Litchfield enquirer., 1860-02-09
Tine Spring Election.

ELECTION, APRIL ZD, IS6O.
 The Spring Election.
 We have had our Convention, and never did we have better; we have made our nomna- tions, and our candidates are men that have been tried in office, and found not wanting. We have declared our principles and they are principles we can stand by; especially on the subject of human rights are they principles which no man with the spirit of true New Englander will object to. It remains now to prepare for the election.
 The settlements of a political canvass are of ten beyond the importance of that which is at stake, but there are times when these interests are so great that scarce any excitement seems extravagant. We have fallen on such times The questions which divide the Democratic and Republican parties are not mainly about men, nor even altogether about measures they relate to the foundation principles of free government If the democracy, as represented by their lead CTS, is right, then were our fathers wrong. For instance there have been democratic govern ments before ours,-(and we would remark here that we regard democratic goceymment as different thing from democratic party) but never one founded on the principles of the Nat ural Rights of man. But this lies at the founda- tion of our democracy-that man has a natural right to freedom. The Declaration of Indepen- dence asserts it not merely as truth but as sey-eoident truth, that all men are born free and ot bo1 fo o1I inalienable rights, such as the right to life lib erty, and the pursuit of happiness and it was the first time in the history of the world that this great fact was made the basis of revolution, and the foundation of government. This is pe- culiarly an American doctrine, and it was to the highest honor of our fathers that they proclaim ed it to the world as the basis of government, and in it's defense pledged their honor and their lives But so far have we degenerated from the principles of our ancestors that the highest judicial tribunal in the land has denied this foundation principle It has denied that man as man has these inalienable rights only some naen have them. But in so doing, it has not only struck blow at freedom every where, but has made the fathers of the revolution lay down as iustifca- tion in declaring themselves independent of Great Britain, not selfevident truth as they supposed they were doing, but sefevident falsehood. For, so far is it from being selfevi- dent that some men are born to nalienable rights but others are not born to such, that it is not even true. The self-evidence of the assertion of rights lies in the very fact that it is spoken of man aS nadn, and only there. But the democra- cy has made the Dred Scott decision a test of patriotism. And not only this, one of the most distinguished lawyers of our country sig nalized his accession to the Democratic party by sheer at the Declaration of Independence It may be said that these are merely speculative principles, vague generalities not intended to be put in practice. But that is the very question at issue. Are the Natural Rights of man mere form of words, or substantial reality with which is bound up our liberty and independence Most assuredy the denial of this doctrine has not prov ed an idle speculation Already has the decar- ation gone forth that three millions of human beings have no such rights already has this been made test of democracy in the Halls of Congress; already has the response gone back from New York City that some men are born to slavery, and thus that the self-evdent truth of the Declaration of Independenceis lie already States been charged with treason to the Union because they reject this test and refuse to apos tatize. because they refuse to believe it selfevi dent that some men are born to the inalienable right of freedom, while others are born to the righteous and just lot of slavery.
 The above is only single instance in which the leaders of the Democratic party have aposta- tized from the principles of our forefathers. We say then, that the political contest before us in wolves not merely men nor measures, but the very foundation principles of our government And how shall this canvass be carried on :? By argu- ment; argument brought home to every voter in the State. The recent Convention appointed committee to arrange the plan of the campaign We doubt not they are all good men we know they are, ii they are all as digent and laborious as the gentleman on the committee from this county, MT. o. J. Wocott of Norfolk Let them begin to work, and let every one that can help them.
 A LETTER from Mendota, Illinois, to gentle man in this village, states that Mr. Stephen Miles left Hamilton, Hancock Co.,, Ill.,, on the 23d of January for Connecticut; that about five miles east of Mendota he jumped from the cars broke his arm and otherwise so injured himself that he died on the 3Othult. He was supposed to be deranged, he having, as he said, been sick fol long time, with fever and ague. He made him, self known as Mason, and was taken care of by the lodge in Mendota, whe buried him under Masonic orders Miles says that his home was in Milton, Ltchfield Co.,, Conn.,, where he said he had wife, daughter and other relations. We know of no such persons in Milton.
 WE publish this week the si1th of our venera- ble and honored contributors The Old Man of the Mountains" Series of Counsels to Young Men, 1t is needless for ms ,,,,,,lI,, +o anI;ob+