, 1859-04-22
:sPKseR eF F1ANCfS p. 8LAlR, SEN.
The Democracy of Jefferson EX-
pounded by an old Jackson Demo-
craft

The friends Of freedom in Washington, under
the auspices Of the Republican Association
celebrated the birthdny Of Thomas Jefter
son on Wednesday, the 18th instant, will
great spirit and enthusiasm. In the afternoon
one hundred guns were fred, partly in honor o.
the day, and also in celebration of the rcccnI
Republican tTiumphs in Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Missouri. Miclsiyunand other States.
In the evening, large audience assembled nj
Odd Fellows Hull. to hear an orasion in memory
Of the Life, Character and Principles Of Mr.
Jefferson. The occasion WAS enliycucd By the
presence Of the Marine band, which played na-
tional and patriotic airs ut the intervals in the
proceedings. Francis +. Blair, Sem, presided,
and introduced the proceedings By the following
address, which briefly and perspicuously sets
fortl, the nature and objects Of the Republican
organization:
Gentlemen: There never was Mnre rrop1-
tnus moment than tue present to revive tue re-
collection OF the principles and administration
of Jefferson. When spurious currency has
filled the channels uf circulation, it eau o1sly BE-
expelled hr putting it in competition with the
real standard Of value. We have party III
power who affect to represent Mr.. Jefferson,
and carry out his doctrines in the conduct OF the
government. They take tie name Of National
Democrats. The Republican party huvc brought
this "counterfeit rrcscntrncnt of the true
faith which Mr. Jefferson inculcated to the test,
in the measures they l.uve submitted to the
country to restore the original principles of the
government.
prupusc, as i prefnce TO the proceedings Of
this meeting, to present naked schedule vi the
ucts uf tlr National Democracy. in contrast
with the measures urged by their Republican
udrclsarics, nnd compare butll with Jederson's :
standard.
|. The Democrats now deridc tic name Of
Republicans. This, VIC learn from Je1ersnn's
Anas, was, at the threshold Of Wasl,ington's
administration, u name which excited some
repugnancc i'll Washington, when used in some
document prepared for him by Jefferson. Re
public, Washington held to he the true title Of
our l.atiunul institution. But i; was doubt
less obnoxious to that section Of Washington s
Cabinet which lsrfd the French Republic in
odiuln, and employed the disagrceable associa-
tion to prejudice him against its designation, as
recommended BY Jefferson Washington adopt
cd, finally, tue name preferred by Jefferson in
his own official communications to Congress.
THE opponents Of thu present administration
would restore the glory Of the term which .lef
ferst,n suggested and which Washington adopt
ell, but which the oligarchs Of that time and Of
tempt.
=. Jefferson held that Governments are re-
publican only in proportion US they enbody the
will Of the people and execute it."
This is the true definition Of popular soye-
reignty under our form Of government. 1t has
been fllc constant uiln Of the National Democ-
racy IL stitlc the principle, while protesting to
ccssiyc administrations hare been tho accom-
,,lices Of all tie fraud, violence and corruption
which have, during si1 ycurs, been employed,
not only to defeat tho will of tAc people Of Kan
sas, but the will Of the nation. in reference to
the establishment Of slavery in that territory,
ulsd that west und south Of kansus The Re
putlicans huvc fought the battle for the rights
Of the peo1,le there, and throughout the Enon,
and in the neighboring nations.
3. Jefferson was in favor Of "gcneral suC-
fragc,' aud "equul representation iu the lcgis-
iuture" The Democratic party, in its new
pledge, commits itself to the doctrines of that
party in tic South which subjects sulraEc to the
slayeholding oligarclly; that power rendering
the popular rotc for the most part npgatory, BY
s1rong negro districts absolute prepondcrance
III the State governments; the result being, on
the whole, the monopoly Of the soil by means
Of tic monopoly If slave labor; unequal repre-
srntation, iu consequence Of the control Of the
s,.t1tugc Of thcpoor; monopoly Of all the oil-
cial power in the hands Of the caste holding
slaves, and tho dls{ranchiscmcnt Of the great
mass Of the penple holding none.
