Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1858-01-14
From the Richmond (va) Enquirer.
NOrdEiersa Democrats.

There are n1IcatIons of great demands
upon the northern members of the demo-
cratic pa":y. For them to think and feel
relative to southern institutions as the people
of the South do, is quite out of the ques-
ton; but before cooperating with them as
party we have right to ask them to CON
cede to us all our constitutional franchises
and all rights which an equitable construc
ton of the costitntion must secure to us.
Have they refused this concession? If they
have, it is because the principles of the
democratic party are not set forth in the
Cincinnati platform, VIGOROUSLY the work
of southern statesmen, and especially de-
signed as guarantee of southern rights.
Northern Democrats stand on that plat
form. They assumed their position on it
freely and without remonstrance or hest
tation. They labored. voted fought for
candidates who endorsed it fully and cor
daily. They bore aggression, abuse So
cial persecution, and contumely from their
black republican and know nothing neigh
bors, because they adhered to the sound
and catholic doctrine proclaimed by the
convention of June, 1856. They were on
the platform when they helped to win the
glorious victory over Fremont. They were
on it in their subsequent elections when
they attained democratic majority in the
northern States. They are on it now. We
see no signs of disposition on their part
to leave it. Can we reasonably ask more?
Have we any demands to make of them be-
yond what they have already conceded?
The black republicans claim for Congress
the right to dictate to Territory on the
subject of slavery The Cincinnati plat
form denies any such right, and northern
democrats adhere to the platform now as
they did year ago. Why, then, should
there be quarrel between them and the
democrats of the South? ~
The people of the South claim the right
to settle in the public Territories with their
slaves; northern democrats acknowledge the
right The people of the South want all
the world outside their own borders to let
their islitut,ons alone; the democrats of
the North. by their speeches. their resolu-
tons. their platforms, and their votes. say
the South is right in her demands. When
black republicans have been insulting, ag-
gressive an defiant, northen democrats have
/
shown a design TO trample on our charter
ed rights, northern democrats have held the
Federal constitution up to their gaze. and
pointed out It's provisions. its principles
and its pledges. They have proved them
selves to be worthy members of the only
constitutional and the only true Amarican
party. They have fully and freely recog
nized the fact that no valid or valuable
union can exist among the sovereign nations
which constitute eur Federal system, un-
less all shall be willing to grant to every
other It's constitutional rights. The South.
through the democratic platform, has APP
pealed to the North to be let alone in her
institutions and her rights. Northern DEM
ocrats have seconded and endorsed the APP
peal. Meeting at Cincinnati. they gave a
formal declaration of principles and a SOL
enin pledg of fidelity; as long as they ad-
here to these, no more can be demanded of
them 81 t.-H .. - -a,