The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-15
BLOWING AWAY THE SMOKE.

period of earnest discussion upon almost any
subject of human investigation, we are of opin-
/ son he would conclude that the main object of
the disputants was to befog their own under
| standings. Such being we are quite sure
would come to such conclusion just now,
should he look in upon the political discussions
Of our opponents.
We set a Government in motion on this side
l the Atlantic some seventy years ago, the
great glory of which was, that it was to be a
| Government Of the people. It's founders as
! serted the doctrine, that the rights of all men
were equal, and that it was high time the trash
and mummeries Of the past were wholly dis
carded, and that people should be allowed to
govern themselves, without the aid of sword,
sceptre, or mitre without the intervention Of
Conquerors, Kings, or Priests. The idea of all
hereditary authority, of all titled authority, Of
all aristocracies, of every name and nature, was
| discarded. The theory was broad and simple
/ in the extreme.
| 1t was the simple democratic idea of human
equality put into practice. 1t was first en-
bodied in the Declaration of independence, and
aherward in the compact of union between the
several States, termed the Constitution. But
these were the habiliments merely Of the thought.
J They were but the frame Of the picture. Every
! body in America preached the new gospel of
ty~iberty. The oppressed of all nations were in
| tied to come and share its blessings. Men of
III colors and conditions, the poor and the rich,
| sle bond and the free, all, everywhere, were
! )licited to come and partake of the waters of
| ur life of Liberty freely. Of the character of
| rae new American Government there was no
uestion raised among all mankind. 1t was
gerywhere regarded as the realization, at last,
1.-THE hopes ofpatriots and philosophers through
at the world. The great and glorious and
| ! eaven-born doctrine of human equality had
., length found resting place on earth, and
| / 3 apostles were deifed in the hearts of mil
| ons, who glori6ed God that they had lived to
Ste that blessed day. The American Republic
/ AIRED itself to view ike some tall monument,
/ it'll its head in the skies. 1t was seen, known,
! slowed, throughout the world, and the high
t hopes were entertained of its example
ID influence.
! nment on earth, it was this. If ever a simple
ga got expression in practice, it was this. 1t
emed impossible that human sophistry could
axe out or even attempt to make out, that
tr Government was anything but a demo
attic republic, in the broadcast sense. In this
Ttw, the country had only plain sailing be-
f-se it.
individuals and parties might dispute about
assures Of administration, but the funda-
intal principles of the Government were Sc
re. The only thing to be done and demon
1 ated was the fact, that our theory was sound,
a d capable of being put into practice. In a
lrd, to show that Republicanism was not
deam, and that man was capable of selfgov
! e nment.
! Such was the career opened to the new
! + merican nation. Early in our history, par
! was formed that looked with great jealousy
on every suggestion and movement that ap-
tred like abridging the full and free operation
q he new idea. The power of the new central
c vernment was regarded with distrust and
81 ipicion 1t was feared to be not close enough
il its dependence upon the people. 1t had a
b51y of judges, who were Supreme Court
O. law, who held their Offices for life. 1t
he'd a Congress, which had great scope of
l. isiative power, whose authority might be
a sed to the prejudice of the liberty of the peo-
p Of the several States. This party, which
| t. k the name of Anti Federal and afterward
O, the Democratic party, early set about ex-
ps lnding its views in regard to the authority of
tn Federal Court, the Federal Executive, and
tt Federal Legislature. 1t was early impress
e.Swith the necessity of rigid limitation of the
a5<hority of all these branches Of the Govern
NJ Int within the strictest limits Of constitutional
Interpretation. This party was pre-eminently
wsschful of the reserved rights of the States.
Itspeld that these were the only real bulwark
o;Spersonal liberty. 1t urged these views with
sd u pungency and effect, that the States Rights
Isty became a synonym for the Democratic
pay,
S5or long period, the Democratic party was
vesy consistent and very efficient in its endeaV-
ors TO keep the Federal Government in its true
sphere, and secure the free and unembarrassed
working of the democratic idea on which the
Government rested. The rights of the people,
the rights of man, hostility to monopolies and
aristocracies, dread of Federal, horror of mon
arebical power were its constant themes. This
career, on the basis of these ideas, built that
party up, and consolidated its power, till it has
ruled the country systematically in almost I'M
broken succession. Along with these funda-
mental ideas and principles it has associated its
measures of government. These measures have
sometimes been consistent with its principles.
and sometimes not. They have partaken of
the character of all measures of government at
all times. They have been by turns good, bad,
and Indifferent. These measures, when bad, or
repugnant to the popular sentiment have been
carried by the strength of the general principles
professed by the organization. These have al
ways had such deep root and hold of the popu-
lar heart, that much has been forgiven to the
managers of the Democratic party for the time.
much has been tolerated and voted that was
not liked, rather than submit to see an antapon-
list party supplant the genuine representatives
of the true American Democracy in the admin
istration Of the Government A fundamental
idea, deeply craven 10 the heads and hearts of
the masses, has been always considered of such
vital consequence by them, that they have
deemed it better to submit temporarily to bad
measures, rather than leopard the safety of the
fundamental doctrines of the party by dismiss
ing it from power
We had then, at the outset in our national
career, and for many years, a democratic the
| -ofor II