The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-03-23
To LabOring Men and Democrats.
"LECONPTON DEMOCRACY,

If there were no frauds associated with its |
formation, and no odious provisions in the |
Lecompton Constitution, the doctrines ad- |
vanced in its support, ought to make its ad-
vocates odious and infamous in the eyes Of
every Democrat and laboring man. They
proclaim principles more repugnant to all
true democratic theories, than Alexander
Hamilton, IN seasons of his greatest distrust
Of popular sovereignty, ever maintained
They are the worst principles Of blue-light
Federalism; party of which Mr.. Buchanan
Is said to be the lest lingering remnant. His
adherents seem to be reviving its most OBJ
noxious sentiments, and his Southern sup
porters are maintaining theories OF govern
ment that the Tory party in England would
hardly dare maintain at this time.
Mr.. Curry, a Lecompton Democrat Of Ala
bama, said in the House last week:
az deny that there are no other means Of
ascertaining the will Of the people in rela
ton TO a constitution than by submitting to
direct popular vote. The distinguishing
principle and excellence of our American
system Of government, as contradistinguish
ed from other systems, is what Webster called
''the marvellous felicity Of its representative
system.n The regular action OF the people
is not per capita, or by the aggregated mass,
but through representatives. So jealous are
the people of dominant majority that they
have tied their own hands, controlled their
action, and limited their power. While the
people are the source of all political power,
vet that power must be manifested by
thority Of law, through prescribed forms, in
obedience TO previous direction. Elections
are to be held at particular times and places;
suffrage is controlled and limited; snd the
persons to be elected agents or representa-
tives must possess certain qualifications and
requisites. The whole history OF our gov
eminent shows that the greatest wisdom and
caution and prudence were to be exercised in
altering the constitution, and ample securi-
ties were provided against the rashness and
uncertainty of bare majorities.
$50 illutrate the difference between a re-
gular convention and the action Of the people
en- nasse, in their primary capacity, outside
of constituted authority, let us suppose bare
majority of the people to meet in the ag-
gregate and adopt constitution; would that
be the organic law Of the body politic-o
the entire community as unitl No; il
would DO a government forced by one half o
the community upon the other half, less thu
difference in numbers; and is but little, i
any, more authoritative and obligatory thar
IL it had been adopted by the lesser half anC
such principles would be a mere resort Il
physical force"
According to this Democrat If the people o
country rise against tyranny, and over
throw it, and then assemble in mass meeting
and ordain o constitution and government
that government would be mob govern
ment, without legitimate authority or right
it would be a government of force impose'
by the majority on the country. II the ma
jority has not the right to establish and en-
force a government, who, in the name Q
heaven, have the righti Has the minority
Have the privileged few-the aristocratsi-
Has the Kingl According to this new fangle
Democratic theory, the people are the sourc
of political power, but tho law determine
how, and to what extent, they shall exercis
il. The law limits and controls the use {
the power, and any usurper who can get con
troll of the constituted organs Of the Law
may-as they have in Kansas-restrict an
deprive the people of oil power, by legal on
actments. Law is thus made paramount I
sovereignty. 1t is by just such thee
ries that the French Emperor holds his gov
ernment. Lecompton Democrats and Il
French usurper agree in doctrine, and Al
consistent IN the application of them.
The Emperor of Austria, and Louis Napc
leon have not greater adherence of put
Democracy than these Lecompton leaders,
Senator Clay of Alabama, in defending Il
Lecompton tyrann, in the Senate on wet
nesday last, said:
Our government is not n Democracy, but
Republic. To this point he quoted Madison
adding, sour fathers knew pure DemocraC
is more the voice of demon than the vol
of Cod" History has proven that pu
Democracy is the most rapacious OF tyral
MES wholly Irresponsible, acknowledge
nothing, because it is law unto ITSELF
He regretted the tendency towards Dem
cratism, or rather mobocracy, in every d
partment OF our Government. This, he a
serted, is the Red Republicanism of c
revolutionists-sheer radicalsm. God forb
that il should sapercede and swallow up {
philosophical Republican principles OF {
Governments of our fathers.
Is there O tyrant in Europe that con
more earnestly deprecats pure Democrat
and look with such holy horror upon its ru
But these are the sentiments Of the leads
Of the LecomPton party, and this is pure L
compton democracy WHICH the oluce nolde
have-in gross libel-declared the Dem
Gratis of this Congressional District sancti
and support.
AS the legitimate fruits of these polite
principles are the social theories proclaim
by Gov. Hammond, another Lecompton a
vocates, in defence of the Lecompton Cons
tuition. In the debate, last week, in the Sc
ate, he said:
In every civilized community there mu
be mental class, which requires for its .
losted place in society low order of int
lect. Its requisites are physical vigor, doc
ity and fidelity. In connection with the
must be found another class possessing
telhgenee, culture and refinement. T
people Of the South have menials W HON tn
CALI ''slaves-" The people Of the North ha
the same class who are slaves in fact, il I
in name. Day laborers are eveYywh,
slaves by whatever name they may pass
the civil community. The slaves of
South are hired for life, and know neitl
beggary nor starvation The slavey Of
North are hired by the day, with none
care for them or insure them against the a
proach of want. The slaves of the Sou
are black and of an inferior race, which I
been elevated by slavery, and is insensil
u