Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1859-03-10


ton of leader By the voice of the peo-
pie Mr. Buchanan has been chosen as the
representative man of the Democracy. We
have burdened him with the responsibility
ofpower. and we owe him generous sup
port in the conduct Of the Government.
Not that We should approve every measure
of his Administration, nor even be silent
when we dissent from his policy. We
mean only to inculcate among Democrats
the duty of exhibiting the most indulgeDt
spirit which their conscientious convic-
tons will allow. Prompt to ,applaud and
reluctant to condemn, should be the dis
position ofevery Democrat toward Dem
ocratic Executive. On the other hand, il
is obligatory upon the President to be toll
Grant Of immaterial differences among his
followers. If they support his policy in
the main, he can require nothing more.
If they are obliged by a sense of duty to
oppose his Administration on particular
point, he should respect their sincerity
and applaud their independence. To ex-
act rigid conformity to his own standard
of opinion, would be an excess of tyranny
incompatible with the spirit of Democrat
lie faith and practice. The utmost obliga
ton of the party to the President. is to
give him the benefit ola friendly Partially.
The engagement is reciprocal; and it is
incumbent on him to be indulgent to the
errors of individual judgment.
1t is essential in the third place. to the
effective organization of the party, that
Democrats should be united by some COM
mon bond of principle. But this condi-
ton is impracticable, if equal importance
is to be attached to every article of belief,
and if spurious tests may be incorporated
into our confessions of faith, at the pleas
ure of any presumptuous commentator.
The dogmatic doctrine of the party is ex-
pounded in the Cincinnati Platform, and
we deny authority to the President or any
other person to enlarge its basis of princi-
pie by the addition of single issue. In
the Interpretation of the text of cur creed,
we claim the utmost independencs of indi-
vidual judgement; otherwise the conscience
of members will be constrained by the
dictaiou Of an irresponsible authority
The President himself is the creature of
the party; and as he can deduct nothing
from its declaration Of doctrine, Meth
er can he interpolate so much as a solitary
syllable into its platform of principle. Up
on that platform he stands on a level with
every other Democrat, and is equally re s.
pensibe to the representative power of the
party--the National Convention.
We are persuaded. if these suggestions
are needed, the organization of the Demo
crstic party may be restored to its original
strength and soundness. The prevalence
Of more fraternal spirit among members;
the exhibition of a moro friendly feeling for
the Administration; great tolerance ofindi-
vidual opinion, and cordial combination on
the basis of fundamental principle with re-
gard to superhuous and non-essential is
sues--these are the only indispensable con-
ditlons of union and harmony in the DEM
ocratic party. If observed, they will
soothe dissension, reconcile differences, re-
pair the schism of the party, and infallible
insure It's success in the decisive struggle
of 1860.