Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-09-01
An After Dinner Article.


 In the best possible humor with all the world and the balance of mankind, which includes the Gazette we sit down to repl y, seriously, to some very funny questions put to us by the Gazette aforesaid. If we find it difficult to pre- serve our gravity in answering the questions per sented bv our reverend catechiser, it arises from the fact, that perhaps, he believes some of the ' statements he makes when he puts these ques- tons. The questions are absurd and the state ments accompanying them ridiculous. If we are asked why we reply to them, our answer is that the good book commands and directs us how to answer such queries and questions.
 Not being bound to answer them, it is with us, an act of courtesy and as there are several subjects upon which we desire informa- ton, while responding to the interrogatores propounded to us, we, in turn, propound others to our querst. Here is the first question. "If Van Buren be nominated by the democracy for the Presidency, will we support him?" To this we answer concisely, that whenever the demo- cratic party shall nominate Martin Van Buren or c. c. Daney for the Presidency, we will n- continently commit suicide. Being dead, we shall, therefore, be unable to support either of them.
 The next question is whether we will support Stephen A. Douglas or Robert J. Walker if so nominated?
 As the question does not specify any time and we do not know what Messrs. Douglas and Walker may do hereafter we answer that we can tell better years hence.
 And here let us remark, that these questions show the peculiar views of such politicians as the editor of the Gazette. With him, it is the support of men. With us, it is the support of principles. What care we for MT. Douglas, or Mir. Walker or Mir. Anybody? These men are nothing. to us, save the principles they repre- sent or of which they are the opponents. They may go or come; the principles remain. De- mocracy once numbered Clay, White, Benton and others. When they deserted it, whether for their lives or for time, they left it immuta- ble. We, follow no men, and support no men, only as the recognized opponents of our prnci- ples. We follow the flag and not the flag bearer. If one deserts it, it is taken up by another and borne in triumph.
 Some men who have been selected as stan. dard bearers, looking back at the multitude who | followed, in their pride imagined that it was | themselves and not the flag that led but when they hoisted another and tried to lead another way they discovered their error. To return. As a sufficient answer to these questions will say that the democratic party being sound on all national questions, and com- posed of men of judgment and patriotism, will nominate a sound patriot and true and capable man. Whoever this shall be, we expect to vote for him, aud during the canvass, if we live, to support, with what ability we possess.
 The next question is whether we "go as far as the President and say that majorities can make and unmake constitutions at pleasure?'
 If the querst means to assert that MT. Buchanan ever said that bare majority could make and unmake constitutions he is as badly mistaken as he was when he swallowed the abolition forgery of the Buchanan English let ter. Neither directly or by implication, neither in writing or speech did he ever say or hint so If, however, he means to ask whether a consti- | tutional mojority has the power to make and unmake constitutions we answer unhesitating- ly, yes. If Massachusetts should conclude to change her constitution so as to admit slavery, she has perfect right to do it. If Tennessee should desire to amend hers as we hope and be- lieve that she will, so as to prohibit banking, she has the power so to do. In fact, this great bugbear of change of constitutions frightens | nobody. People are more apt to retain cons titutlon or form of government defective or op- | presive than to risk change. Twelve articles | have, at different times, been added to the cons- ttution of the United States, and these impor- ! tant changes have received the assent of suc- | cessve generations. But they were cautiously | made and fully discussed in and out of Con- gross.
 If constitutions are defective they should be | amended, and all power resides in the peo- | pie, constitutional majority alone possess the power to change.
 In support of these views we copy portion | of an old and valuable document known to our | readers, but with which the editor of the Ga zette is evidently unacquainted. We advise | him to get the whole document and study it. if [ his hatred of democracy will allow him to read | an article written by true and sterling demo- crat.
 Says the document we refer to:
 " We hold tbeSa he tn ba salf that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalicn- | able rights; that among these are life, liberty. | and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights. governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the con- | sent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends. | It Is the right Of the people to alter or to abolish It, aud to Institute new government, laying it's | foundation on such principles and organizing Its powers Tn such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness l Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that govern ments long established should not. be cbanged for light and transient causes; accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed 10 suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
 Now, having answered his questions, we de- sire to ask two or three Does the Gazette be- lleve that Corwin, in his late Cincinnati speech told the truth or lied, when he said he knew Mr. Fillmore to be anti-slavery in his sent- ments?
 Does the editor of the Gazette include in h. category of true men, Hale Giddings, Fred. Douglass and Greedy?
 Taking into consideration the evanishment of the great American party, if blood should ,bere- after be found in turnips, would it not 90 to prove the doctrine of metempsychoss.
 A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE. T. Anxious to do justice to all, we take pleasure in noticing diff