Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-06
THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Inc 1TONluCliGC OSb dSSSPto thO liz" NV
trine, prescribed by rebuilders of its party at
Washington, that slavery must be treated as
national institution, but fails to state it with
sufficient clearness
This doctrine is, that slavery is already esta5-
hs1ed in the territories that its guarantee of
life protection and supremacy is the federal
Constitution itself; that under the Constitu-
ton, slavery has supreme right to go into the
territories, and claim from the general govern.
ment protection against everybody and every
thing unfriendly to it. The Southern rulers
of the party add to this statement that slavery
must be protected and befriended in the terri
tories by special legislation of Congress; and
if, for the present, they agree to keep this par
ticular out of next years platform, it will not
DO omitted from their purpose
This doctrine may be new among Northern
Democrats, as party test, but it is not new
among the more fanatcal of the slavery propa-
gandists. 1t is precisely what they meant
when they demanded, and, to the serious alarm
of some of their Northern supporters, secured
repeal of the Missouri Compromise restric-
ton. AT that time the doctrine was held in
reserve, just as the same men at present hold
in reserve doctrines that will be used to au-
thorize a re-opening of the African slave
trade. They think the time has now come to
show it to the country "full-orb'd," and may
not take kindly the suggestion, that, during
the year 1860, the part of it relating to con-
opol oott ~, haholf IF ale ~,
territories must be subjected to a little obscur-
alton. But, if Douglas and his friends can be
induced to accept it in this condition of slight
eclipse, these masters of the party will not be
likely to break up the arrangement Such is
the latest and most atrocious doctrine forced
upon Northern Democrats ; and woe to every
place hunter among them who does not find it
pleasant to the taste and beautiful to look
upon.
Those who can mount this platform and
swear by the men who made it, will not be
likely to scruple at anything. The following
from Forney's Philadelphia Press, shows that
it is properly understood and appreciated
among the Democrats of Pennsylvania
"Ths theory dedicates all the American
territories to slavery and enlists all the federal
powers for its protection within their limits
against the will of the inhabitants who are to
reside in them. 1t destroys every vestige of
popular sovereignty. 1t brands the language
of the Kanzas Nebraska bill with falsehood
1t converts the national government into an
active agent of slavery propagandism. 1t
places slave property on higher basis than
any other species of property. If it is insisted
upon, it will precptate the inevitable division
of the Union into two sectional parties, and for
ever destroy the national organization of thu,
democratic party. No Northern state will
support it, and no Northern senator or member
of Congress, with the consent of his constitu-
ents, can vote for it. The democracy of the
North have struggled long and manfully for
the preservation Of the constitutional rights of
the South, and are willing to do so still. But,
like the prisoner in the iron cell who saw it,
limits gradually circumscribing around him.
one demand has followed upon another until
now that congressional protection for slavery
is presented as a test of political orthodoxy, as
dogma which must be advocated under per-
atty Of communication. Selfpreservation
compels them to repudiate it in terms which
none can misunderstood"
If the American people have not virtue
enough to rescue the republic from such
hands, we have before us dark and dreary fiji
ture. What would have been said by the
trainers of the federal constitution, if such doc
trines had been avowed in their hearing if
they had been told that its purpose was to
nationalize slavery and create central gov
eminent to operate as an agency of slavery
propagandism! The individual hardy enough
to say that, would have been treated as an in
famous libeller, tory and the general scora
might have given him an uncomfortable Wis.
ion of tar and feathers. Slavery was humble.
in those days, and had not undertaken tt
crush out democratic ideas and remodel the
government. Its power and success, as an ex
FOUNDER of the Constitution, were not heard
of then. AT that time it was treated as "sick
man." whose death and burial were near al
at hand. Now it assumes to be lord of the
whole country and master of us all.
But Northern Democrats will pause at this
point in the career Of their party. The poll.
ticians may profess TO believe as the central
managers direct, and stand ready to do what il
required of them. 1t will not be SO with the
people. We are near the turning point of this
controversy. Truth and justice are stronger
than the institution of slavery, and that strug
gle which, to many, has been,
"a friendless warfare lingering long,
Through weary day, and weary year."
will terminate in the downfall at Washington
of the barbarous power which has so perverted
the government and dishonored the country.