Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-02-10


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Toy Il is rule with all business men to dismiss
an agent whenever the interests committed to his
care are neglected; aud the rule which is applicable
in such case. is equally SO in decentralization Of
the various Departments Of the government. For
many years, the democratic party has acted as the
agent of the people in the conduct of public affairs
and II Is high time that dspassionate investiga-
ton was made into the manner in which It has dis
charged the trust confded TO it. If wisdom has
guided the councils of those to whom the govern
n,cnt has long been entrusted, the fact will mani
fest itself not only in the character Of the people
themselves but in the prosperity of every depart
ment Of business. The social no less than the
businee relations Of the country reflect the ecien-
cy of the government aisi the enlightened states
man can, by merely mixing with people, detect
the wisdom or folly of their rulers. Tried by its
effects upon the business and social relations of the
country, what is and has BEEN the character of the
democratic administration of the government p
Are the people orderly, contented, law-abiding in
teligent, and virtuous2 To prove that they are not
honest and law-abining, We need only point to the
fanatsa negro-stealers of the North the advocates
OF the slave trade in the South and the flibusters
in all quarters. That they are not contented and
orderly is proven by the spirit of dlsunion which
pervades 50 lage mass of the South, aud the
ceaseess innovations upon conservatism which dis
tmguishes so large portion of the North. That
they are not Intelligent is evident from their tame
endurance of evils which intelligence could SO
easily avert correct and that they not virtu-
Gus appears from the vouminous record Of crime
and the wide spread corruption which debases the
rulers and the ruled.
But leaving out Of view the rapid depreciation
In public virtue is evinced in general disregard
OF the most sacred rights, and the nfiacton Of the
mos, solemn obligations; the crime aud peculation
Of privates aud officers and the unblushing corrup
ton Of party leaders, what has the democratic party
done to advance the agricultural, manufacturing
and commercial interests of the country2 For the
agriculiurist it has failed to inauguratc single
measure tending to build MP for him home market
for his breadstufis.. The iron interest is nearly
PROSTATE for want of wise protection and manu-
features are languishng, everywhere, for tho want
OF that fostering care which the government can not
with old without being guilty of criminal neglect
Of high and obvious duties. And why are these
things so? Because the democratic party, in order
to delude and tramplc upon the people, committed
Itself to contemplate abstraction about free trade,
and finding the trick still winning one, conf rms
IL national legislation to that del--so prolific of
evil.
The rapid growth Of towns and cities the exec :
sivc immigration, aud the deplorable increase OF
paupers aud loalcrs all over the Union, have so
multiplied consumers over producers that the farmer
has been enabled to realize fair prices for his pro-
ducts aod the wealth of California has sttycd of
partially, the evils Of overtrading with foreign
countries; but not single leading interest Of
American industry owes its semi-prosperous con
ditlon 10 the fostering of democratic admins
tratons The native energies of our people have
carried them forward to wealth and power in spite
of the government; but this can not last always
and the period has arrived when wise and honest
administration alone, can uproot the germs of an
archy everywhere springng up in Unpopular mind
and arrest that downward tendency which threaten.
not to stop short Of national ruin. But can tn,
people hope for remedy at the hands of the de
mocrntic purity Where is the evidence that il Ina.
done, or intends to do, anything with view tc
fostering the leading interests'of industry, or cul
tivatng spirit Of patriotism and integrity in III,
popnar heart Its political teachings are debasing
and its practices, ioully corrupt. Both have com
bned To pouc the ballot-box and the foul con
tagion has entered the circle of business and nyad
ed the fire-side
But not content with neglecting the m ,ral, SOC
political, aud commercial interests of the country
democracy, in order to maintain its ill-gotten ~
ccndancy has tempered with the domestic peace O
our people by agiiaiing the slavery question unit
threats Of disun0n, aud consequent civil war. arr
boldly uttered in the Halls of Congress Indeed
so bold has it become in its corrupt practices, tina
its more reckless leaders do not hesitate substau
taly, to Rvow their preference for disuuon TO th
defeat of their party aud TO declare that such de
feat, even though by legal majority, will b
deemed sufficient cause for disuuion This is IN,
character of the party which has so cursed IN,
country, corrupted the people, ana triilcd with ih,
Union itself, and il is this party which impud,nt,,
dSmands the continued support of a maurtv AN,
threatens national ruin the penalty for It's defeat
Are the people prepared TO submit to such dictatiun
aud continue IN power the deadly enemies of th
whole country? We think not, The people ar
beginning to see the dangers which threaten TN
Union and when they trace those dangers to thci
origin m democratic corruption aud misrulc. the
viii discard tn putty as unworthy OF conGdenc
aud once more, think and act for themselves.
Bis1~ The Richmond Enquirer came out
mourn NJ for the lon Of Pennington to tn
Sponsorship. IL would have shown higher sens