis-
cradle caumniatOr Of the President, luXurating in
Q most uncuvnblc nOtOreiy.
But to resume our subject, from which we have
descended for u moment to notice Frederick, the
Democratic organization cannot be destroyed by
individual men, however prominent. During the
long period Of Democratic rule, extending aS We
have shown, space Of forty-cight years since
the organization Of parties-sixty years ngO--thc
party has never deserted its President, nor PrcSi
dent his party. Great men. soHe Of them leaders,
have withdrawn and the cry was, destI uction IA
the partyl" These men have all died politically,
and The party has survived. One thing unmisaka-
bly, appears that almost every who has deserted,
hGs been led astrAy by passion. Angcrcd because
The Administration. The President some member of
his Cabinet or somebody else. could not be made to
~ in fIItir
kuiticn 10 the success Of bis ambitious schemes,
-fancying himselfa burly AgOnist-thc Simon pure
Samson, who could carry away the pillars Of the
hopeless task. and only Weakened to u sense Of his
mertOd humiliation when be found that they stood
unshaken-its garrison the more undnuntcd from
Being purgcd OThis treason and cowardice. With
these lcssODa Of experience TO con, how can any
respectable Democrat hereafter seek u play the
rAitoss Party leahess, sGlfstyed iarty leaders, he
~ ,carDtd