The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-11-20
NATIONAL AND STATE RIGHTS DEMOCRACY

Words are things. and the most important things
since hy words all principles are delntd ANA an
events are directed aud governed For ideas rule the
world, What, then. are National nhd state hlShls
Democracy According to Senator llAMMoNDs eN.
position Of the mcandng of these words. everybody
in the South ought to be National Democrat. since
all must surely esteem and sympaihHe with those III
the North who uphold the great principles olthc con.
stimtion by which the rights of the south are guar
antccd. We therefore beg leave to lay before our
readers onr conception of the meaning of these words
The distinction between National and State Rights
democrats out of the Mexican war; ana the ter
ritory acquired by that war. When the war comnen.
crd there were but two great parties IN the country
the democratic and the whg parties. The aboli-
tionsis werea mere faction As soon rs the war clos
ed (and indeed at its comnrncement, schism IN
the democratic party took place us to the territories
which IL was anticipated would he acquired The
lrecsol party headed hy Wu.aoT in PENNSYLVANIA. aud
MAETIN Vas BrGkN in New York, insisted on it that
slavery Should by nct of Congress, be excluded form
all the territories acquired by The war This party
mastered all the Legislatures of the North and P'-sed
resolutions supporting this policy. They conlchdrd
that Congress was omnpotcnt-wns sovereign in our
territories The Southern statesmen took the State
i Rights view of this question. They contcndcd that
the territories belonged TO the States that the States
were sovereign over them and that Congress wn- on
|y the agency Of the states protect the equal rights
A of all the sovereign States IN territories Here
began the distinction between National and state
Rights democracy The distinction was pushed still
further when the question Of secession by the south
crn States nrosr IN consequence Of the clccton hy
Congress Of the South from our territory IN Cntpr-
MIA. The same line OF argument which denied the
rights Of the States in our territories denied them al
30 in the States The MtionGi km1sratf of the South
MIR. Conn III Georgia, Mr., FOorE IN Mississippi
anl others. contrnd,d that the government ~ the
United States national and sovereign and that
TIE states subordinate and had no right TO 81
cec from the Union. The Smfe Hgits democrats, on
the contrary. commended shat III" States alone we're
supreme aud sovereign III the Union, and that the
General Government the mere creature ana
agent Of the States: and consequently. that each
State. as a party to thr constitutional compact had
a RIGHT to Judge of its u'faciOns. and srccdc from
the Union. The nainry Of the democratic party IN
Mis- ssppi. Georgia, and other states, were state
Rights democrats srcrs.OnI-a; hn they were dr-
leated hv the conjunction Of the National democrats
aud wings who formed sort of Union party for the
purpose. After the secession controversy was ended
there was still further development Of The meaning
ofthe terms Nantional ard state Rights democrats
prcnlnr 10 South Carolina between those who favor.
ed ard those who opposed the states going into nation
al conventions to nominate candidates for President
and Vice President of the United States South Gar.
ona had ever refused to 20 into such conventions
on the high ground that they have the rrct mt Ia
lower the STATE. ly defeating their ,paratc ami III.
depend Mt action IN selecting the executive officer,
Of III" Union the constitution concmpatrs and
s,,ond that tlcy defeat one ofthc express cornprom
N. III thr constitution between tie larger and small
or states NY when Al NJ states f tr electoral cn
lcgc, fail 10 elect ;e PrsdonD vote equal III thc
:, ilou." Of Representatives in rl"ciug the Pres dent.
! Such are the principles. as wc understand them
which distinguish National from state hi ,hts demo
Gratis ana they are supposed 70 lead f. a very din,r
cni policy as regards the Union a. tr term implies
NNtoum democrats are supposed to have national par
tyaIlni,s or national sympathi"s aud feelings ncpn
sscnt with the rights or safety Of the South Stat
Rights democrats. the contrary. supposed Il
look 10 much too dsunon. We think. however. tina
the above contains fair statement Of the origin ape
j. mranug Of National aud STATE RI ght- Il mucrata.
:. For ourselves we intend 10 embrace H1togoIHY nei
thcr in i,ct nor IN name We are Of the old State
Rights school Of politics. and when acting with th
! democratic party, we are State Rights democrats
2 I5grissOu MrcuH