The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-03-11

Bome Of our eolempofuriea. Who 90
snsious 10 displsy thsir loyalty to SHE pow
SFs that BE-" declare that the aavoeaey Z
the LeeomPt0A Coustitution II the Isuch
stonS Of Democracy, and those who oppos
II shall be read out Of the party. We d
| nor regard i In that light, for il Is esrdin'
principle Of the D.aoera.ic party that tn
people are supreme--thsi no teat can be mad
save BY them in their regularly calleS meet
ings. When they construe. q plstform 6
which they indicate any particular policy .
9 test, Asn Il becomes one-then an unfal
tering adhesion to lie measures is test o
party fealty. But because one Dsmocra
diifers from another ss to measure, Il is tn
height Of folly to charge inadelity to III
party or symPa'hy with the opposition. tn
Richmond Enqairr-a LecOupton paper
has the following article on this subject
which we commend to our aasty friends:
''If the advocacy Of the Lecompton Goa
stitution is TO be made the touchstoae of De
mocracy now, We would like to be informe,
what 10 to be the merit party Test. The Kan
sas question may be settled soon. w,
heartily trust that II will. But whether i
was done to-day or to morrow, this year o.
the next, we ould ask Of the dsoraa anizsr,
who would excommunicate every Democrsl
differing from the Administration in regart
TO II. II they propose reconstruction OF the
party rs often a. great quesliOn 10 adjust.
ed9 Do they look upon the DemocIa attic
party as an Organization based upon meas.
ures instead Of Principles-an organization
founded for temporary purposes, and held
together by community of sentiment on
single question Of the day, and that, too,
with reference not to the principle involved,
but altogether to the measures proposed!--
II 90, they are inculcntiDg . suicidal doc
trins. They are denying the origin, es.
sence, and the object of Democracy. They
are tearing away the corner stone Of the
ed nee they occupy.
"The Democratic party has arrived At a
critical period in its history. The Ameri
can people have arrived at critical period
in their history too. A disorganixation OF
the Democracy now must inevitably and
speedily lead to disruption OF the Union.
The one would follow the other % surely
a. night succeeds day. And for our part
we would not separate the sequence from
the cause il we could; for, when the Demo.
cratic party 10 disorganized, Black Rapubli.
caEism niust triumph: and when that tukes
place, the only safety for the South will be
in SesssiSn. We have not yet lest our re.
gard for the Union. We would perpetuate
it If possible. But we would moi kneel all
an altar that is desecrated, and mock the
Creator by doirg revereBce TO a symbol Of
'acrilsge' 10 the name Of religion. We
would not coEfobornte tho imputation Of
falsity upon self-government, BY aequiesciny
in such an outrage upon the Constitution OF
the United States 40 would be perpetruted
in the Inauguration Of an Abolition Execu
tive.
1--WE woald sooner show to tie world thu,
constitutional liberty is practicable, byts
tabii'hing a separate republic on the same
oa'ls OF principles promulg gated by the foun.
ders Of the Confederacy. We would Rre.
serve the Union BY making the South az.
cure. And to both these patriotic ends, the
Democratic party alone is equal. Divide
the Democracy, and, Is we hsve said, you
destr"y the defense Of the slave States, and
dissolve the Union. Hence we would hold
that now is the time, not for impetuosity,
ra0hness and violence, but for calm deliber.
auon' moderate RENT insurance., and wise for
eeafance on tho part Of those Democrats
lhat differ, not upon principle, bat upon O
mere measure Of expediency means of
'ntoTetng the principle upon which thev ali
Eoncur. DissensiOn in the Democratic mar.
y especially at this juncture, NAV prove
atal to its fortunes ia 1860.
"Our readers are aware that we cordially
Pprove the Presidents position on the Kan.
as question; that we earnestly and Jealous.
advocate the acceptance OF the LIE.
ompt' a Constitution. But wo will not iuin
maiedictiOLs against those Democrat Ito
mo dissent from our own snd the views OF
ne Administration on this question. We
eileve them to be sctusted by the prompt.
lgs OF patriotism. A. d the dav NAV no, .
distant when their services will be need.
both BY the President and country. lie,
remember the hard fought battle Of '56.
e' uH look back upon our past struggles in
emmon cause against the enemirs of the q
arty. Let us not be unmindiuI that there 6
future before rs; that the Black Rcpub.
cans are united; aud that division in orr
nks must inevitably invite them to On ca.
victory over Us in the next Presidential -
ntest.
democrats mcy differ upon measures, 6
i they should never divide. except upon Il
lnciPles. Let them beware. then, of i'm. vi
oper party test in times like these" ri