The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-10-17
Jefferson and Republicanism

Jefferson and Republicanism.
One would think. to hear Republican
voters and editors applaud Jefferson, that
he waa the patron saint of their party.
If Jefferson were now living and taking
an active part in the politics of the day,
he would be as much the object of Re-
publican abuse and obloquy as Mr.. Doug
las is. Were Jefferson candidate for
the Presidency, they would slander him as
falsely and curse him as heartily as did
the old Federalists of 1900. and 1904.
The gross inconsistencies and contradic-
tions with which they charge Stephen A.
Douglas, would sink into utter insigniG
canoe, compared with those which they
would fling in the face Of Thomas Jeffer-
The Republicans. were q Jefferson now
living, and candidate for the suffrages
of the people, would quote against him
the sentiments expressed in the preamble
to the Declaration of Independence, and
contrast them with his practice Of hold
ing men in bordage. Foaming at the
mouth, Republican stumpers would ex.
claim: "Here is man who, in the i'm
mortal Declaration, uttered godlike senti-
ments of freedom and equality, but who,
in his practice. was renegade from the
truth and traitor to his principles"
They would cite his early efforts for
emancipation in Virginia, and say that
he was good Republican then; but that
when, in his old age, he favored the ad-
mission of Missouri as slave State, and
opposed the establishment of geographi-
cal line between freedom and slavery, he
had become an old gray-headed turn,coat
AID the willing tool of the slave power
Let every American citizen remember
that every time Republican abuses
Douglas for seeking to procure the abro-
cation of the Missouri Compromise line,
be heaps q curse upon the memory Of
Jefferson. who opposed the establishment
of that line, as calculated to foment The
angry passions of men, and make the irri.
tation on the subject Of slavery sink deep.
er and deeper. As the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise is the keynote oi
Republican opposition to Douglas, il
would be we'll to remember that, accord
ing to the sentiments Of Jefferson. ex
pressed in 1920, aftor long life of polti
cal stndy and experience, had he been in
} Congress in 1854, he would have stood
side by side with Senator Douglas. ii
moving and urging thssrepeal of the Com
promise. .et7g aost p 7ade5oo
Republicans profess stern and unyield
ing opposition to the extension Of slavery
into any new Territory, even though tn,
people of that Territory should be unani
mously in favor of it. They hurl thei
cenunciations at Douglas, because he i
willing that the people of q Territor.
should decide for themselves the questiol
Of slavery or no slavery, and charge bin
with not caring whether slavery is votet
up or voted down. = aOa ~ assai
But what would these same Republical
gentry, who now claim Jefferson as th,
j father OF their Intervention and non-ex
tension principle, say of him, we're he
candidate for the Presidency in place 0
Douglas? They would charge him witt
something worse. in their estimation, thai
. not caring whether slavery is voted up o
downin the Territories They would as
|, sail him as . dsserter from the principl
j Of Congressional Intervention, which the
say was fully established as the policy q
the Federal government by the Ordinanc
ofA'8f.c They would quote In proof tn
5 following sentence written by Jefferso
, when the admission Of Missouri and th
Missouri Compromise were under con
sideration in Congress: a.,'.. 80 -
aOf one thing am certain. thatas the pa.
9 sage of slaves from one State to another woul
), not make a slave of a single human bein,
. who, would not be SO without it, 40 their diff
y sion over greater surf ce would make thei
: individually happier, and proportionately +;
cilitate the accomplishment of their emaEcip;
o ton, by dividing the burthen on a create
number of coadjutors.'
IT is gross and outrageous species
{ fraud and deception for Republicans
. this day, who follow the lead Of Gliding
o Seward, and Chase, to claim Jefferson a
she father Of their principles, when it
manifest. that, were he now living, the
opposition to him would be of the sam
bmalignanttt type as it is to Douglas aud tn
: national Democracy,--.Sta