Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-04-10

WHAT Is DEMOCRACY :

Since the DAYS of John G. Calhoun, slavery
fsnatacism has been fostered by class OF
soutberu politicians, as a means of controlling
the southern mind and of raising themselves
TO power. For many years these men have
ruled the Democratic party, and have used its
organization as a mere machine for advancing
their purposes. When the party nominates
4 northern candidate for the Presidency they
contrive that he shall be a Pierce or Bu-
chanan, whom they can mould and sway a.
they please. Thus having the organization of
the party and the President they calculated,
and very correctly too, that they could con-
trcl the whole party. And their success was
great. When Kansas was to be settled I. was
found to be covered by the time honored Mis-
souri, Compromise, which excluded slavery.
Their first step was to get rid of that compro-
misc. The real purpose was to extend sla-
very but, to make the measure popular at
the North they pretended it was for the pur-
pose of giving the people popular sovereignty
and enabling them to do as they please. 1t
was soon found that q majority of the actual
settlers were against slavery, and would, prob
ably, in the exercise Of popular sovereignty
exclude it. The next step was to prevent
this result and to force slavery upon the peo-
pie in spite of popular sovereignty. This was
attempted by system of invasion from Mis-
souri,, to take possession of the polls on the
day OF election and elect to office the minions
of slavery, whom the people did not y ant. AT
ter they had by such lawless measures succeed
ed In making the odiors pro-slayery Lecomp-
ton constitution, an effort was made to force it
on the people whether they wanted it or not.
The Douglas wing of the Democratic party,
however, opposed the recognition of the Le-
compton constitution, unless it should be fair
ly submitted to vote Of the people; but the
Breckinridge wing we're willing to obey their
Southern masters implicitly, and did all in
their power to sustain and enforce the Le-
compton swIndie. This gave rise to a divi-
sion in the party. The wing who supported
Breckinridge next repudiated popular soyer-
eighty and adopted the doctrine that slave
~ has Constitutional right to go into
al the Territories of the United States
and that neither Congress nor the people OF
the States have right to keep it ont. At the
same time they generally avow that slavery is
q good thing and Divine institution. 1t is
thus, that class Of Northern Democrats be-
came known by the name of doughfaces.
Their southern masters could shape and fash
ion them to their purposes with as much ease
~ il they we're so much dough. When the
demand Was made for the repeal of the Mis-
souri, Compromise, they yielded to the demand
and advocated popular Sovereignty. When
popular sovereignty is TO be violated and the
Leccmpton Constitution forced on an unwil-
ling people, they yield again. When popular
sovereignty is to be abandoned, they yield a.
gain. And when the new doctrine is to be
taught that slavery is excellent and divine,
they yield again. No wonder that the South
ern leaders despise their Northern allies. And
no wonder that with such pliable servants to
befriend them at the north, they imagine that
all the free States may be frightened by South
ern threats and buster. But the day has pas
sed, when traitors at the South, aided by
their plant tools at the north can govern the
country. They have succeeded in bringing
trouble upon the country, and, it may be, ac-
complished the permanent dissolution of the
Union, but they cannot crush the spirit of lib
erty, nor make the free people OF the North
their serfs and vassals.