Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-08-21

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NAr65x Al iDsuocnhrs An FELLOW Cu1zEM OF
low AS-The Iatioua1 Deneeratic party - conras,
ed and distracted, but it IL not dcsd. ~ ~
lives, and though wounded in the house OF its
friends, il will vet recover its former vigor and
pristine glory Though we may sincerely dePofe
the present unk Apply condition Of ATARI We YET
believe that The principles o. true ,emocracy
must occasionally be tested and puriueo Ia Tue Or
deal cf trial, and, II need be, Temporary cereal
To be worthy Of the high honor and proud dis
tinction Of enrolment in the National Democratic
army We must be willing, in the race OF herce
per Sc tuition, "to take up cur cross anu uuuge
patiently onward ia the marrow way o. eonsssu-
tional duty, trusting to the rebounding ener-
gv Of our tried principles, and relying upon "ihe
sober second thought Of the patriotic masses.
When we have studied carefully the history OF
our country. and have considered the great meas
ures which have led to is present wonaer'ui ae-
vcopmeBt, we have clearly recognizea a. we agent
and instrument of this amazing progress tue great
party around which all orr boyish loveand manly
hopes have clustered. We have seen dark clouds
roll upon our political sky tie alter tie snapped
asunder church after church dissoiveu py
geographical AMI sectional issues pu' We naVe
while the National Democratic party remains
intact the Union was safe. But now, alas TINS
last great bulwark of the Constitution is threat
ened, and we are passing through acrisis pregnant
with great events.
lis useles for US now to investigate the causes
which have led to the division Of the Democratic
rarity: criminatioa and re-crimination can DO no
good. 1t is the part of wisdom to recognize ana
deal with facts and inquire Tor renedy, II IN
deed one can be found.
Ii is apparent to the most casual observer tnat
the m st profound anxiety pervades the pubic
, mind violent AMI bitter political Campaign Is
before Us. Men. equally sincere In their respect
i've political convictions, formerly political broth
ers but now almost sworn toes, VIII wage war
AGAINST each ether Excitement will increase and
x.-,t y, nj
famed by insidious appeals from Ignorant and de-
signing men, will be ready to cruelty their very
brothers in che flesh.
But the soothing influences OF time ana SOBER
reflection, will bring men back 70 reason ana 'acy
will then certainly oath and discard the move and
delusiye positions which icy now cherish "ith 50
much fondness The old land marks Will again
be sought for and the old paths will again be tread
with patient footsteps.
As old line d. mocrats Of the Jefferson school. we
have the .proforndest confidence in the popular
Judgment and feel that the only safe reliance tor
safety and perpetuity of this government rests In
the intelligence and patriotism OF the peoPe.
VIVA ever Of mperfecton there may be IN oar Ma
| tional government, how incomparaolv superior u
| is to any Other government in the world Fonnded
upon the virtue and intelligence OF the people, It
must i, crease in perpetual vigor and beauty, un
less Ignorance and vice shall be permitted to sap
| the foundations of the Republic. "eouSht theh
carefully to scrutnze the teachings OF our potl-
NAV sit in impartial judgment upon their acts and
recomm endations. 1t is dangerous for us to yield
our judgments and consciences implicitly to the
| keeping Of any man. The Bible warns us to put
mo trust even in princes, and eternal vigilance
i said to be "the price of liberty Let US there
fore each for ourselves ,refuly investigate every
political question, in orer that we may intelll
gently exercise the sacred right of suffrage.
With these preliminary cautions, ana with an
earnest desire to seek truth rather than victory
we proceed to discuss the principles OF the three
great political organizations which are now strug
cling tor the control of the government, with the
question which, in some of its phases, s the all
bsorbing issue.
These PARTIES we will name the Republican, the
Douglas, and the National Democratic. OF the
| Bell and Houston parties we will have nothing to
say upon this OCCASION as we do not consider them
distinctly representative in the present canvass
We are glad to say, however, IN passing, that we
believe the friends of Messrs Bell and Houston
| are conservative, Union loving men.
