Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-06-24
Modern Democracy sectional--The Rea.
sons Why.

charged with sectionallsm, that due re.
.pect to the truth requires. not only a ila,
denial Of the allegation, but an examination
into the position occupied by its accuscrs
upon thi. question. II Is not sufficient in
this case merely to act upon the defensive,
hut the "war should be carried into Arr
ca" The democratic party up to the adj
ninis,ration Of John Tyler, was nation
al party. Upon the slavery question II
stood Substantially where che founders OF
the republic stood. Il recognized the right
OF Congress to prohibit slavery in the terri.
torres. and acted accordingly. II was also
satisfied with a specific denial Of the right
Of Congress under the Constitution to inter-
iero with the peculiar institution in the
States.
We attempted to show in former num-
her Of our paper. that since the administra-
ton Of Tyler. slavery has been constantly
aggressive. making cncroacf mcnts upon the
free States and upon the constitutional
rights Of the free States. tbs has boeH done
through he agency Of The d,mor0,'e party.
l, has obtained possession and control Of
this party and made it an instrument in the
hands Of the slave oligarchy 70 promote their
interests. Bot IL il now our immediate Oh
Jet to inquire into the present standing Of
the so-callrd democracy asa political organ.
irauon. The comparative quiet Of the com
promise measure Of 1850. vas disturbed hy
the passage OF the Kansas Nebraska hill
The whole slavery question by the repeal Of
the Missouri Compact. was rc-opencd IN its
greatest fury. For this the sham democra.
CIV Is responsible. Since this pcrfdIous
breach Of good faith was perpetrated by that
party, scarcely any other political question
has occupied the public mind. The cIten.
sion and perpe,uation Of slavery and its IN
ciden,al questions, has mainly engro.scd the
time and business Of Congress. In the north
il j. the only question in is'ic-in the south
comparatively nothing else i. talked ahou;
or discussed. The slavery question being
really the only matter IN issue, how stand
the two great political par, - Of the nation
upon it The answer Is at hand. Democ.
rlcy j. for slavery, Republication against
it. Democracy now declares slavery NOR.
ally rights Bible institution; that il il
the normal condition Of the African, and
Tor hts best good that the institution ought
20 be spread and extended. and that 1t is the
corner stone Of the repuhlii. Republican.
ism on the other hand, denis each and eve
" one Of those positions. Democracy de-
clare. slavery In he national. Rcpuhlicanism
denies the allegation, and g,cs to the coun.
try on the issue.
~ long as the sham democracy makes
this barharous institution It's chief corner
stone. just 80 long a. ! matter Of ne.
ccssity IL must he a sectional party. Slave.
~ itself Is sectional. Tnu il fact which
cannot be successfully denied Then il fol-
lows as logical conclusion that the party
which upholds 1t is also sectional. Every
material in,ercs, in the free States is an,ag.
onistc to il. Slave labor ~ opposed to free
labor. Slave labor strikes blow at the
bes, interest Of every free laborer in the
north. Why do nearly all the free States
array themselves against the so.called DEM
ocratic rarty' Simply because tina, party
is arruyed again., them. The democratic
party. as an organization, !, hut the embod-
linen, Of the slave power; they 30 under.
stand IL; the people in the free States -
understand il. Hence It Is that in the
slaveholding States modern democracy -four.
i.hcs, and is the predominant party. lf
modern democracy !. a national organira.
ton. why do we find It in its glory wherev.
er slavery exists. and waning and dying out
m every community where free labor pre-
dominates? Where did that party look for
votes 60 elect buchanan President? In tho
land Of whips and chains, and auction
blocEs. upon which are sold human He-h
and blood. men, women and children,
Where are they now lookin, for votes for
their candidate IN lsGO? To the South.
Northern democrats. - far ns exercising any
power or influence IN thar party, are com
pleiely impo,ent. They have no control.
and can have none, ~ long as they remain
in the ranks OF the present party organira-
ton. The reason is obvious. The South,
80 long as It has to elect President, will
not suffer the North 20 mike its nomina-
tions. And this would seem TO he fair. for
why should the section which has to fur.
nish the electoral votes TO make a President,
yield 20 northern democrats in this rarticu-
lar. when the latter have no votes to give.
The participation OF northern democrats in
n national convention is merely nominal
affair They 20 there and act, but they
we'll understand the South Is TO dictate as
to the candidate and the platform. These
facts. taken IN connection. are proof posi-.
tive that the modern democratic party is
nothing hut n sectional party-seetional in
the extreme-having no faint OF nationality
about it.
Hartford Convention Federalism Of Blu.