T.: Jefferson was opposed to an irresponsible
Judiciary, and denied the right Of the Lcucl Of
judges to decide pulitical questions for the na-
ton, and to tho obligation Of the coordinate
department OF the government To submit tlleM-
selves tn the construction Of the Constitution
imposed by thr Court. The Democratic party
und Administration deny this doctrine, aud hold
tic v''i'er di<tum Of the Supreme Court, that
this country eau have M colonies, rs u part o.!
the constitution: and its decision, that slavery
is tic law Of the Territories in virtue Of the
Constitution aud in spite Of national territorial
Legislation, is conclusive to make il the duty Of
both to protect ii terr as Ill inriulablc institu-
tim. The reasoning renders this decision as
applicable to States lis IL Territories. The Re-
rublcans i,old Jrilcrson's opinion, that the de-
cjsion Of the Court is not obligatory I'll Con
ere<s or the country, and may be rigi,fully up
I,nscd and reversed.
j; jefferson considered the security and puri-
ty Of tllu elective franchise the basis Of repre-
sentative institutions. Thr democratic party
and its successive administrations have jrac-
tiscd upon wllully different principle. They
,lssess the otiice-hol1ers here and throughout
tc Enon to raise means to corrupt the elec-
ttnns. They give contracts to individuals who
nLyancc muley To carry the elections, and this
in opposition tU thu law giving contracts to the
lowest bildcrs. T'llpy llse the public tns'ney to
enlist multitudcs ot laborcra mt required by
the service, and pay them vosers cul.'uiziss
them III navy yards and other national estab-
i>l''ncnts, where they may hold tho balance be-
tween 1le eDntcndinE parties i'll clcctiuhs. They
corrupt members Of Congress- not only l,v the
nse thus made Of public money to control cleo
tinus, but by uuthoif :uS them to sul onntrarts
and dispose uf public ottices, taking premium
for the negotiation. The Republicans, in the
commuters tint have brought these abuses tu
light, dcnunncc them, and propose their correc-
tion. The democrats apologize fur tl!c offend
er-, and labor to screen 1llenI
H. Jcflcr+nu luaiHtaincd State rights MS 4 barri-
cr against Il consodatel government. The
President, Senate and Jndiciary-t!.e IF'wer ot
tile Democracy i'll the Gnycrnulent--cs1apire to
sacrifice the rights uf the Statcs by 1ic con-
strGctinn they impose oil il.c Constitution.
With them, the S1atps can havc no rights hut
those admitted by thu SHpfemc Court. The
Senate, too, has, iii the case Of bright and Fitch,
assumed power to defeat the right Of State to
chsa,se its own Senators. and substitute Scna-
tors, by i party vote IF ma ajor!ty Of the Senate
ITSELF ior ll,osc elected by the Ley isa,urc Of the
State. In tlle casr If HARLAN, it excluded a Seu-
ator chosen by a joint meeting Of the Leg gista-
turc Of Iowa, called by both branches, on tic
prctcxt that majority Of boil! branches did not
participate in the election. In the case u
vote in onc branc! Of the Legislature made /,
legal clcctiun, although the ma oriir If the oth-
cr branch not only refused to llake joint
merting IN 70 into the election, but protrsted
against it. The peopl. Of Indiana wrre appealed
to to yindcate the State ugninst this assumption
uf tic Senate Of the United States. They main
t,,ct thc right Of the State Legislature to elect
Senator'S To supplant tlnse chosen by only one
Legislative branch, end both branches Of the new
Legislature united to elect Senators. The Sen
atu,1 OF Indiana wcre refused even 4 hearing
l,ttore thc usurrins majority III thc United
States Senate, mud thus it hus i'll effect appointed
Senators for the Ssutc IF Indiana aguinst its
will.
). Jefferson wa. in faror Of the diffusion q.
knowledge. This is marked by Ills effort to get
The counties divided into wards, with a REV .a
hive pr!u,ury sclie"ls in each. The hostility oi
the Democracy to tue diffusion OF knowledge is
marked By tic neglect iu ail the States vi tic
South. which give luw to the Democracy, to es-
tablish primary schools. aud by the late vtto of
The President, ut the bchcst Of tl,at party, put
III, the bill making largc grant uf land to each
10 ditfuse knowledge a,long the people.
6. jefferson inscribed his character us II friend
to free aor on tho ordinance of l1>7, rtecrvinS
the whoic public domain ttcn acquired for those
who lived by it. The Democracy Inns inscribed
its c!.arar!rr in reference to free labor, in the
Kansas -Nclraaka att, the Lecoupton Constitu
tim, and tho judicial decision opening oil the
Territories to slavery.
=. Jefferson advocated tie division uf 1hc
lands ansony small frrrhoEdcrs, and favored lii
lie tellerEcNss rather tflan great domains. Tit
strangling Of tbs Homestead bill in the Senate
which was carried by the unitod Republican vote
Ut the House, discri.nlnates the enemies froni
be advocates Of the Jefferson party.
1p. II wns JenrEsons npnt!,egrn, - We must