, 1861-03-15
Democratic Party.

All sensible men agree that Il is necessa-
~ to preserve the Uuion by some honor
able compromise. II is only the Abolition
ists at the North and the Seeessionists at
the South who are disunionists for the sake
Of disunion. The greater portion Of all
parties see that some adjustment must be
had to ensure peace; that every party must
leave its extreme tenents, and advance half
way. The Southern Rights party have
coutended that slavery should not be abol-
ished in the Territories BY Territorial or
Congressional legislation; the Douglas wing
contend that the Territorial Legislature
have absolute power to legislate on the
question, while the Republican doctrines
admit no more Slave States in the Union,
the people Of those incoming States willing
or unwilling. elimination and re-crimina-
,iOu have stood in place Of argument, and
devotion to party leaders substituted for
patriotism.
The North charge that the South have
shaped the administration Of our national
affairs, from the Inauguration Of our con
stitution, while the South deny It and point
10 the fishing bounties given New England
fishermen as q premium on labor and to
the navigation laws, which undoubtedly do
compel the South to pay the North more
for freights than II she were permitted 10
ship her products in foreign bottoms coast
wise.
Neither is right; for while It is impossl-
bic to make all legislation uniformly Just
and equal, so enormous is the extent Of our
eountry--so diversified its local interests,
embracing manufactures, commerce and ag-
riculture Of ell kinds, apparently antago-
nisiical 10 each other at times, nevertheless,
both sections have enjoyed a career Of pros
perity in the accumulation Of property and
increase Of population, such as 20 other
nation has enjoyed; thus refuting these mu-
tual charges, by proving that person and
property have had the most complete pro
lection In both sections So uninterrupted,
indeed, has been our advance, that the
sel6sh1ess Of wealth has obliterated frater-
nal affection, aud il would have been better
for US had We experienced occasionally
some great national aiiictiOn. rendering us
more dependent upon each other.
The legislation Of Congress then, as
prejudicial to States, either North or South,
has not occurred, and the only question Of
moment Is our colonies or Territories. So
Intensely dogmatieal have the opinions and
lprediudices Of the three named parties be-
come, that affirmation pushes aside argu-
meat; and II we are to preserve the Gov
eminent. the subject must be taken out Of
the halls Of Congress and the Territorial
Legislature. There are two ways Of doing
this, either Of which the democracy will
agree to. The Hrst, known as the Critten-
den Compromise, which draws a line Of s6o
3o', prohibits slavery North, and protects
sooth Of this line, until the admission Of
each division as a State, when the inhabit-
ants- are to form their Institutions as they
mayleleet The second plan is more near.
y expressed BY the proposition Of Senator
Rice, which Obliteraies all Territorial or.
ganizaiions and allows them sovereign pow
sr By this measure we would be attached
20 Oregon. These, then, are the principles
and platform Of the democratic party, to-
day, an honorable compromise, that will re-
move this vexed question from Congression-
al and Territorial Halls. as the only means
Of saving the Union.
: The other questions 10 dispute are Of
minor Importance, and their settlement can
be easily had BY an adherence to the Con.
stituiion as Il is