Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-04-11
Pnocn EssIvE Dem oCRACY.

PROGR EsslVE DEM OCRACY.
Il would perhaps be profitable, under the
above heading, to review the vascillatlng
course of the Democratic party for the past
twenty years upon the question OF Slavery,
and sAow that that party has occupied oil
positions upon that question, without ad-
herring very long to any. We might show
that Il was in power in 1920, both in the
executive and legislative departments, when
the Missouri Compromise line was establish
ed; and the doctrine, not only Of the right,
but of the duty Of Congress to interfere to
prevent the extension Of Slavery, clearly
proclaimed. We might show that on six
different occasions, since that time, in the
cstabEshmcnt Of Territorial Governments for
Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and
Wisconsin, and on the admission Of Texas
into the Union, tho Democratic party,
being. In the ascendency on all Of these oc-
caaions, the same doctrine was clearly enun-
ciatcd md established. We might go further,
and show that this party in ls4s went still
further, and in Conventions all over the
Northern States resolved that they would
not only use all power clearly given by the
Constitution to prevent tho extension Of
Slavery, but that they would use the same
power 70 mitigate, d finally ERADICATE The
eril. We might follow that party through
its changes from Congressional prevention
Of the spread Of Slavery, to the doctrine Of
Squaztsr Sovereignty; from the abandon
mens u Squatter Sovereignty to the ad-
vooacy Of Constitutional protection for Slave
~ in ths Territories but these were vascil-
laticus Asld changes In the doctrines Of that
pssty thst effected but little the peace,
ths. s.ti1l; - prosperity Of Tho country, for
undsf " ef thsm the country has zone On
inessasing IN population, In industry, in
~ealtA snd IN n'srestncas. But We propose
10 Gall a. attention Of our readers to tho
prosrssnisns of that party Of more recent
daAs, tkat moro vihlly affect the present
psaes end aature existence Of our country
and In doing 20 wo shall attempt to divcst
sursslf Of prejudice and state candidly the
faots II relation thereto, as wc find them
matter Of record.
In 1850 we knd tho Democratic party in
Convention at Charleston, to nominate can
diaatss for President and Vice President =
The party splih upon the question Of Slave
nj the Squatter Sovereignty element re-
fdsing to comply with the demands Of the
Slave Code protectionists, the Convention
divides, and sdjourns to moet at Baltimore
and Richmond. The Baltimore Convention
u,esis and nominatea the chicf Of the Squat
tar q its candidate, and to satisfy the
Southern element, agrees to the doctrine Of
''6upssns Court protection" The Rich.
mcnd Convention meets, and, not satisfied
With "Suprsme Court protection" they
make thar platform and nominate their
candidates. This far their action is lcgiti-
msis. They had a right to mako what
plasforms they pleased; they had right to
% into the contest for President with can
di1AAsaof their own choice, and make use
Of Ill tho honest arguments and effortsthe
intsuuily ecdid invent to procure their sue
csas, but further than this they had no right
togo. ~ "a
Thsy fought tho contest Of 1860 as no
contest had ever boon fought before tho
months eftheir orators, tho columns Of their
papes wore Alled with misrepresentation Of
Shn nrincinlas and purposes of the Republi-