The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-05
THE FOUR PRINCIPAL PHASES OF
DEMOCRACY

| The perpetual unrest of the "DemOcracy"
in search of platform, firm and durable, if
viewed from picturesque point of view, has
something in it truly touching. 1t reminds one
of the stories which travellers through the
deserts of Arabia relate, of that tantalizing ap-
partition known as the mirage, which perpetual
ly holds the word of promise to the famished
lips of the wayfarer, but breaks it to the hope
There seems to be no resting place for the soles
of their feet. The deluge has come upon them,
but no ark of safety presents itself, to give as
surance that even a remnant is to be saved.
No bow of hope spans the heavens, in token of
coming rest and sunshine. Down, down, they
go, still wrangling and fighting for the spoils,
and agreeing in nothing.
For many years, the sham Democracy, in
common with their opponents, the Wings, stood
firmly by the Missouri compromise. But in an
evil hour, Mr.. Douglas of Illinois, instigated by
the demon of ambition, moved its repeal that
the Territories now known as Kansas and Ne
braska might become slaveholding. In order
to reconcile the Northern people to this meas
ure, Mr.. Douglas laid it down as an indisputa-
BILE axiom in politics. that the people of the
Territories have the same right to regulate their
domestic affairs that the people Of the States
possess. He claimed for them absolute indie
pendence in the formation of their local laws
and institutions, independent of the Federal
Government. Said he, we concede to them by
general consent the right to legislate upon the
relations " of parent and child, of guardian and
ward, of master and apprentice; )" then why not
concede the same right of legislation in regard
to negroes? Are negroes SO much better than
everybody else, that their rights require the pecu-
liar protection of the Federal Government? This
demagoguism, shallow and heartless as it was,
was not without its weight, and the bulk Of the
Northern Democracy followed their leaders in
pursuit of the phantoms, popular sovereignty"
and non-intervention." The Slavery propa-
grandists of the South, thinking that the great
obstacle to the admission of Slavery into the
Northwest Territories was removed, were in
ecstacies, and shouted for JOY. President Pierce
h0sitated but at length was swept along in the
Democratic" current, the great majority of
the Southern Wings grounded arms, and joined
the chorus of non-interventon and all hands
concurred in proclaiming the final overthrow of
Abolitionism.
But the people took the Federal Government
at its word, and organized emigration compa-
MES for the settlement of Kansas. The border
ruffians of Missouri, aided by the Central Gov
eminent, attempted to beat the people back,
and seize Kansas as a slaveholding possession
They were foiled,. and the people triumphed.
The propagandists saw their error in admitting
the doctrine of popular sovereignty They re-
pudiated the dangerous heresy, and insisted
that neither Congress nor the Territorial Legis-
latures can exclude Slavery. Upon this issue
they staked the Union, as usual. The Federal
Government Immediately adopted it, and, by its
Influence over the Supreme Court, decision
or opinion of the Court was promulgated,
simultaneously with the present Presidents in
augural address, declaring this to be the true
Interpretation of the Constitution.
Here, then, one would have supposed the
Democracy had found resting place, a final
ity." But not so. For, however congenial to
Southern minds the idea that neither Congress
nor the people of Territory can exclude Sla-
very, it was found to be utterly impossible to
keep the Northern allies to their allegiance
upon such basis. Its effect was to drive the
frank and file into she Republican party. Mr.
Douglas, notwithstanding his overweening con
fdence in himself, at length saw that this must
be the result, and fastened to make an issue
with his former friends, by opposing the policy
Of forcing Slavery into Kansas under the
fraudulent Lecompton Constitution. Gradual
ly, as his prospects for the Senate became cloud
cd over, he grew holder, and at length uttered
his Freeport speech, in which, while acknowl-
edging the authority of the bred Scott decision,
he insisted that practically the people of Ter
ritory may exclude Slavery by unfriendly
legislation
This was bold language for a man who has
ever ACKNOWLEDGED his allegiance to the slave in
terest, and at one time it threatened to be his
final undoing. But Mr. Douglas has done
much to counterpoise the effect Of this heretical
utterance, by the alacrity with which he has
supported the Presidents thirty million corrup-
ton fund for the purchase of Cuba his advoca-
cy of the policy of taking military possession
of Mexico and Central America, and the pains
taken by his organ in this city to show that, in
point of fact, popular sovereignty is an empty
sound, signifying nothing.
But the South led on by Henry A. Wise, of
Virginia. took the alarm at the idea of I'M
friendly legislation" and now goes stride be
yond anything heretofore demanded, by insist
ing that Slavery must be protected in the Ter
ritories.
The Administration, hoping to find happy
medium between these extremes, lays down,
through its new organ, the Constitution, third
platform, in the following words
"There is no longer any intestine dissension
of the least importance in the Democratic party
on the Slavery question The principles EN-
blazoned on the banner are, nOR-intercentiOR,
6y Congress or by Territorial Legislatures,
either to establish or prohibit Sidre,y ,cithin the
Territories, and the protection of STARE property
therein, as long as the Territorial condition
shall remain, By the Judiciary, uader the ConSti-
tuition ot'he United States
The Douglas organ, the States, takes fire at
this new platform of Mr.. Buchanan, and de-
nounces it as utterly fatal to Southern interests
We confess that we felt curious, as we took up
the article of the States, to know where its
editor would join issue with the Constitution.
In our simplicity, we imagined that the ram
parts thrown around the institution of Slavery
by the President organ were sufficiently strong;
but the Douglas organ, with its habitual con