Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-24
DIFFERENT PARTIES.

tional supremacy-that party which has ever
"carried the flag and kept step to the music
Of the UniOn'-that party which everywhere
in every State, is battling for priceless treas
ure, 1.-THE country, the Constitution, and the
UniOn"-that party that has no affinity with
no sympathy for men entertaining reasonable
doctrines that party that was born with
the Constitution, and viii! perish only when
that Constitution shall become the sport Of
factions, and be no longer regarded as the ex.
preston Of the National will for the protection
of the equal rights Of all. BY the wisdom Of
its keen, far-sighted policy it has enlarged our
borders, given peace and prosperity to the
country, and abored to Undue with its own
spirit of Nationality our councils and our leg.
iS!ation." And never has there been the time
when it behooved every patriot and lover Of
our confcderacy, to exert his utmost powers
in favor Of individual and State rights, pro-
lection and privileges Of the weak against the
domincering will of the strong, than the next
struggle for the chief Magistracy of the Amer.
lean Union.
For the last two years discord, fanaticism
and treason have run riot. Freedom of opin
ion and rights guaranteed by the Federal COM
pact have been trampled in the tltist by many
of the States that, notwithstanding their IA
naticism and bigOtry, loudly boast of their in
-telligenee and patriotism. But Of what avail
is intelligence when guided by fanaticism
or what avail is patriotism, when led on by
bigotry? ?. Of what avail is power when pros.
titutcd to unhaowcd purposes? Of what
avail is Christianity, when the devil is its
leader! These are questions to BE- settled By
the people at the Presidential election-ques
tons that all understand and are int rested in.
Discord must give way to Harmony. Fanati.
cism and Bigotry must give place to Reason
and Justice. The remedy is with the people,
the clcar-headed. rejecting, Union.loving peo-
| plc-who are always right when Reason gov.
erns always wrong when following in the
footsteps Of those artful fanatics and dema.
gogncs, Seward, Wilson, Greeley and COM
pany.
Within the last few months the discordant
elements Of opposition TO the Democratic par
ty have begun to assume more tangible
form. The crusaders against citizens Who by
decree of Providence, were" born in for
cign land, and the devotecs of negro exalta-
ton, have formed copartnership through
out the entire Northern States, and upon the
principle of atsorption," the last has alb
sorbed the first, Efforts are being made by
Bolts, Bell, Crittenden, Peyton and other lead.
ers of the Know Nothing party, to extend the
copArtnership to the slavcholding States.
Meetings for that purpose have been held in
New York, Philadelphia and Washington,
where all the opponents of the Democratic
party-the ultra slavery propaganda and
the rabid Abolitionist-were invited to at
tend. These discordant elements met, low
ingly embraced, and parted swearing eter.
nal hostility" to the Democratic party.
The political elements now assume several
distinct characters, with marked principles,
plainly discernible. First, grandly and proud
", stand the National Democracy, who have
triumphed in many hard fought battles over
all factions and isms-who have been in the
oscendcncy, with the exception of four brief
periods, since the formation of the Confedcr-
acy-whose principles have been the land
mark Of our great and prosperous Republic
for "a years-whosc policy has been engraft.
ell upon every important measure that has
arisen favoring the freedom and enlightenment
of the great body Of the people, yet holding
strictly the rights of all upon an equality, as
guaranteed by the Federal compact They
have always "camed fellowship WITH and
invited the cooperation Of all who regard the
preservation of the Union under the Consti.
tuition, as the paramount issue. and who repu-
date all sectional parties and platforms tend
ing to incessant and constant agitation upon
the subject Of negro slavery" 1t is now the
only National party in existence. It's prin-
ciples and policy are the same from Maine to
Texas, from the Atlantic to the Paciic--eoual
rights to all--special privileges to none. Be-
lieving in the patriotism and intelligence OF
the people and the doctrine of Selfgovern.
mcnt, it invites discussion and grantsounlm.
tied freedom Of opinion to all its adhercnts.
1t has no sympathy with the "higher law"
advocates, nor does it believe in the disgrace
full doctrine of placing negro on an equality
with the white man. I; boldly avows its
principles, cherishes them and ably and in
fcxiby maintains them. It appeals not to
the passions not to the prcjudices, the sec
tional feelings Of the people, but to their pa
triotism and intelligence. 1t comedies not
one article of its creed, compromises none Of
its measures, for temporary triumph.
When State after State, at period of wild,
insane excitement, turned against it, with I'M
shaken firmness and confidence it stood by its
platform. 1t smiled at the frownS and Knocked
at the threats of its opponents. 1t stands
upon bold platform Of great principles, en-
shrined in the hearts of all true lovers of their
country.
The once proud American" party is
"pretty much" extinct A few old foges
still cherish its doctrines and are attempting
to resuscitate it. Outside Of a few Southern
States it has no adherents. In the free States
it naturally fell into the embrace of RepubH-
canism and ceased to exist. This party, which
started with such fair prospects, which was
" organized with exquisite skill, and animated