Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-01-06

The Dred Scott decision, that negroes are not
citizens under the Constitution, has proved very
unpalatable to the Republicans and their allies,
the Abolitionists. The radical element which
pervades the Opposition, and constitutes its lead
ing and distinctive feature, can not be satisfied
short of a recognition of the political and social
equality of the white and black races. The doc
trine is not new one, as it constituted the basis
OF the old Abolition party-thougb it has but re-
Gently been adopted in its length and breadth, by
the Republicans, as an issue on which they hope
their exquisite sense of justice, and their pure
and unselfsh devotion to the causesof humanity,
suffuses their eyes with virtuous tears and nerves
them for the conflict with 'the myrmidons of the
slave power." it en- not escape the notice that
there is Ca method in their madness.'' Opposi-
ton to Democratic men and measures, is the ex-
citing cause of their action, and if they can but
attain to power by any expedient, however dishon-
est or unworthy, their object will have been gain
ed, and "the devilmay take the hindmost," be he
white or black. At present, however, the unfor.
tunate negro commands their best efforts and
their warmest sympathies. Anti slavery agitation
rules the hour, and Republican orators and presses
are continually pouring upon the popular ear de-
nunciationsi of that government whose fostering
care in promoting the interests of white men, has
been stamped, over and over again with the tokens
of popular, approval. Because, forsooth, negroes
are not judiciously recognized as having all those
political powers which attach to the race of white
men, under Constitution formed by the latter
and for their benefit. these philanthropists in part
"spit upon" the Constitution from which the doc
trine of negro equality is confesscdly Legitimate
deduction, as ga covenant with death and an
agreement with hell, while others Of the same
party-perhaps as yet the majority-kindly excuse
the Constitution and its trainers from any inten.
ton to slight the claims of the colored race and
reserve all their, venom and epitaphs for the
judges whose construction of that instrument is
as they say, Outrageous" and abominabIe," anG
tfat party which upholds and sanctions the same
They picture the adherence of the founders o.
the Republic to the system of negro slavery il
such vivid and striking colors, that we are almos
led to believe that Abolitonism, unlike other re
forms, has gone backward, and that George Wash
ington and Thomas Jefferson were its high priests
All this may sound very well, and, if true, nigh
convict the Democracy Of departure from thei
early faith, and exalt the Republicans to the dig
nifty Of party vigorously and intellgently striv
ing to restore our governmental principles to thei
original purity. But unfortunately for them, til,
sanction or the early statesmen of our land cal
not be laid claim to by these meddlcsome reform
ers, save at the expense of historic TRUTH Tn,
fact is, that the men who drew up and put fortl
our Declaration of Independence, as we'll as tn,
subsequent trainers of our Constitution, felt tn
they were charged with the formation Of gov
ernment for white men. While their opinions OF
the subject of human bondage probably differen
4 in no important degree from those of temperate
and sensible men Of our own day, either in po
lrtico-econonicaI point Of view, or on the score
humanity-they evidently considered the blacl
/ man as occupying, and As destined to ,pccupys s.
inferior and dependent position in the soca
system, as to preclude him from being recognize
asrs party to our federal compact. The right
and liberties of the white man having been look
ed after and secured, it expected by them tha