Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-01-12


which we transfer in the main to our
columns and recommend to the calm
consideration Of all First, then, it is
admitted by everybody that the Union
Il in danger Of aspeedy and inevitable
dissolution. WHY is il in danger -
Simply because the Black Republican
party demands congresslona! legislation
against the institution Of negro slavery,
while the radical and unreasonable men
Of the South demand congressional leg
islation in favor Of slavery. 1t is the
fight Of these two extremes that endan-
gers the Union. As q Democrat, We
Are opposed to both extremes-ve are
opposed to any legislation, Ivy Congress
for or against slavery in the Territories
or States. Yes, such is our love for the
Union, and SO great is our desire to see
IT preserved, that we stand ready to-day
to give up our platform or principle up
on this subject, if it will contribute to
the preservation Of the Union. With
US the Union stands above party. Sat
isfy us that it will preserve the Union
to enact laws in Congress against slavery
in the Territories, and that it can be
preserved in no other way, aud We are
for it. Or, satisfy us that it will pre-
serve the Union to enact laws in Con-
gress in fauor of slavesy in the Terrific
ries, and that it can be preserved in no
other way, and we are for that. We
are for anything that can be done peace
fully to preserve the Union, and it can
be preserved in no other way but peace
fully. 1t dosen't matter if we have to
give up every principle that we have
ever advocated AS a Democrat, on the
slavery questlon-if that be necessary
to preserve the Union, We are ready to
give them all up. And such, we be-
lieve, is the patriotic sentiment of every
Democrat in the Union. How is it with
the Republicans 2 Can they say as
much Dare they say it! Or do they
love their party more than they love
the Umonl
The following propositions are sub
mtted for the consideration Of all and
the Republican press IN particular
The Union must be preserved.
Peaccablc measures alone can pre-
serve it.
War by one section upon another
renders dlsunon certain.
Those who advocate war, therefore,
advocate disunion.
The Constitution must be maintained
inyiolate.
Every aggressive anti-slavcry measure
proposed by the Republican party vio-
latcs the Constitution.
With the Constitution broken down,
the Union cannot possibly be preserved.
Those who thus violate and break
down the Constltutign are therefore op-
posed to preserving the Union.
The Democrats are true patriots, as
the history of the Democratic party has
proven
No Democrat can or will aid any par
tv in sustaining measures that violate
the Constitution.
Therefore, no Democrat will counte-
nance or support the aggressive anti
slavery measures of the Republican par
ty.
The Union was formed by mutual
concessions and compromise.
1t cannot be preserved unless the
same spirit of concession and compro-
mise in which it WAS formed shall con-
tlDue to exist.
The Republicans fatty refuse to make
any concessions or to sustain any CON-
promise.
The Republicans are therefore OPP
posed to the continued existence Of the
Union az our fathers made it.
These propositions we submit for con-
troversy or refutation from any quarter,
and invite from those who affect to doubt
or deny their truth, and attempt to re-
flute them. We are Union man from
the ground up. We believe the Union
can be preserved, and will be, If the
Black Republicans desire ii. They can
contribute to its preservation by giving
up, abandoning their aggressive meas
ures against the South. They cannot
preserve it by making war, either in
Congress or sending down armies with
cannot and bayonets against the South.
Let the Republicans abandon their
threats of coercion and war against the
South, and concede to the border slave
States all their just and reasonable de-
mands, and the Union is safe. Let
them support the amendments to the
Constitution proposed by Crittenden,
and they will keep the border slave
States In the Union, and keep them at.
"a