The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-22

DOctf1mes Oh the Democracy.
The National Latelligencer in reply to Sc
rious letter Of enquiry from young friend
as to what doctrines were held by the Dem
ocratic party, gives the following candid
answer:
"Of the doctrines espoused by the Demo.
cratic party we find it impossible, even more
difficult to convey to our correspondent any
ineligible idea, SO numerous are the sects
which severally claim to be the sole legiti-
mate exponents of Democratic orthodoxy. =
In many of our Southern Democratic con-
temporares, we read of ".Southern Rights
Democrats" as contradistinguishcd from
National Democrats" of administration
Democrats" in opposition to douglas Dem
ocrats," of Democrats who favor the leading
measures of Mr.. Buchanan, and of Demo-
Gratis who denounce them as the offspring of
worse than Hamiltonian Federalism" At
the North we have Democrats of every yari-
ETY. of shade, created by the greater or less de-
gree in which their complexion is colored by
what is called "Lecomptonism," in the late
political parlance of the day. Democrats who
favored the admission of Kansas into the
Union under the Lecompton Constitution are
sternly at variance with Democrats who re-
pudiated that instrument as fraud upon
popular rights. Democrats who voted for the
"English conference bir' find it difficult to
harmonic with those who look upon that
temporizing expedient with positive disre-
spect Time and patience will fail us if we
should undertake to tell of Democrats who
are in favor Of free trade and direct taxation;
Democrats who in Louisiana are in favor of
both these desiderata, but nevertheless think
sugar entitled to some protection; Democrats
in Pennsylvania who are willing to make
large concessions on other points if only the
duty on iron be kept sufficiently specific ~
| Democrats in Kentucky who think that
Mr.. Clay's American system was rery
mistaken theory of political economy but
who hold that tax on imported hemp is
highly expedient and constitutional Demo
Gratis in New England limmoderate in their
demands because modest in their numbers)
who think that the textile fabrics should be
treated with some, consideration by those
who patronize sugar in Louisiana, iron in
Pennsylvania, and hemp in Kentucky, but
who still are willing to sacrifice a large per
centage for the sake of harmony. .....
=, = -
| And then, too, we have Democrats who de-
nounce them as unconstitutional Demo
Gratis who think the public lands should be
disposed Of as speedily as possible by gen.
eral homestead bill, aud Democrats who pro-
linunce this policy unwise and (not to put
too fine point on it, 'demagogical and
agrarian Democrats who espouse Mr.. CIay's
plan OF 'distrib Ition, and Democrats who de-
nounce the scheme as a rank political heresy;
Democrats who believe in the gospel of fill
bustcrism, and Democrats who sustain the
neutrality laws; Democrats who advocate
the revival ofihe slave trade, and Democrats
who vote it to be 'unwise, inexpe,lient, and
contrary to the settled policy Of the country.
Ut present our Democratic friends in all
parts of the country seems to be particularly
exercised by certain divisions growing out
ofwhat is called the new dogma being the
definition of the duty enjoined by the Con-
stitution Of the United States on the Nation
al Legislature in the matter of the protection
which slave property is entitled to claim in
the common Territories of the Union. As
this is a ques lion which has been raised be-
tween different wings of the Democratic party
in consequence of their differing interpreta-
tons of the ansas-Nebraska bill and tie
Cincinnati platform, it might be deemed inn
pertinent for us to express any opinion upon
documents that seem to be so recondite and
obscure even in the hands of their authors.
And as the controversy on this subject is
purely family quarrel among the harmoni-
Gus Democracy we may draw from certain
homely proverbs prudent moral in warning
against any attempts on our part to recon-
cile the parties in these conflicting interpreta-
tons Of the family dialect. It is question
4 "aSu "htou wv HuNS IlO OtfitT couceTu Ifld1
that which attaches to the function of the
political historian, called to record for the
benefit of curious inquirers, like our Ken
lucky friend, the nice refinement of a liti-
gious temper brought to the discussion of
supersensuous distractions. For this reason,
and for the behoof of those who cannot be
expected TO feel lively interest in political
questions which have no practical signifi-
cance we shall perhaps undertake, at future
day, to place more prominently before our
readers the history and purport of the new
Dogma which is at present perplexing the
minds of the Democracy" r.
CurfOsities Of the Earth.
AT the City ofModena, in Italy, and about