The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-02-02
Al ApOstate Party.


The apostacy Of the Democratic party is not
mere defamation it is a fact as capable of dem
onstration, as any which has occurred in the
history of this country. The Democratic party
has completely changed its princpes-nO long
er bears any similarity to those enunciated by
Jefferson and his followers, and now relies on
the potency of the name, having discarded tho
substance. The Democratic party had its origin
chiefly, in the conflict which sprung up in the
early history of our country between the indi-
vidual States and the Federal Government. The
encroachment of the latter on the rights of the
States, gave rise to apprehensions Of evil conse-
quences Jefferson foresaw the dangers to our
free institutions, to follow from the centraliza
ton Of power, and warned the people against it.
At that period the Federalists occupied the DO
sition now taken by the modern Democracy in
respect to state rights The concentration of
power in the hands of the national government.
and the subserviency of the State courts to the
u Supreme Court, were the objects sought by
the old Federal party to the intent of forming
strong consolidated government This is pre-
cisely the attitude now assumed by the present
20 called Democratic party only the mode, DE
mocracy in addition to this, assume to nation
alize slavery Il manner never dreamed of BY
the old Federalists.
There is not a platform of principles which
has been adopted by the Democratic party, in
National, State or County conventions, north of
Mason and Dixon's line, during the last thirty
years, which would answer the party now. The
Democratic party in this State would not dare 70
ayow the principles it did few years ago even
the platform adopted in its State convention last
year, is entirely unsuted to its present position.
Only few years since, the party exalted the
rights of man over the privileges Of property,
holding that the rights of man were inalianabie.
and the privileges ofproperty only conventional.
But now the Democracy ignores the inalienabili-
ty of personal rights, and is chiefly intent on Sc
curing universal recognition of property in hu-
man beings The doctrine that all men are Gre
ated equal and that the chief end of good gov
eminent, is to protect all in the enjoyment Of
liberty and the pursuit of happiness, has ceased
to be respected by the party. The Democratic
party now practically teaches that one of the pri
mary objects Of our government, is to protect chat
tel slavery to plant it in the Territories to hunt
capture, and return to its owners, such of this
property as may choose to use its powers Ct To-
:omotoh, in the direction of enjoying the inal-
ienable right to pursue happiness Thomas JEFF
ferson declared that "the American Constitution
is based upon Liberty and the rights of man,
these being its chief corner stones" Now, slav
cry is declared the corner stone of the Repub.
ic, and invested with national rights while
liberty is only sectional, aud has no rights sepa
rate from slavery under the Constitution, except |
such as may be conferred upon it by local legis-
lation. This position ofthe Democracy has been |
boldly assumed on the floor of Congress during |
the present session; and strange as it may APP |
pear, it meets with scarcely any dissent from the
hundreds of northern Democratic presses, which
only little time ago, were loud in their denials
Of the nationality of slavery. Only few days
since, Senator Green of Missouri a Democratic
leader, declared that slavery was national and
freedom sectional that freedom was restricted to
the northern States, while slavery extended all
over the Territorial domain ofour country las well
as over the fifteen sovereign States of the south
This defamation Of Senator Green, it appears
from the reports of Congressional proceedings,
was received with applause on the Democratic
side of the House.
But the evidences that the Democratic party
has apostatzed from all the fundamental princi
pies it once maintained, are too numerous to be
recited here; the statement admits of no denial
the declarations of its newspaper presses, the
resolutions Of its conventions the speeches of its
former prominent leaders, as well as many of its
present standard bearers its recorded votes in
Congress and in Legislative bodies, overwhelm.
ingly establish its abandonment of its once cher>
ished doctrines The national Democratic party
has become as essentially pro slavery,as the most
ardent slavery extensonists of the South can de-
sire it seconds the efforts and enters heartily in
to the designs Of the southern slave breeders
It is to-day the willing instrument to do the bid
ding of the South. Whoever has attentivey read
the proceedings at Washington since the meet
ing of Congress, must come to this conclusion.
Slavery extension; Slave codes for the Terrific
ries; Dissolution of the Union if President not
committed to slavery is not elected in the next
election, are now the openly avowed purposes OF
the Democratic leaders in Congress