Daily national Democrat., 1859-12-23
9atlg 9attonaI Democrat.
What Constitutes a Democrat.

Impending great Dattle OF principle about &C
be fought, to unite; to prepare for action
to touch feather to feather, and meet the foe:
OF principle. In looking for their reasons,
see that you are termed no Democrat, and
denied the right to make that call, and your
Democracy questioned and denied by your
opponents solely on the ground that you las
they say) have been guilty of rebeing against
what they call the regular organization
OF that party. Now, l ask what con.
stitutes Democracy? is it solely name
Is 1t solely an organization of men? or
is it political principles of certain we'll
expressed, well defined nature2 Judging
from the tone of the press in this State that
supports the entire Administration of james
Buchanan, as reflected through the columns
oil the Sacramento Standard, and reechoed
from the brain of the anonymous anthor of
the epistolary confusions that daily appear
In the California Express, judge that in
order to be good Democrat, a man must be
perfectly willing TO purchase pig in bag ,
60 1t blind. shut your eyes to the consequen.
ces, and say whatever our agents at Charles
ton may do, we will endorse, no matter what
that may be. Well, now, sir, whilst l ae-
knowledge the necessity of discipline in any
organization, and willing as am to acknowl.
edge the error committed by the friends Of
Stephen A. Douglas in this State, still | am
unwilling to acknowledge that TO be Demo-
crat man must adhere to the regular organi
zation of that party, if the agents of the same
Convention prove untrue to their trusts,
and inscribe on its test books the creed of its
former enemies. Democracy is prineipl e,
properly defined by its simple name, and in
my opinion that man is a true Democrat who
wars for that principle, no matter, in making
that contest, what weapons he uses, or wheth-
er he fights at an outpost or in column,
whether as regular or volunteer. And
understand your former article to have meant
just this and no more That all men in this
State, of the same belief should in some man
ner Immediately attempt to array themselves
against all foes and prepare-not simply to
do what our agents at Charleston may die
tate-but to dictate to those agents what we
want them to do. How often, during the
last two years, have those presses and those
men declared that the principle of popular
sovereignty was their belief; that the De
mocracy ofStephen A. Douglas was undoubt-
ed; and how many are the individuals that
drilled in the corps of the Administration
party in this State, who have often and over
again declared the same thing The sinceri
ty of the former we will not criticise; it
won't bear it. If that is the faith that is in
them, they will not deny our Democracy
when we shout that war cry 1t is no sup
plication to be admitted here or there it
is no call for help in the midst of a political
it is an earnest call directed to the
honest judgments of men of kindred politi-
cal opinions The "sappers and miners of the
Constitution" are at work the topmost twig
of the tree of liberty vibrates now with the
shock Of attack made upon it to uproot it by
its enemies. This is no time for professions;
now is the time for action. Shall the paltry
shadow of an imaginary organization compel
IL thinking man to array himself in hostility
to his should he eomrade? No-I answer.
mol If ever, not now. But it has been said,
you Douglas Democrats of California, you
are Republicans. How is this proven
Why you say many men of that party voted
your Douglas ticket; and many Douglas men
voted for Baker for Congress. Again say
man's Democracy is not determined solely by
iis association. but by his profession of po-
1itcal faith. Col Baker stumped this State,
and in every place he proclaimed himself in
favor Of popular sovereignty. and pledged
himself TO be the representative of that doc
trine in case Of his election. Could he be a
Black Republican or an Abolitionist and
wear that coat7 And if SO, how well will
that same garment fit the Southern secession
ist who now clamors for Intervention to pro-
tect slavery, and endorses the entire Admin
istration of James Buchanan
For your Roland we have an Oliver No
mln can deny that in this State we have
Southern as we'll as Northern extremists. If
a portion of our element sympathized or ac-
ted with us, the entire body of the other
fought desperately with YOU Your associa
tion with them in this manner has not
changed their views and l am honest enough
to admit that your association with them per
chance has not changed yours. BE equally
honest, then, and give us the benefit OF the
same candid opinion. Consider us genuine
popular sovereignty Democrats, when you
find our records proving it; make your
search, and we are willing to abide candid
investigation but make II soon. Now is the
time for action; whilst we halt differing as
to the mode of future operations, the enemy
will strike, and another Solferino will be
won. Then like Hess and Gyulai, we have left
us the consciousness of defeat, when O victory
wasin our grasp.
address you, Democrats, you popular
sovereignty men, you Democrats of lS06-to
you make this appeal, and l care not In
what political State or County organization
YOU are ranked, to you l say l put this ques
tion--shal the four votes of California be
given in the Charleston Convention to Doug
las, Democracy and victory, or shall they be
given to a man, platform and cause that
bear no promise of success but seem to bud
the blossom of destruction; destruction not
solely to the Democratic party, but to the
very home of liberty itself? This is the
= ~ Z. o+ ;sene 10 Won Doubt the fact ?