The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-07-05
From the Raleigh Standard.
SIDE ISSUES.

IF it be true-and it is true-that "a frequent
recurrence of fundamental principles is absolutely
necessary to preserve the blessings OF liberty, 1t
is also true that rigid and constant adherence to
vell-known and wel-defned principles is absolutely
necessary to preserve and perpetuate that party,
without which the Constitution and the Union
themselves would soon cease to exist. The Demo
cratic party is never in SO much danger when it
loses sight of its great cardinal principles and
suffers itself to be embarrassed with what are called
side issues. There is absolute safety outside
the plain road marked out in the Constitution and
bazed by the good old Democratic axes of Jefferson
and jackson. Whenever we are in doubt we
must look to the Constitutions next to the opinions
and acts of the founders of the party, who took
part in the formation of the Constitution; next, to
the resolutions of State and national conventions
To the principles and opinions enuncated in these
latter bodies it is expected that every good Demo
crat will adhere, provided these principles and
opinions do not conflict with his conscientious con-
structien of the federal Constitution. The Con-
stution is the source of, and is above all parties.
and no party can therefore bind a citizen to do an
act or to give vote which he honestly believes to
be unconstitutional. Much less mere men
bind party to any thing which has no warrant
either in the Constitution or i'll the platforms,
The Democratic party is tolerant, lndulgent, IN
dependent party So far from discouraging free
thought and an unreserved express on of opinion,
seeks to promote both; only requiring that great
principles shall not be departed from nor contra
vened, and that all its members shall support such
nominations as are fairly made in conventions and
caucuses.
Side issues or such issues as the party in con-
venton has omitted or declined to make, must not
be urged as party tests; nor should those who re-
present these issues be denounced or censured,
provided they are true in all respects Democrats.
for would Ea IN
Railroad constructed to the Pacific. Some
Democrats think the government possesses the
Constitutional right to construct the Road, or to
aid in its construction while others deny the right.
Why should should they fall out about the differ
ence Of opinion? 1t is Constitutional question
"a question on which the party does not seek to
bind its members
Then, as to specific duties We all maintain
that the revenue necessary to support the govern
ment should be raised by a tariff on imported
goods. We all favor tariff for revenue, with
incidental protection to American industry; we
make revenue the object, protection the incident.
No Democrat, any where in the whole country,
is the advocate of protection for projections sake.
That is the federal doctrine, and the Democrats Ct
Pennsylvania as much opposed to it as we are.
But in laying the tariff a difference of opinion
arises as to modes Some contend-and among
them President Buchanan-that some of the duties
ought to be specifc-that is, arbitrary, fixed, not
ad vaioren,, not rising and falling with The value
of the articles; while others hold that the only
true principle is the al rolorena, and that in
framing tariff, this principle should not be de-
parted from. Both sides think they have good
reasons for their opinions, and both honest.
Both are opposed to protection for projections
sake, and differ only the mode of raising the
revenue. Why should they fall out about this
difference ofopinion Let them agree to disagree.
They as to the measure itself, and differ
only as the mode. After all, tariffs are not the
clearest and simplest pieces of Legislative work
manship. They are always more less compli-
Gated, difficult to be imposed as they should be i'm
posed, and hardly entirely satisfactory in
their operations to those who labor most in framing
them.
Next, as to Cuba We are all for the acquisi-
ton Of the island on fair and honorable terms, but
we differ as to the mode or modes of acquiring it,
Some think the best plan is to wait; that the pear
when ripe, will fall into our laps, especially if the
tree be shaken little and then. Others
think the best plan is to place the money-say
thirty millions Of dollars-in the hands of the
President, and request him, whenever suitable
opportunity offers, to close the bargain with
Spain, and then to report the result to the Senate
These, then, are the two plans. All of us agree
that must and we aoiU have Cuba at some future
day; all of us agree that if Spain should attempt
to sell it to any European power, to Africanize
it by emancipating the slaves in the island we
ought to take it at once the ground of selfpre-
servation and treat about it afterwards Agreeingas
to the great object in view, why should Democrats
fall out about the means of attaining it There
is nothing in the Cincinnati platform which re-
quires Democrats to advocate any particular plan
for obtaining Cuba. Neither Presidents, nor mem
bers of Congress, nor Democratic journals have
the right to prescribe Democratic tests. This
right has been entrusted by the Democratic
people with national conventions, and national
alone. 1t does not follow that man
is better Democrat because he supports, than
because he opposes, the thirty million BILL 1t is
no party test. No primary meeting in the State,
and convention in the State has declared for it,
or proposed to make test 1t would be folly, !
then, in US, or in any one, to attempt to make it
test of Democracy. For example, DIR Shaw and Mr.
Scales said to be opposed to it, while MIR
Branch is for it. What then? Why, let US vote
for Mr. Shaw and Mr. Scales, and Mr. Branch, Just
as if no such question existed let us vote for
them, whether for or against the measure,
or whether theyare for against it, for the plain
reason that We are all for Cuba, and are determin-
ed not to fall out, especially in the face of the
enemy, about the means for acquiring it. That is
our judgment.
Next and last, as to al ralorem taxation in
North Carolina. Some Democrats think that the
best or the only practicable mode of levying taxes
is the one now in existence; others think that this
mode ought to be set aside, and the ad raiorcna