Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-23
&c Inserrlly q Be Demosratle -.

the adminstration and control Of the country ne
firmly believe that its overthrow and the success Of
lie opponents for any reasonable length Of time, If
81 aid not entirely eradicate our present form Of
government wsuld 50 impair those great principles
which constitute its chief virtues to require the
patriotic labois Of another generation to recover
from the sad effects Of their proaigate views and
fsllies.
Bat "a IMPORTANT as We desm its future success.
there is another consideration Of equal and primary
Importance, which shouid be frat in the estimation
Of everv sincere and faithful Demoorat-tbat is the
yreserpation Of principle and the political integrity of
the party. For the triumph Of party organization
does not necessarily Try with it the great principles
upon which 1t was originally founded All good
causes are fubiect 20 abuses and betrayal The
French Revolution originated with the Purest Pats
riotisEn and ended in Reign Of Terror, shocking to
the sensbtles Of christians and patriots the world
over The christian religion itself has at times in
the history Of mankind, degeneTaied until seeming
" lost in the service Of the devil such are the dan
gers to which correct principles and their advocates
are constantly exposed aud which require the con-
slant vigilance Of sincere and Jealous men to guard
and defend.
The word aDemocIa" is as meaningless as any
other term except 60 far it represents principles
If tits mere shibboleth, used to distinguish one
PARTY Of place hunters from another party Of place
hunters, any other word would suit as well, and
there are many that would suit much better
"Wbie.D ssKpow-nothing," or Opposition" for in
stance whenever the Democratic party degenerates
iutotbat condition ii wilt have lost its virtue, and
be no better than those by whom it is opposed-nSy,
not SO good since it will have added 70 the crime Of
aiding in the defeat Of correct principles, that Of
having Betraved them Hence all honest and earnest
Democrats value the success Of their party just SO
far as that success gives ssOendancy to Democratic
urineiples-those principles Of which Mr. JEFFERSON
said in his Inaugural Address; "They form the
bright constellation which has gone before us and
guided our steps through an age Of revolution and
reformation The wisdom Of our sages AID the blood
Of our heroes have been devoted to their attainment
they should be the creed Of our political faith,
the text Of civil instructions the tombstone by (which
to try the services Of those trusti and should We
wander from them in moments Of error or Of alarm,
let us hasten to reraee steps, and to regain the
road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety
Those principles, for the preservation Of which Gen.
JACKSON ezborted us in his farewell address to re-
member that eternal vigilance by the people is
the price Of liberty and that We must pay the price
If we wish to secure the blessing"
We have no disposition to disguise the fact that
the DemOctaiic party, from the long and eeaseless
agitation Of the slavery question, which has over
sbsdowed s other questions is in danger Of losing
some Of those distinctive principles which have con-
sttutsd its brightest ornaments in the days Of its
ebiefest glory. We know that this danger cannot
be fstal-to think so would be to disPair Of the re-
public-but it may so dsuoralzs cur party as to be
disastrous.
It has always been q part Of the creed Of the
Democratic party to adhere to rigid construction
Of the Federal Constitution, as the only means Of
preserving the reserved rights Of the States and Of
checking the constant tendency thst exists OF ihe
part of the government to oyersteP the boundaries
marked for it by that instrument.
It has always been part Ct the creed Of our par
fv to resist class legislation, monopOies and oorpO-
rations, the general scope and purposes Of which
sr to secure to the feg the rights of the many; TO
make the POOR poorer and the rich richer, breaking
down the political and social equality which consti
4utes The corner stone and principal support Of our
republican system.
To these ends the Democratic party has always
opposed 8 high protective tariff, which sought io
enrich oopta at the expense Of labor and to relieve
the manufacturing interests of the country Of theiE
due proportion Of the burdens Of government, by
placiug them all on the shoulders Of the consumers
To these ends the Democratic party has always re-
sisted the efforts that have been made to involve the
General government in matters Of private enterprise
srob nc Internal improvements which are generally
intended for the benefit of particular sections anC
,.rticuIar interests at the expense Of all. To th'
same ends the Democratic party has generally op
nosed banks Of issue, looking upon them as uncon
Ftitutioual in their inception, aud fraudulent demon
lisipq and dangerous in their practices. and agree
ing with Gen. JACKSON that "the paper money
svstem Of this country may be used as an engine t.
undermine our free institutions; and that those who
desire 10 erpross all power in the hands Of the few
and TO govern by corruption or force, are aware Of
Its mower and prepared TO employ it." To these
ends, also, the Democratic party has stood opposed
N eouapderinp the public lands or their proceeds
looking to them as future homes for those who are
now homeless, and for our pOsterity after us
Tbess are the principles of the Democratic party
sill and must ever continue while it exists as
party. And yet singuarly as it may appear and
much as we may regret it, we have in our ranks TO-
dsv, protesting to be Sighting under banner, mel
who are opposed in theory and practice to oil thes'
great and distinctive principles Of our party. Men
100 Who are not content to be Of the rank and 6le
lint "leaders," holding themselves up as lights and
spostles o. Democracy! Every shade Of Fedora
oninien. from the time Of HAMILTON down, can b
fo,nd among men who are claiming to be Of thu
van guard Of Democracy! Liberal constructionists
bigb tarriffmen; advocates Of internal improvement
bv the general government; advocates Of banks
ertrsyagant expenditures Of the public monies an'
% vasteful donations Of the public lands to railroad
.or,oraions. And all in the name Of Democrats
God save the mark!
How far is the Democratic party responsible 10
,bs Jus. 50 far as any other good cause is respon
,.hls for the abuses that creep into it. The chris
,;., religion has had its apOststes-the cause Q
,i,,.-,, has bsd its traitors-snd every faith snC
,o5 has its impOstors. But it does not follow tina
n. democratic party may rot be made to suffer b.
49,. abuses if permitted to exist without an efOr
- itsols- If them. We think that we can SCI
.b DANGER Tat may result to it unless these evi
insne,oss are understood and properly guarded
-,;,st For one. we shall never hesitate from any
f.I.o notions Of party policy or risk to private IN
ssrssts TO point them out We oehsNe "ue pOi''y =
:. Ea,,,,y and sn other kinds Of policy dishonesty
We nlaoe great value upon the continued suOSess o.
n.r,ocrstio party, but in the absence Of PFlncl