Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1858-06-09
Gathering of the Clans.

VI tuC SiaAAo'
LEMuEL ToDD, chairman of the opposition
Committee, Ex-member of Congress, and the
hero of several futile political coalitions, has
issued a call for the assembling of State
mate State officers. This call is exceedingly I
comprehensive, embracing all those opposed !
to the Lecompton swindie and the despotic /
policy of the Nationa, Administration in !
forcing upon the people Of Kansas a Consti- |
tuition in defiance Of their known wishes, and !
in subversion Of the great right of self gov
erument; and in favor of a sound American
policy, in opposition to the policy and in
trigues of foreign governments" No doubt
Mr. ToDD and his fellow Committeeman felt
after constructing this new negative platform
adapted to the times, and intended to inclose
every shade of opposition within one fold, as
if they lad discharged solemn and rcspon-
sble duty to the country in general, including
Africans and themselves in particular. Moth
ing but the highest degree Of self satisfaction
could have penned this call. We have been
particular in quoting its exact words, because
we regard it as model and an illustration of
the class Of pseudo statesmen, of which Mr..
TODD is worthy specimen. And the first
representative feature in this, is the glaring
deliberation of its falschood, wherein it as
serts that the Administration is seeking to
force upon the people of Kansas a Consti-
tuition in defiance of their known wishes"
Why even at this very time We are daily as
surcd by the Republican presses that the pcop-
lie of Kansas will spurn indignantly the or
finance submitted by the English bill. and
thus defeat the Lecompion Constitution How
then can the Administration force upon the
people a Constitution which no power on
them to accept? But IT suited the Committee
| to proloug the cry of force and despotism
| They wished it true and did not stop to see
its falsity. The esccondrepresentative feature
in this call Is the allegation that the Admin
istration, is pursuing this forcing process lin
subversion of the great right Of SELF gorern-
ment." We have no doubt Mr. Tom has a
memory, and we imagine the amusing
leer with which he penned this beautiful frag-
ment. That memory must have carried him
back to the time when he abandoned the
Democratic party because they recognized the
right of the people of the territories, abso-
Iutcly and without reservation, TO settle al
their domestic institutions in their own way.
Mr.. ToDD denounced the Kansas y ebraska
act in 1854 and 1856, because it conferred
h. -Irlt &C he IL
contending for the despotjc principle of con-
gressional prohibition, which did not leave
the people perfectly free; and now. in 1855
we find him and his coadjutors taking tht
back track, mounting the platform which
they so often spit upon, and for the paltry
consideration of the mere hope of tempo
rary reward, step to the front of the platform
expose their brazen faces to the public gaze
and arraigu the administration for want O
| fidelity to the great principle of popular SOW
ereignty Here is picture to look at mod
el representative, perfect LhMUEL GULLIvEl
f TODD of modern political romance.
} And what is the platform of principles upol
which this convention is called? what tn
f qualification to its fellowship? Nothing bu
, opposition. Each individual and party cal
S obtain admission provided only they are an
mated by spirit of hatred towards the De
e mocracy. This is the one single bond o
!, union They not required to love cacI
0 other, but only to agree in swearing eterna
e hatred to the Democratic party. The yer,
4 attempt to construct platform of principle
0 embracing all the great political questions c
the day, would scatter .he clans thus summon
. ed to council into half dozen fragments
i Without love for each other they are expec
t ted to act as allies in an offensive war, an
= to divide the plumber after the victory. Nh
Y ToDD has given us an idea of the weapons t
. be used and the allies expected to enlist i
4 the contest. If victory pcrches upon thei
e banner Ito use the venerable spread-eag
l. phrase--we hope Mr.. TopD will not be fol
e gotten The sacrifices of conscience an
consistency he is required to make in th
:. cause is certainly equivalent to any reward
Il - Potriot e Li,tols.