Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-08-24
political.
ADDRESS
DEMOCRACY AND PEOPLE
OF THE UNITED STATES,
National Democratic EX. Committee

OF THE UNITED STATES,
BY THE
National Democratic EX. Committee.
NATIONAL DEMoCRATIc EXECUTIVE Con-. Rooms /
% a ST., Washington City, July, 1860. !
To the Democracy and People
Of the United States.
FELLow-C CITIZENS: The election of the
next President and Vice President of the
United States is at hand. Four distinct
organizations are in the field. The Re-
publican party making bold and open war
upon the institutions of fifteen sovereign
States of this Union. The Constitution
al Union party, repudiating all platforms
and standing simply on the catch words
Constitution and the Union" Two
parties, each calling itself Democratic /;
one, however, following the fortunes of
one man, Mr.. Douglas, and differing
from the Republicans in making insidi-
Gus, instead Of open, war upon the South.
The other, standing inaexibly on the
Constitution Of the country, makes no
conccalments as to its Interpretation of
that instrument, its rallying cry being
the equality of the States. We purpose,
calmly and impartially, to survey the
field, and to give the reasons why the
latter party should be considered as the
Democratic party, and how the dearest
interests of country, race, and of human
progress, are concerned in its success.
Why is it that the Democratic party is
disrupted, and its wings arrayed in bitter
opposition to each other? Why is it that
the veterans who achieved its time-hon-
ored triumphs no longer move with the
old energy and harmony to meet the an
tagonists they have so often defeated p
What frebFand has been thrown into
their midst, lighting up intestine fires,
and consuming as with devouring fame ?
Let the plain, unvarnished record answer.
In 1856 the Democratic party, after a
most bitter contest, elected James Buch-
anan President, and John G. Breckin-
ridge Vice-President of the United States.
The new administration was inaugurated
aud went into operation. Its policy was
foreshadowed in the inaugural address
The Supreme Court, in case before it,
the bred Scott case, gave its decision
on the question of difference in the De.
mocratic ranks-a decision which previ
ously every Democrat had solemnly pledg
cd himself to abide by, as the authori
tative exposition Of the Democratic faith
| That august tribunal declared the Mis-
souri, Compromise act unconstitutional
and void; cnunciatod the right Of thS
South to take and hold their slave pro
perty in the Territories; denied to thu
Territorial Legislature any right to in
terfere with such property, and proclaim
ed that Territory could only settle tn,
question Of slavery at the time it cam
to form constitution, preparatory to it
admission into the Union as a sovereign
State.
This was looked upon by all sounr
Democrats as the final settlement of tn
question, aud it was believed that th
agitation of slavery would be foreve
withdrawn from the halls of Congress
, Who has kept up this agitation ? VIII
has resisted this decision? Who has de
clared that i" 1t matters not what va
the Supreme Court may hereafter dccid
as to the abstract question, whether slave
ry may or may not 60 into Territor
under the Constitution, the people hav
the lawful means to introduce or exclud
it, as they please" And, again: an
matter what the decision of the Suprem
Court may be on that abstract question
the right Of tho people to make slav
Territory, or free Territory, is perfec
, and complete under the Nebraska bill q?
Mr.. Douglas thus, in his Illinois contest
set the people above the Constitution
and violated his own pledges in the Kan
sas. Nebraska act.
Now was presented to the country tn
sad spectacle of cur once valiant cham
pion exerting his entire energies to over
throw the party which had so honore,
him; and, with the flag Of rebellion an,
insure ction in his hand, endeayoring t.
scducc the party from its principles
His friends have not hesitated to aiIiliat
with the Republican party TO compass hi
ends. In Oregon, they united with the
Republicans in the canvass of last yea
and this, and Mr.. Logan, the leading Re
publican of that State, fought the can
vass on the doctrine Of squatter sover.
eighty alone. In New Jersey his friends
Messrs. Adrian and Riggs, were return.
ed to Congress by the votes Of the Re.
publican party, and against the regular
Democratic party. SO with Reynolds,
Haskin, and Clark, in New York with
Hickman and Schwartz in Pennsylvania
with John G. Davis in Indiana. Re-
publicans were returned to Congress over
Democrats by the opposition, and with
the collision Of the friends Of Mr.. Doug
las. Thus was Arnold defeated in Con-
necticut, Hughes and Ray in Indiana,
Taylor and Russell in New York, Phil
lips, Lcidy, ALL, ellis, and Dewart, in
Pennsylvania, Hall and Burns in Ohio,
and Wortendyke in New Jersey. Mr..
Douglas himself, all the while, has vchc-
mently opposed and denounced the De-
mocratic administration in the Senate I:
has refused to be governed by the voice
Of bis party; has warrcd upon all his
Democratic colleagues, with single OK
ccption has voted against them, not
simply on the vexed question Of slavery,
but against their nominations, and has