Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-02-04
OBJ Stanbarb.
Nationality of the Democracy.

N8u0nallty Oh the Democracy
Our neighbor of the Register says some hard
things about US now and then but as we know he
* a weli-meaning individual, and desperately trou-
bled to find arguments of any kind to sustain his
sinking cause pay but little attention to his pecu-
liar mode of warfare. The issues of the day are too
scrous to be treated in a spirit of badnage People
rilI not conclude that we are disposed to miSlead
or readers or to make party capital out of the ques-
finn of slavery, merely because the Editor of the
Pea;ster says so. People will read and judge for
themselves They will see who it is that says one
thing to-day and another tomorrow. We are con-
tent to abide their scrutiny and their judgment.
We gave some time since, four reasons why Mr..
GiImer ought not to be voted for for Speaker by
Democrats; and might have added fifth, to wit,
tbr resolution which he offered an amendment to
Mr. CIarks resolution the effect of which was to pre-
vent the House from characterizing they deserve
those members who have endorsed Helpers book.
The Register, instead of attempting to meet these
four reasons, INDUCED in defamation, denunciation,
and vague gcncralities; and in its last issue it has
,doptcd the same in relation to the natonal
~ Of the Democracy. 1t had charged us, for exam
nile with a disposition to humbug and mislead our
readers on this subject and in reply we gave briefly
our reasons for regarding the Democratic the only
national party in the country. And how does the
Roga,tcr meet our reply? By arguments: By facts?
No such thing. He pounces on his "neighbor on
Uarrett Street." and declares that "he knows full
well that sofa OF average size would hold all fthe
Democrats north ofMaryland" That is the way in
which he prores that there is national Democratic
nartv He says that tce know so and so. How does
he know what we know? And yet, in the very same
column of his paper which contains this ridiculous
declaration of his we find that he compliments the
national Democratic members of the House of Rep
rcsentativcs for voting for Mr.. Smith for Speaker.
In one breath he denies that there is a national
Democratic party, and in the next he compliments
that party for one Of its acts
Now let us see the predicament in which our
neighbor has placed himself Mr.. Smith received
one hundred and twelve votes for Speaker. There
are about ninety Democrats and twenty-five South
ern Americans in the House. Ofthese ninety Dem
ocrats twenty five or thirty from the nonslave
holding States These twenty five thirty repres-
ent not less than three millions of inhabitants, and
not less than two hundred and fifty thousand per-
are some ten or fifteen Democratic Senator's who
represent sovereign non-slaveholding States; and
further we have Democratic President, who
cevcd one million of Democratic votes in the non
slaveholdng States. And yet in the face of these
undeniabc facts the Register asserts that there is
only handful of Democrats in the free States
Who rallied to Mr.. Smith for Speaker Mr.. Syme?
Mr. Gilmers particular friends, Morris, Scranton,
and Wood of PennSylyania-all moderate o. black
Republicans-voteda at first for Mr.. Smith, but when
they saw they were about to elect him they retired
from his support and voted for Corwin. Who stood
the fire then? Who stood by Smith, a Southern
man, in that time of trial? Who but national Dem
oerats from tie North and Northeast as true men
and sound patriots as ever trod the soil of
America: And yet Mr.. Syme, you say there is no
national Democratic party. Did the black Republi-
cans flock to Mr.. Smith they had done to Mr.. Gil
mer: Did fifteen of Them headed by the abolitionist
Thadeus Stevens, lead off for him {? Did the few
moderate ones who had voted for him adhere to
him? No. The only aid Mr.. Smith received-the
only aid the country received in this auGabe effort
to organize the House and maintain the govern
ment,-we say the only aid which could be obtain
ed in the non-slavehoding States in this hour of
trial, rHs obtainel from the NATIONAL Democratic
l"rtg. And yet our sapient and truthful neighbor
Ofthe Register says there is national Democratic
party! In the language of an old line Wing, who
called to see few days since, to subscribe for
the Handard and to encourage US III our course IF
there is no national Democratic party then there is
no other party in the country but the black Repub-
hcan; and if that is all, the country is indeed in
deplOrable condition"