The Republican party regard slavery as social,
moral and political evil, and banded together
| in crusade for its abolition. In their opposition
to "tbe extension" of slavery into Territories "now
free we quote their expressions, they invoke the
hostile legislation of Congress- in opposition the
plain provisions Of the Consultation as authorlta-
| lively decided by the Supreme Court. they in
! tend to check aud circumscribe slavery, and the
body Of the pa rty mean to attack it, not only in
The Territories but in the States, ard wherever it
| exists, regardless of consequences. The vital
principle Of this organization is ceaseess war upon
slavery Conservatism on this subject is political
| death to any Republican leader, and Sumner now
| is regarded as a more authoritative exponent of
| Repu lcan principles than even Seward himself.
and the real author of the "rrepre sible conflict"
| is the standard bearer of this party
When you remind them Of constitutional rights
and obligations, they resort to gittering general
| ties, they speak of the spirit of the age the
equality Of the human raco the Declaration Of In
dependence the light of the nineteenth century.
| the dark ages, and denounce slavery as crime
against nature, sin against high Heaven, one of
| the relics OF barbarous age, and their opposition
| to such a seeming monster of iniquity is but the
logical effect of such premises. The trainers Of the
Constitution and the fathers ofthe Republic they
regard as clever old fogies, but Is entirely behind
the spirit of the present age. The Republicans
show their hands boldly, and there is no equyo-
,ation in their position. They are open and un
| com romisng Free soilers, and they mean that
slavery shall be driven from the Republic In the
| accomplishment Ct this. purpose they are profess
edly for the OF legal and constitutional means
only but we have seen few Republican pa pers de-
aounce John Browns piratcal raid into Virginia,
md we fear that 1.-THE rank and file" would not
have mourned over his success If this party sue
ceeds they will be forced to strike at the equality
IF the States. and the Constitutional rights Of the
citizens and leave to the South but the alternative
of ignoble submission and union, or manly resist
ance and dissolution.
The Republicans hold that the Federal Consti-
tuti On conferred absolute and unlimited power Of
90, eminent the Territories upon Congress,
and that it is not only the right, but the duty Of
Congress- in the exercise of such power, to prohib
il the introduction oil slavery into any Federal
Territory.
Next we have the Douglas party, we mean no
offence by the term, but it by way OF distinct
ion, and to designate the followers Of tho squatter
chieftain, and whose demise, neither natural or
$50 ko thnr in for n
These men much given "to lip service )" they
talk eloqucnty Of the rights of the dear people
when they want their votes they propose to
fer upon them powers not recognized in the Con
sitution; they sing aeans to the Unon,and speak
softly to their Southern brethren in polished per-
ids, while at heart I've mean the leaders) they
hate the South, and are ready. for local spoil or
ersonal advancement, to join in a crusade against
Southern rights. Semi -Abolitonists and slaves
to popular ciamor, they denounce as disunonisis
and boilers the gallant men who heroically
fighting the battles of the Union by firmly ana
boldly upholding the Con. titution. Their leader
once Il gallant Democrat, but who never drew his
sword or perled his life in defence Of his country
has the folly to ina CINE himself a second JACKSON
and is now marshaliing his forces for the contes,
OF 1864 and hopes for personal victory over the
ruins of the great party to which he owes all his
consequence.
The Douglas party deny the power ef Congress
either to establish prohibit slavery in the Terri
tories. They hold to absolute non intercemtioa on
the part IF congress with the subject. but claim
thority to establish prohibit slavery /, the Ter
ritores. They deny that slavery exists in the Ter
ritores by virtue Of the Constitution of the United
States, and say that it only have legal exist
snce there by virtue Of positive enactment in it's
favor, made by = Territorial Legislature They
submit the whole question to the to nder merces OF
the varying humors Of q Territorial Legislature
and don't care whether it is voted up or down.