Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-02-11

ify the first and second, as to render the
whole a dmissible- of two constructions
/ (which not the case ;. certainly the cir
cumstances attending the origin of the Res
olution will more than balance the logic,
and Of necessity preclude the idea of any
qualification or compromise of the princi-
pie enunciated. M ~ q 7fr
With the principle of Popular Soyer-
ignty' then, explained, and as explained
endorsed by final unanimous vote of the
Convention, was not prepared to find
Democrats in the State of Indiana, OF
our people. ready and willing to violate
that principle; and yet. to my surprise,
there are such.
/ Our Senator'S in Congress, towards
whom l have ever sustained the relations
ola personal friend, I am sorry to say, have
placed themselves in this attitude. One of
those gentlemen has, / observe. so con
strued the Popular Sovereignty" Resolu-
tion Of our Convention, as to influence, if
not instruct him to vote for the admission
of Kansas on the Lecompton Constitu-
tion! -a
The organ of our party in this State;
by sustaining our Senators in the po-
sition they have taken on the Kansas ques-
ton, virtually endorses the Interpretation
they give to the wallace Resolution
A large portion of the delegates, who,
style themselves the Administration men
of the Convention are following the lea |
of our Senators. They have agone TO
Washington for an interpretation Of a Res
olution which they helped to adopt; and
too many of them are boasting of the
cunning manner" by which victory
was gained over those delegates whom they
are pleased to style 1.-The Douglas
men,
Unfortunately. or rather fortunately for
the cause of truth. the victory they gained,
If at all, was won by pcrversion of facts,
and over principle which has an abiding
place in the hearts and understanding of
nine tenths of the people. "All's well
that ends we'll" Unhappily the ending
which some of the so called "Alminstra-
ton men, are disposed to give to our Con
yention, instead of being .well''' is disas-
trous. The legitimate effect of their ac-
ton is to make the Democratic party res
ponsible for virtual endorsement of a
policy that would force Kansas into the
Union upon Constitution ROW repudiated
by majority Of her people. il violation Of
the organic act ofthat Territory, ana; e the
doctrine Of Popular Sovereignty" as ex
planned and endorsed by the Resolution
under discussion--a responsibility which
would and should sink the party forey-
cr-
We have but one way left us for escape.
We may yet rise spontaneously as a Party
and place the seal of condemnation upon
the acts of our recreant leaders, showing to
the world that the Lecompton frauds OF
Kansas are not to be transferred with
impunity to the Democratic party of Indi-
ana.
The question now arises. would The
holding ola Mass Convention for the pur-
pose, under the circumstances. be fac
tious proccdure?" Certainly notl Mass
Conventions are of common occurrence
with our Party in times of political ex.
element. Every Democrat is possessed of
the right to call, or attend such Conven-
tions; and he cannot be called "factious, {"
Justly, while he stands by the principles of
his party-by candidates who are govern
ed by those principles, and who will not
tolerate their violation.
We do nci expect to come in conflict
with any measure yet proposed by tho
Administration in direct terms. Ii the
Mass Contention, then should condemn
measure which would force Kansas into
the Union on the Lecompton Constitution,
snch action could not be fairly construed
to even imply censure upon Mr. Buchaa-
an. Ii, on the other hand. the Leeompton
policy, attributed TO the Administration by
Presidential aspirants, who for personal
considerations. wish to bring the Kansas.
Nebraska bill and its author into disrepute.
should become such in fat, then, II would
he by no no means 'factious," to save our
party from ruin by rcpudiating the action
of those who would betray our principles,
even though the Presendent himself (who
does not possess the diyine.y Inherited
right to do wrong) should fall among the
number. We owe much to the protection
of the purity ofthe principles Of our organ
iaation. and the vindication of our individ-
nal honor ~. 80
The Democratic party is respected
throughout tho world for the conservatism
of its principles. It stands between the
fanaticism Of the North and the fanaticism
Of the South. an impartial arbitrator of the
rights guaranteed by the constitutional
compact ofour Fathers to all the citizens
of all the States, and all the Territories of
this Republic. 1t becomes us to brand
with iniamy any attempt which may be-
made to degrade her from her high posi-
tion. or to ensnare her into the meshes of
the very ultraisms which it has been her
province to eradicate from our country
Well indeed would it have been for the
Democratic party. in forty-ci2kt, if the or
ganization could have been subjected to
some purifying influence. Too many of our
leaders were then found disgracefully fond
ling upon the bosom Of an Abolition Har-
lot; and although we may now weep over
the degradation into which our party was
led, we cannot blot out the abonninating
or escape the penalty. or the res. /
possibility of the sin. Let us not now. in !
the name of Heaven, be seduced by octo-
genarian leaders or reckless political adven-
turers, TO the embrace of Southern Cyp- /
rian. who would lull our fears with the |