The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-21
JEFFERsONS BIRTHDAY IN WASH.
INGTONf

INGTONt
The friends of freedom in Washington, under
the auspices Of the Republican Association
celebrated the birthday of Thomas Jefferson.
on Wednesday, the 18th instant, with great
spirit and enthusiasm. In the afternoon. one
hundred guns were fired, partly in honor of the
day, and also in celebration of the recent Re-
publican triumphs in Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Missouri, Michigan, and other States.
In the evening, large audience assembled
at Odd Fellows Hail. to hear an Grafton in
memory of the life, character, and principles OF
Mr.. Jefferson. The occasion was enlivened BY
the presence of the Marine Band, which played
national and patriotic airs at the intervals in
the proceedings. Francis P, Blair, sen, ESQ.,,
presided, and introduced the proceedings by
the following address, which briefly and per.
| spicuously sets forth the nature aud objects OF
| the Republican organization.
GENTLEMEN There never was more pro-
pitious moment than the present to revive the
recollection of the principles and Administra-
ton of jefferson When spurious currencv
has filled the channels of circulation, it can
only be expelled by putting it in competition
with the real standard of value. We have a
party IN power who affect to represent Mr.. JEFF.
| ferson, and carry out his doctrines i'm the con-
| Duct OF the Government. They take the name
OF National Democrats. The Republican party
have brought this counterfeit presentment -
of the true faith which Mr.. Jefferson inculcated
to the test in the measures they have submitted
to the country, to restore the original princi
pies of the Government
propose, as preface to the proceedings of
this meeting, to present a naked schedule of
the acts of the National Democracy, in contrast
with the measures urged by their Republican
| adversaries, and compare both with jefferson
standard.
The Democrats now deride the name of Re
publicans This, we learn from Jefferson
Anas, was, at the threshold of Washington's AID.
ministration, name which excited some re-
pugnance in Washington, when used in some
document prepared for him by Jefferson. Re.
public, Washington held to be the true title OF
our national institution. But it was doubtless
| obnoxious to that section of Washington's
Cabinet which held the French Republic in
| odium, and employed the disagreeable associa.
ton to prejudice him against its designation.
as recommended by Jefferson. Washington
adopted, finally, the name preferred by Jefferson,
IN his own official communications to Congress.
The opponents of the present Administration
would restore the glory of the term which
Jefferson suggested, and which Washington
adopted, but which the oligarchs of that time
ana OF this disavow and endeavor to bring into
| contempt.
2. Jefferson held that I" Governments are re-
publican only in proportion, as Mey en,body the
| tctU OF the people, and execute H."
This is the true definition of popular sover.
eighty under our form Of Government. 1t has
been the constant aim of the National Democ.
racy to stifie the principle, while protesting to
adopt It, The leaders of the party and its
successive administrations have been the &C.
completes of all the fraud, violence. and cor
ruption, which have during six years been en-
ployed, not only to defeat the will of the people
OF Kansas, but the will of the nation, in refer.
| ence to the establishment of Slavery in that
Territory, and that west and south of Kansas.
The Republicans have fought the battle for the
rights of the people there, and throughout the
Union, and in the neighboring nations.
3. Jefferson was in favor of general suf
frage" and "equal representation in the Legis-
iature." The Democratic party, in its new
pledge, commits itself to the doctrines of that
party In the South which subjects suffrage to
the slavehoding oligarchy that power render
ing the popular vote for the most part nupatory
by gerrymandering the States, so as to give the
strong negro districts absolute preponderauce
IN the State Governments; the result being. on
the whole, the monopoly of the soil by means
of the monopoly of slave labor; UNEQUAL rep
resentation, in consequence of the control of
the suffrage of the poor; a monopoly of all the
official power in the hands of the caste holding
slaves, and the disfranchisement of the great
mass of the people holding none.
4. Jefferson was opposed to an irresponsible
Judiciary, and denied the right of the bench of
Judges to decide political questions for the ma
ton, and to the obligation of the coordinate
department OF the Government to submit them
selves to the construction of the Constitution
imposed by the court. The Democratic party
and Administration deny this doctrine. and
hold the o6iter dictum Of the Supreme Court.
that this country can have no colonies, as "a
part of the Constitution and its decision, that
Slavery is the law Of the Territories in virtue of
the Constitution, and in spite of National Ter
ritorial legislation, is conclusive to make it the
duty of both to protect it there as an inviolable
institution. The reasoning renders this de-
cision as applicable to States as to Territories.
The Republicans hold Jefferson's opinion. that
the decision of the court is not obligatory on
Congress or the country, and may be rightfully
opposed and reversed.
5. Jefferson considered the security and pu-
rity Of the elective franchise as the basis of
representative institutions. The Democratic
party and its successive Administrations have
praeticed upon a wholly different principle.
They assess the offce-holders here and through
out the Union, to raise means TO corrupt the
elections. They give contracts to individuals
who advance money to carry the elections
and this in opposition to the law giving con-
tracts to the lowest bidders. They use the pub
lie money to enlist multtudes of laborers. not
required by the service, and pay them as voters
colonizing them in navy yards and other ma
tional establishments, where they may hold the
balance between the contending parties in
elections. They corrupt members of Congress,
not only by the use thus made of public money
to control elections, but by authorizing them to
sell contracts and dispose of public offices,
taking a premium for the negotiation. The
Republicans, in the committees that have
brought these abuses to light, denounce them,
and propose their correction. The Democrats
apologize for the offenders, and labor to screen
them.
6. Jefferson maintains State Rights as a bar
rier against consolidated government The
President, Senate, and Judiciary-the power
of the Democracy in the Government-con.
spire to sacrifice the rights of the States, by
the construction they impose on the Constitu-
ton. With them, the States can have no rights
but those admitted by the Supreme Court
The Senate, too, has, in the case of Bright and
Fitch, assumed power to defeat the right of
State to choose its own Senators, and subst-
tute Senators, by party vote of majority of
the Senate itself, for those elected by the Legis
lature of the State. In the case Of Harlan, it
excluded a Senator chosen by Joint meeting
of the Legislature of Iowa, called by both
branches on the pretext that majority of
both branches did not participate in the cleo
ton. In the case of Bright and Fitch they as
sumed that a majority vote In one branch of