Amador weekly ledger., 1858-05-29
The Integrity of the Party

haS' hedger' The preservation of the integrity
u 'ne democratic party is an object worthy of the
nignest ambition and most earnest effort of every
true Democrat. This object can be permanently "a
O"ieu only by strict adherence to and firm reli-
ance upon the great principles which constitute the
basis OF its organization. Every Democrat must
ieei The most lively concern at the desperate and
INSCRIPTIONS attempts that are now being made to
create dissensions in the ranks of the party and TO
ues.roy It's moral power and influence The pros
pect at present is that amongst Democrats no ef-
lott VIII be made to force an issue in the parfy in
'his state upon the Kansas question. The right OF
private opinion on this subject is very generally
admitted and that portion of the public press de-
Voted TO the true interests of the party is jealous
~ employed in restoring harmony and good feel
ing, where these have been disturbed and in expo
sing and thwarting the schemes of interested dis
organizers.
1t must not, however, be supposed that the future
is clear and free of danger. Secret enemies are
lurking in our political camp-spies whose false
hood and duplcity are equalto any sacrifice of hon
or and principle, and whose treacherous designs
extend to the complete disruption of our whole
party organization. Impotent and powerless fol
evil in their position Of open hostility to the party
these living and breathing libes upon common
honesty are seeking TO accomplish its overthrow
by resort to the viest practices Of hypocrisy and
deception They are sowing broadcast the seeds
OF dsafection, which they hope may spring up in
confusion and ripen in ruin. Can any sane man be
In doubt as to the real object of the recent trans
formation of the whole Republican party into a
Peoples Douglas Democratic party? Who is
there so weak and foolish as to credit the sincerity
OF the change? Why this imposing cognomen, as
though there was or could be more than enc Demo
cratic party Is il possible that such Republicans
as Seward, Hale, Sumner, Giddings, and others OF
that ilk, whose lives have been spent in fierce war
iare against the doctrine of popular sovereignty,
are honest or any thing else than grossly hypocrit
ical In their present violent asseverations of devo-
tion to that doctrine? The idea of honesty in such
connection is supremely ridiculous And how
stands the matter with the rank and file of the Re-
publican party? They have followed the example
and are obeying with blind and reckless zeal the
mandates of these INSCRIPTIONS leaders. No soon
er was the programme read off by Seward in the
United States Senate than every private in the
ranks threw his cap into the air, and shouts OF
long Ire popular sovereignty were heard from the
right to the left of the whole Republican army
The movement was not that of individuals volun-
tarily abandoning an error but of party well
organized and thoroughly drilled, acting under
the leadership and dctation Of men united in in
terest and feeling and deeply skilled in all the arts
of political intrigue and chicane.
1t may be regarded as fixed fact, that in their
present policy, the Republicans are looking only
W ehc usinecBIdtlOH anu obstruction OF the Demo-
cratic party. Shall this policy succeed! 1t rests
with true Democrats alone to answer this question.
To divide the Democratic party is to destroy it, Ii
must exist unit or it must cease to exist at all
But how is the division of the party to be avoided
and its unity preserved? The answer is plain. We
must get rid of this antagonistic Republican ele-
ment and purify the party of its baneful influence
We must tell these men that we have no confidence
in the sincerity of their professions that the cir
cumstances are such as to throw suspicion upon
their motives; that they must wait until our own
internal differences fully adjusted and that
when we can afford to receive those who are likely
to prove false to us we will receive them most
cheerfully. We must accord to every Democrat
the right OF private opinion upon all questions not
affecting fundamental principle of our political
faith. If we do this the party is safe and no power
in the nation disturb its security or wean from
it the afectionate confidence of the people.
UNION