Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-01-28
To the Democracy of Indiana!
DEMOCRATIC MASS MEETINGm

YOU. The sentiments of the party are reflected on
some points fully; on other points, unfortunately, as
we think, nothing is said. Some sixty counties OF
the State in their primary Conventions passed res
olutions on the subject of paper banking. Nothing
is said on that subject in the published resolutions
The expression of the Democracy everywhere was
unanimous in favor of an Independent Treasury for
the State. No recognition of this expression is
found in the resolutions. The recession Of the sale
of the Wabash and Erie canal has been aGitated,
and the past history Of our State shows what intu
cnce interested men may exert for lcgislatiAg mo-
ney into the pockets OF politicians. This, and all
such schemes, should be nipped in the bud by an
emphatic utterance of the peoples will, rebuking
these medtlted assaults upon the treasury, before
they permitted TO be consu nmated; and the old
standard of political integrity be enforced upon all
seekers OF public trusts. The platform contains
no ausion to this subject.
The territorial question, as presented by the Pres
ident's message. and the ensuing congressional dis
cissions, engrosscd all minds; and the local inter
csts of our people were forgotten in the nten-
sity Of an excitement, naturally arising out OF dis
cuSsion of the fundamental rights and liberties Of
free people This state of things, brought about,
as has been already intimated, not so much by any
thing that was actually done by the voice and action
of the delegates in Convention assembled, by
what was omitted to be done in the excitement and
confusion of the hour, and which in our humble
judgement essential to the public interests,
passed away, to DO Il source oil undisguSed disSats
faction and well grounded complaint a very large
portion, If not decided majority, Of our party
throughout the State. And on the other hand,
might well be expected this abandonment of those
great principles and measures of liberty Justice and
public economy, which, have characterized our
organization, and in times past rendered it iivnci-
BILE. fills our opponents with avowed exultltition
and open rejoicing.
II is not in keeping with the anecedcnts of the
Democratic party, to so before the people, without
"A full and fair expression of its opinions upon all
measures of government. 1t is evident that in the
coming struggle, VIC will need all the strength,
which high, honorable, and true position, upon
every question under public discussion, is so well
calculated to mpart.
1t is very well to re inlorsc principles on by
gone issues, to indorse our public servants when
their services merit applause. and to denounce the
sin of our enemies But the Democratic party ought
now for the first time in its glorious history to
70 into battle upon platform almost exclusively
composed Of personal Endorsements, reiterations
Of settled issues, and declamatons against the foe
The final resolution i'll the platform adopted by
the Convention seemed to give general satisfaction;
but it is not to be disguised that even this intend
cd vindication ofthc right Of sef-govcrnmcnt is
differently construed with regard to the I.ecompton
constitutional being contended on the one hand
that it fully commits the party to opposition to the
admission of Kansas upon that instrument and on
the other, that the resolution looks beyond the Kan
questionable very question out of which it took
its origin-and applies only to the organ lti0n OF
future States, other than Kansas. Nor is this all.
The resolution is differently published; and with
regard to the diff renee, whether substantial orn0,
there is much dispute, and sonsc real dissatisiac
, ton.
There can be no doubt Of the sentiments and opn-
ions of the great of the party all these sub
jccts. Upon sonTc otthcm have the light of par
IL. al.
icd principles of all free governments afford an
uncrring guide; and fortunately, none of them art
questions of such difficulty, that the sterling good
sense Of the of our fellow citizens cannot un-
derstand them.
The evils of the present system Of banking are at
this time but too apparcnt the folly of cntruStiny
State TO the crumblino Golfers ofbanks,
which may fail at any hour and engup h the common
of the people, is too well proved 10 demand
an argument; the proposition to increase State
Indebtedness from about seven millions to about
SEVENTEEN MILLIONS ofdollars, is one " ch
addresses itself to the pockets OF every taxpayer;
that ninctenths Of the Democratic party are in ia
of the great principle of popular sovereignty, in
its true sense and meaning is made sufficiently cy-
dent 10y the great electoral victories of that doctrine,
and by the late local expressions in its favor coup
led with the fact that most determined opposition,
guided by most influential and eminent leaders,
proved unable to PREVENTS assertion by the late
Convention
In view ofthc difficulties already suggested and
after gentr consultation with Democrats through
out the State, We have deemed 1t important to the
harmony and success of the Democratic party, to
invite our brethren attend i'll MASS CONVENTION
at indianapolis OH the 22nd day of February next,
consult upon the best interests Of our party in the
future
CONSIDERED in the ligh, of principle, the action We
suggest. seems to us to be absolutely necessary TO
tactt tho honor of organization, whose
boast i'll has ever been, that their principles arc al
WAYS baZoned upon their banners, and that they
have opinions upon all political subjects. Consid-
cred in the light of policy this course Is rendered
almost unavoidable by the further fact that the Re-
publican party will meet in Convention OF the 4th
of March; and il is well understood, that they in
tend to take possession of the popular Democratic
ground. which has been left mnoccupied by the late
Convention.
The naked question for Democrats in Indiana is:
Are we in favor of contributing to force the lie
compton constitution with slavery upon the people
,of Kansas against their will If are, party
must be overwhelmed by defeat Occupying this
position We could not make fight with the most re-
mote hope Of success. And il is in no factious spir-
it, with no wish to distract party-but with Il
sincere desire to serve and it-that VIC invoke
YOU to come and aid in cxtriciting the party from
the apparently false position in which IT seems to
be placed The allurcments ofolicc cannot scducc,
from adhering to the most popular element in our
creed, when the timc has como for its practical APP
, pcation Our political battles must be fought and
won upon principle. The honors and cmolumcnts
of office are but the fruits of victory-wc may fore
go the latter, hut VIC cannot sacrifice the former
And Wills. We cordially indorse the administration
generally, and wllin. to tolerate diversity of
opinion ON this point without scver.ng the ties that
have hitherto united us, ask Democratic
brethren not TO risk defeat by deserving that prin-
q cple which has led Us to victory in the past, and
the abandonment of which would doom 10 defeat
in the future.
II is, perhaps, further necessary that we should
: state that we have called the meeting without the
intervention of the State Central Committee; but
, in doing So We mean no dsrcspcct and We are fur
ther assured, that no offence BE- Justly taken,
from the fact that that committee, whilst it has the
power to convene nominating Conventions, has
5 er assumed the exclusive ii Int to call meet
/ Ings. And in this connection, that our motives
may not be impugned, we desire to say that We
have not in view the nomination by the meet
ing of State ticket of any candidate for any of
h flee whatever. Believing we do that ut this time
and under the peculiar circumstances "f our position
the action proposed is necessary to the success OF
the Democratic party OF Indiana, We feel that We
h have but discharged solemn duty
Y james p Drake, G.. +. Cookery,
o Ad. Sicdcnstcker, X. j. Ryan,
G.. w. Allison, w. NJ McCuty,
u Henry X. Wilson, Chas. |. Baker,