The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-07-16
A WORD IN SEASON.

ty, but who left ii upon the calch-words, "no
more slavery in the Territories now free" AS
ttre Black Republican party has abjured It's
former opiaonS and principles and IS about to
give up the ghost, it seems fitting occasion
TO inquire OF these former members OF our par
~, where they intend TO go We ask their
attention 10 the article we here copy from the
Union
PRESENT PosITIoN OF FORMER DEMOCRATS oP-
rosED TO PoPULAR Thousands
oi Democrats in this and other States who des-
pissed Know-Noihingis abandoned the Demo
cratic party after the passage Of the Kansas
Nebraska act, because they fully believed that
Congress had exclusive control over the Terri
tories. Many of these had been lifelong Dem
ocrats-were staunch in the lath-proof a
sainst seductions of the Opposition in every
other form, whether as FederaistS, Wings,
Protecli0nists, or Native Americans. Bat I'M
9!bing sectional prejudice which seems to
them TO be sanctioned by the teachings OF the
political fathers, they could not endure the doc
trlne OF popular sovereignty IN its application
10 the Territories, but took the alarm when it
was boldly adopted by the Democratic party,
and spurned il as the cunnngly devised ma
chlnery OF slavery prOpagandSm. 1t IS no! TOO
much TO say that the Democratic party was
literally decinated by the dtserton OF those
who reasoned in this way. In the northern
part of Pennsylvania, without looking farther
north, whole counties and districts were revo-
iutionized. The Opposition formally abandon
ed doctrines unsayory 10 these new recruits in
order that they might the more readily en-
brace them. Even the old name OF Wing, and
the still more odious appellation of Know-No-
hing was dropped, and the Republican party
reconstructed from the fragments with but one
great prominent idea, and that the exclusion OF
slavery from the Territories by the power OF
Congressional prohibition.
Where are these Democrats now, and what
Is their position? Ii is we'll ior them 10 eXa-
mine the attitude ofthe party to which they
/ fled for refuge, and their own standing. They
deserted from the Democratic ranks because II
no longer afforded refuge for them peculiar
IDEAL will they continue to follow the R"Pnb-
hcans in their wandering experimental march,
| now that that party has formally abandoned the
doctrine Of Congressional Intervention ? Will
they consent TO be transferred as part Of the as
sets OF a bankrupt political firm, 10 the new or
ganizaton which is in a few days TO be perfect
ed and baptized the Peoples Party We put
| these questions 70 all those who were formerly
Democrats, who united with the Republicans
because they believed that party sincere in its
pretended desire to prohibit slavery by the act
Of Congress.
II this class OF persons, who when they went
over to the Republican organization continued
Eatoutly to maintain that they were still Demo
eralS nPhoi9lqg } and defending doctrines from
were really sincere and honest, they will now
refuse 10 be made over to the new mongre par
! ty. The Republican party IS dead. The poll
tIClans who constructed it admit that lis race is
run. They have worn out that idea. "Some-
thing new or we perish :" is now their cry
Not only have they ceased to agitatp in favor of
the prohibition OF slavery by Congress, but thcT
have inSultinglY told their Democratic recruits,
who bore the brunt OF the last presidential con-
test, that they are now in favor Of popular SOW
ereIgnty, ana that their services are no longer
needed on the old platform.
The scenes are shifting; new aClogs are com
ing upon the stage the Old m0untebanks dress
has been laid aside; the veteran PEI formers are
arraylng themselves in new dresses making up
new cast Of characters in which to rg-cnact
the farce Of political humbug, and il remains
for those Who left the Democracy for a single
object, to say whether they viii consent 10 a
muse the public, by playing the part Of chorus
and TecItng any words that may be put in
their mouths by those who are using them for
selfish purposes, or whether they VII! revolt al
the base Uses TO which they are TO be- turned
Popular sovereignty has trumphed through
the inherent power Of the principle. 1t is too
firmly implanted in the minds Of the people TO
be dsIodged. These former Democrats must
feel the force of the truth when they see the
very party TO which they transferred their af-
lectonS, asserting the power of the people TO
manage their own domestic concerns. Tie Re-
pu5cans have planted themselves squarey up
oR this plank Of the Democratic platform In
Lancaster, Chester and othe~ leading opposition
counties, they have not hesitated TO pass resolu-
tlons endorsing the very doctrine that during
four years has encountered their most envenom-
ed yigor, and tFiumphed in spite Of It. And
yet they have the assurance 10 suppose that for
mer Democrats who left the Democratic party
only because they were in favor of the prohl-
6ition OF slavery in The Territories, will unite
with them IN overturning principles Of the
Democratic party TO which they had always
protrssed to adhere.
Men who have contended against protection
are now TO unite with protectonsts in favor of
la high tariff men who have been strict con-
IstructlonlstS are now TO favor large aDpropria-
tons for river and harbor improvements: men
who drtest Know-Nohing proscripton-even
ItoreigneFs-are now to herd with the remnant
of this party, to aid in carrying out the sAmer-
ican dea;" and biterer than all this, men who
turned their backs on the Democratic party be-
cause 1t favored popular sovereignty, are now
to give the detested dogma their approval
This IS the feast to which they are invited AT
the great "Pcople'S" gathering on the 14th
instant This IS The degrading association 10
which they have been CONSIGNED bv their HIND |