The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1860-05-23

party, which claims to be the party o. the
Constitution-the party of law, and Of or
der, and of iustice--madly throw itself
upon the stormy sea of vague conjecture,
TO be borne hither and thither BY every
WIND OF strange doctrine, prey TO con-
tending factions, each sailing under its
own colors, and all claiming to act by au-
thorlty OF its creed? Applause.
Gentleman of the North, do not wish
you to misunderstood our position. l
wish you to understand that our claim to
protection OF property rights is not con-
hned TO single department Of the Gov
eminent, but that it embraces all its de-
Partments-legislative, executive, and ju-
| dlcial 1t may be said that the last
named already Possesses sufficient power
and authority. This may be 80. It is a
| question about which eminent statesmen
and learned jurists differ What we claim
IS the unqualified unequiyocal asser-
ton of the great principle Of the right to
| protection at the hands Of the Govern
ment by all the authority with which it i
invested. And what we mean by protec-
ton Is adeatGtc protection, such as the De
cullar circumstances Of each case as it
arises may prove to be necessary.
But we have been told, with some plaus-
| lblty, to-day, that the doctrine of non-in-
bSEN6HttOH w OOIlRTeSS Win Slavery IN
the States, Territories, and District of
Columbia. heretofore engrafted upon the
| democratic creed, and constituting an art
| icle of democratic faith, precIudes the
| adoption of the views which I am advo-
eating. Then, let me say to you, in all
sincerity, that if that be the true construc-
ton of the CINCINNATI platform, (which l
do not admit, to the democracy of the
South, it has been a wretched delusion-
a false light-a mere "tinkling cymbal
and sounding brass" And If YOU tell me
that the democratic party has plighted its
faith to the maintenance of a heresy so
monstrous as your construction of the
Cincinnati platform, if correct, would
prove it to be, then | respond that it is
more patriotic to abandon pledge thus
made, than to persist in propagating po-
litical falsehOod at the expense Of the
rights of sovereign States and the Consti-
tuition itself. Applause.
But deny that this is the meaning of
the democratic doctrine of ''non-interfer-
ence;" and | appeal to the intelligent and
patriotic members of the party eVery-
where to sustain me in the assertion that
this doctrine was expressly aimed at the
unconstitutional dogma of congressional
prohibition as illustrated by the Missouri
restriction, and was sought to be accom-
plised by the anti-slavery agitators through
the instrumentality of the Wilmot proVi-
so. 1t was in antagonism to that perni-
cious dogma that the doctrine of "non-in-
reference" was declared to be funda-
mental article of the democratic creed;
and its true meaning was, that Congress
could neither establish nor abolish slave
ry. The great principle of the right of
1,rntaafiOp n yrrI,,
Territories under the provisions and guar
antees of the Constitution was left un-
touched and held sacred
| Sir, if be true that the doctrine of mon
interference" precludes US from asserting
a claim to the protection of our Govern
| ment, wherever its flag floats, then we
| have no greater claim upon its guardian
| ship las has been well said elsewhere)
! than upon the governments of France,
| England, or any other foreign nation, for
we have right to demand ''non-inter-
| ference" at their hands, and it has al
ways been accorded, except in rare in
stances. But when this right has been
disregarded- the rude hand of vi
| olence has been laid upon the persons or
property of American citizens-our Gov
eminent has interpOsed its protecting
@gis. 1t was in accordance with the re-
quirements of this great principle that the
war of 1872 was declared. 1t was in &C
cordance with the requirements OF this
great principle that the war of 1876 was
declared and prosecuted, until your eagles
were borne in triumph to the gates Of
Mexico. 1t is in accordance with this
principle that the right of search on the
high seas has been denied. And it is to
vindicate this principle gentlemen of New
! EnUland that an ruH Itu4aNt
your white-winged messengers of COM
merce 60, there your Government sends
its guns and floats its hag-a sign of pro-
lection, the proudest emblem Of its great
ness and its glory. Applause.
Now, what should be the course of the
Convention Clearly to incorporate this
principle into its platform. That being
done, gentlemen Of the Democratic party,
your political faith will no longer be
dimmed by equivocation, your principles
will be inscribed in letters of living light
upon your banners, and the democratic
| party, thus planted upon the rock of the
Constitution will trust, stand for all
time in the history of the Republic great
landmark towering above the ruins of all
other organizations? Il will be your
boast that yours is a party which looks
with an impartial eye upon States, sec
tons, and individuals-that yours is a
platform which contains no decaying or
slippery materials, but is as enduring as
truth itself, and will increase in beauty
and strength with revolving years. In
its dimensions, it will be unlimited, and
the patriotic men of the whole country
North, South, East, and West-oan stand
upon and battle for 10. Then, let the Con-
vention, if it would entitle the party which
it represents to the confidence and sun
port of the country, if it would preserve
the integrity of its organization and per-
petuate the Government, plant itself upon
the principles which are contained in the
majority report.
The democratic party was born with the
Constitution, it arose with the Constitu-
ton, and, when the democratic party
dies, the Constitution will not survive Il.
Applause To those who are standing
with me in the defence of these princi-
pies, would say, remain firm. And let a
consciousness of right-an abiding faith
in the purity and sublimity of your doc
trines to preserve the equality of Southern
States in the Union-light up your path,
way, animate you in this hour of peril, and
conduct you through storms and darkness
- A