Daily national Democrat., 1861-02-14

Noticing that the Democrat expressed IT'S
determination TO pursue a straightforward
Democratic course in future, we were ANXIOUS
to know What it now considers Democracy,
that we might have some assurance OF ihe
course which il is its present intention to pni
sue. We. therefore, made the inquiry; ana
asked if il still endorsed the Cincinnati or
Observation-Disclosures platform. We are
pleased TO observe that the editor has an
swcrcd our intcrogatory frankly and candid
w. He says
"Of course, we still endorse the Cincinnati
or Chnrleston-B Baltimore platform why
should we not? The question appears 10 Us
rather pointless."
We see no reason why you should not en-
doisc the Cincinnati platform, nelghbor on
the contrary, we think you onght; but az
though the question proponnded toy us may
appear TO you to be rather polntle5s, we
think that we will be able 30 show you, be-
fore we get through, that there IS point to
il, and a very sharp one at that-ETPfeSS
The Express then goes on with column
and a quarter Of editorial to make its point
And what is the point? Why, that the Gin
einnati Platform has been endorsed by us.
and contains the following clause:
That the Democratic party will faithfully
abide by and uphold the principles laid
down in Che Kentucky and Virginia Resolu-
tions of 1896, and in the report of Mr. Madi-
son TO the Virginia Legislature, in 1899 !;
that it adopts these princil les as constituting
one of the main foundations of its political
creed, and is resolved to carry them out in
/ their obvious meaning and import.
The Resolutions and Report alluded to in
the above clause, the Express contends, alto
gether contradict our position on Secession,
Modification and coercion. They enunciate
the doctrine as the Express thinks, that this
il a Government of States, and not IA Govern
mcnt Of the people, and that is no pow
cr of coercion in the Federal Government
IT. is sufficient answer to this, TO say that
Thomas jefferson, who had hand in draw
ing up the Kentucky Resolutions, and whC
endorsed them, altogether repudiated the
construction given them by those who inter
prcted them in his day as the Express inter
prets them now; and that Mr.. Madison, WHIT
made the Report to the Virginia Legislature
repeatedly afterwards asserted the doctrine
of the supremacy ofthe Federal Government
and denied in toto the right Of notification
or secession. If such was the Interpretation
given these Resolutions by the prime mover
in them we think we shall not be worrie,
much by any paints that the Express cal
make against us on account of our endorse
ment of the Cincinnati Platform.
Niger STEALERs.-Z Montgomery ac
cused, in his speech on Monday, the North
ern people, repeatedly, of Stealing niggers
The expression is pointed and calculated t.
make an impression, but is it a correct use Q
terms? When men steal, they steal for prot
it. Is harboring fugitive slaves stealing them
and, lift is, do the harborers gain anyhin!
pccunialily? A "nigger-stealcr" ought to b
a man who steals a Niger and sells him, put
ting the money in his pocket.
1t is small matter, but then it is wei
enough, these days, to use terms which mea
something The Abolitionists are wrong
they are treasonable; they aye fanatical. Bn
are they "ngger-stealers We think not
Along the borders of Missouri and Arkansa.
there are men who make practice Of kid
mapping negroes and selling them dow
South. These men are Niger stealers. The
make their living by stealing niggers al,
sometimes rhoses.
CONTRA CosrA CoAL.-The steamer John I
Wright, for the last week, has been burnin
coal brought from the lately discovered mine
in Contra Costa county, near Mt Diablo
is a light flaky substance and crumbles easily
burns rapidly and leaves but little residu
and no clinkers-turning to ashes. For in
land steamboats,, hotels, factories and mills, i
is undoubtedly an excellent article of fuel
IneXhaustible supplies can be obtained from