The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-02-04
VOLUME X. NO. s.
(Coneiudcd from The rWst Page.)

j
cidcd and sacillating. He reported his bill
90 organize tho Territory. thea moved its re
commitment. changed IT, aud re.rcpOrted it
and finally resolved on denying the right o
Congress to enforce within our Tcrr; ores
that provision of tho Constitution which do
clares that no person shall be deprived a
life. liberty or property. without due procrsl
OF law ! aud to assert. in opposition to thii
distinct declaration. that the people of
Territority may, if they choose. deprive ,
portion at the human family OF life. liberty
aud propnrty--may rob thom OF their intoi
lIgencU. thor mauhond.
This doctrine being so modified as tC
limit the power of excluding Slavery to tht
Couyonti0n which might frame their State
Constitution, became for the time bong tn,
ayosed doctrine of their party leaders; aud
attnr the lapse of more than sixty years
the dogma put forth by Mr.. Paine in l79l
was ayOwed IN the Senate, in this House
aud by individuals throughout tho nation
Tho advocates of this atheism attempted tC
sanctify il by calling it popular SOY.
ereignty," and argued that "a prcpin, when
forming u Government. may authorize pI-
racy and murder aud robbery, if they
choose to do SO; that tho right to cusavc
our fellow men constitutes ono of the very
elements OF self government,
This avowal Of unlimited tyranny, without
reference TO the Constitution, or TO Shat
eternal law OF right aud wrong which Wa.
ordsUed by natures God. so aroused the
people at tho elections IN 1851. that the
Democrats were left IN minority in this
BODY.
Bat tho opposition was composed OF con
ficting elements; somU woro Shareholders.
sono Americans. but most of them were
Republicans. Those ftctiOns could nor
unto ia tho election of speaker. or on any
euhject touching Slavery. Tho Republicans
adopted resolutions plcdging their support
20 ans member who should SO arrange the
committees as to secure respectful reports
on Northern petitions in regard to Slavery,
precisely as The advocates of Freedom had
done in lSi9. Tho DJmoCraric party aud
fourteen Americans discarded This relsCna.
BILE proposition; but those two parties could
not agree with each other and IA contest un.
oqnliIed ia our political history. followed.
For nino weeks tho Conflict ragged until n
dl5tingulshel Republican from MaSsauhu-
setts was made speaker; and il would APP
pear that the whUiO na.iOn must havo seen
tho necessity for bringing tho radical ques
zion OF human rights boOrO the people for
decision. The Democratic party. IN 1856
when assembled III General Convention, OF
fCially avowed the doctriuo proclaimed BY
their leaders III 1854 Thus, bY tho force
or circumstances, was that party driven,
step by stop. after twenty years resistance
TO taka II definite position in regard to tho
greatest question which over agitnicd the
Christian world. These circumstances had
been created by Adams. aud Salo, and
Gates, and PaItroy. aud Halo. and KING, aud
Allon, ond WIlmot, and Root, and Durkoo.
and Julian, and other mumburs of Congress
and by societies aud lecturers and EDITORS
who mad labored among tho people, to drive
the advocates OF oppression to an avowai OF
their doctrines.
To effect this object had toiod for many
years. had in this. body, asserted tho doc.
trine of mans InaIionuUIe rights aud called
on gentlemen OF tho Domucratic party to
admit or dony it; bat had. called ~ win.
] had travelled aud spokru ia thirtopu
States ! bad written essays and newspaper
articles | had compiled volume Of what
regarded us interesting incidents, showing
the secret workings o. tho slave power
Theso had boon gathered with great labor
from moro than two hundred documents ro
posing IN our library undOr tho accumulated
dust OF many years. To expose this moral
and po!itca! infidolty. | had encountered
Southern opposition aud Northern d,strust :;
aud greatly reJoicod 10 SEQ that party com
pelled TO ayOw Its doctrines; for | wolf
know that tho avowal of its principles would
show that its days wero numbered.
When tho Rcpnbiicnus mot in National
Convention, in Jane 1856, but QUO ait yrna.
tive lay before them; they were constrained
TO take position upon the uudyiug truths
promulgated III tho Declaration Of ludupcu.
dence, aud porputuutod in tho Federal Con.
stltutiOD. or TO discard dhoso doctrines, ru.
pudiate tho Constitution and unto with tho
Democratic party. Tho platform Of the
Republican party was necessity, rendered
lmpcrious by circumstances. So obvious
was this necessity, that in tho committee ap.
pointed to draw up IL confession OF political
faith, not momber seemed 10 entertain
doubt upon the subject was myself one
OF tho committee. aud spcak from actual
knowledge Tho ontre platform, us 10 now
stands. was adopted in committee BY u |
unanimous VOTE aud reported tn tho Con.
ventIon, which adopted it without u dissent.
ing voice.
The issue thus formed was afterwards con
frmed by the Supreme Court. acting as tho
agent OF the slave power. That tribunal. |
not ab!o TO contradict or evade tho language /
OF the Declaration of Independence, IN
sultod the Intelligence and common souso Of
the people by graveIy deciding that tho
signers OF that instrument sdiL that tphich
they dtd not mean, dnG iHtendci that tokIck
they did mol say But that decision trans.
ferred tho ISSUE to the record. IL has passed
into history, anG will remain subject 10 tho |
inspection of future generations. Oar |
party was founded on these doctrines By
the inherent forco OF these principles. il
has increased beyond all precedent The
Republican States now include two thirds
of our free population. THIS platform was
framed aud adopted by II Convention au-
thorized by tho peoplo. and mus remain .
until another Convention of like powafs
shall assemble. Men who dony these
doctrines may vote with us, protrrring our
organization TO that of tho Democratic
purity. We should treat thom kindly, on.
courage thom in every proper manner; but
VIC cannot claim them rs Republicans, while
they deny our essential doctrines. Mon
who believe in and adhere to our principles
do not propaso any modification aud those
who do not boiIevo thom, surely have no
right to demand surrender OF them.
II is undoubtedly true, that some who dc.
sire to defeat tho Democratic party, desire
TO modify tho Republican platform; aud il
is equally cortan that no man who desires
tho success of our doctrines. will advise us
to abandon their support. IL must bo oh |
vlous that eVory effort to change our posi |