Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-23

struck death Ol0W at lne OASIS anu
Of our revolution: a doctrine that denied both
right and the capacity of tho people for sell
government doctrine the advocacy oil whlch
IN the absence of party machinery ana party
demands there was not one OF its advocates
within the broad limits of this nation, whose
standing and popularity could have w,tnstoo 90
the storm of popular indignation and wrath
with which he would have been overwhelmed;
n doctrine that was the most anti-DemocraIc,
anti-Republican, anti-State rights, anti-const-
tutional, anti-common sense, and anti-common
honesty doctrine, that was ever propounded TO
the American people; and yet there was not one
Southern Democrat, in either House oil Con-
gress, that had the consistency, the principle,
or the independence to vote against It And II
is an historical fact, never to be forgotten or
overlooked, that the only party in this country
that could be found TO give 1t their support was
the Democratic Republican State rights party,
and that that fraction Of the party claiming
spar excellence" to be the true and genuine
Simon Pure, State rights wing of the party,
gave it the most earnest and active support
For my own part having just returned from
abroad when this question was raging with It's
greatest violence in Congress, l stood by an
inactive but not an uncOncerned spectator,
feeling if the final result should show that the
power and influence of the President had
become so omnipotent and overwhelming, or
that the people had become SO debased and in
different to their own rights and the enjoyment
oil Tree government as 10 uuNC suOlulllSA
tfently to such outrageous and intoerabe
oppression, that then, there was no despotism
in the Old World, under which would not as
soon have lived rs under the tyranical and iron
despotism of democracy
Thanks to God the doctrine did not prevail
and thanks to God! the people arc to be LETT
free to choose their own form OF Government,
in defiance of brides offered on the one hand,
and the threats on the other of the Democratic
Republican States Rights party, that now holds
the reins of government in its hands, trust for
limited period only; for if after this they shall
be retained in power, the moral effect and virtue
of the action of the people will have been
thrown away.
Does this action of the party indeed consti-
tute democracy? liza case parallel to this could
occur in England, it wonld drive any Ministry
into everlasting disgrace, if more. In France
it would produce revolution that no power oil
government could resist. In Russia it would be
regarded an act of detes table tyranny, against
which the serfs themselves would rebel. Yet
here it is claimed as evidence of democratic
consistency, and adherence to the principles of
true democracy.
Look again, at the question of the admission
of Kansas under a new constitution. Every
Southern Democrat has already voted for its adj
mission, under a constitution that the people of
Kansas have disavowed, rejected and spurned.
They were offered admission with their $4,000
population, if they would ignore all that had
passed, stultify themselves and yield obedience
10 the dictation of the Federal Executive and
Congress; and now, since they have indignant.
ly rejected the bIibe, and spurned the threats
which accompanied tit is recommended by
the representative of the Democratic-State-
Rights party, that one rule shall be adopted for
the admission of Kansas, and another for Ore
gon, and all the other Territories of the United
States.
May we not ask in the name of Heaven, what
has this government come to? In what direc-
ton are we driftng2 What haven are to rcach2
Is this Democracy Is this justiceg Is this
honestly Is this constitutional liberty? Is
this what our fathers fought for? Is this State
rights? Is one territory to be left free to form
government to suit itself, and another to be re-
quired TO frame one to suit the President o: the
Democratic party? Is this the way the Pre>i-
dent hopes TO but down agitation. and restore
harmony to our already distracted country?-
Yet where is that party which looms up in bold
relief, for the equality and sovereignty Of all
the States? Where is that Democracy that is
always loud mouthed in proclaiming the equali-
~ aud sovereignty of the people9
But perhaps the most glaring outrage ever
yet perpetrated or proposed against the rights
of State, may be found in the Democratic
party in the Senate of the United States, in re-
lation to the two Democratic Senators who were
confirmed in their seats, when there was no
authorized legal contestants to dispute them,
and at time when their votes were supposed
to be necessary for the passage of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution, or the English Montgomery
bill, MS it was called-aud who were alleged TO
have been elected in violation ofthe Constitution
and laws of Indiana; and, now, when the
Legislature of that State>has elected two other
Senators, according to the provisions and re-
quirements of their Constitution, and sent them
as the representatives of her sovereignty, to
Washington, they find the doors of the Senate
chamber rudely closed against them, on the
ground that the Senate being made the judge of
the elections, returns and qualifications of its
own members, the case is adjudged, 10y their
own er parte decision, and they have no power
to go behind their own act, to ascertain whcth.
er or not fraud or wrong has been committed
This case partakes of the nature Of the LIE.
compton case, and raises the question, to
whether the Senators of Indiana shall lie elect
ed by the legislative body of that State or by
the Democratic party in the Senate of the
United States.
One other attempt at encroachment on the
rights of the States must not be overlooked, and
to which beg to call the attention of the coun-
try, and can conceive of few cases, calling more
loudly for the anathemas and denunciatIon of
the State-rights party, and for their interposi-
ton in defence of the rights ofthe States.
allude to the Recommendation of Mr.. Blu
cl,nnan in his message TO Congress in 1857, and
again. after twelve months deberatiou, repeat
ed in 1858, that Congress shall pass Bankrupt