The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-05-16
Ineipient Treason at the North-..Re-
YiYal of the Democratic Party.


since, in the city of Washington, 70 devise,
if possible, a plan for the revival OF the
Democratic party. We now know, from the
character and declarations of tho men who
composed that caucus, tho meeting of which
has boon acknowledged by its leading spirit,
G.. l.. Vallandigham, on the floor of the
House, that it was not moro conference
meeting of old party associates, inteut on
restoring the unity and promoting the vel.
faro of the Republic, but part Of deep.
laid and dangerous plot for the re establish.
mont of tho lost supremacy of tho Slave
Power. Those Republican Unionists who
foudly dreamed, six months ago, that
no Disturbing political questions would
arse at tho North, during the progress of
the war, are to be undeceived by those
sympathizers with treason, and should pre-
pare for the worst as speedily as possible
Being forowarned, It will be their own fault
if they are not forearmed also.
We have before us the platform of that
secret caucus, in the form of an address Of
fourteen Democratic Members of Congress
"to the Democracy of the Uuitod States -
1t is most remarkable document, and de-
serves thoughtful consideration. 1t begins
with few generalites upon the necessity of
maintaining party organization in order to
preserve public liberty, ard upon the an
ciont principles OF the Democratic party.
as embodied in its platform and the first in.
augural OF President Jefferson, all of which
have been set at naught by the men who
controlled its policy for years previous to
its final defeat in 1860, and who are now
seeking to revive it, 1t then asks the ques.
tion, lis tho POLICY of the Democratic party
wrong, that it should be abandoned :" and
answers it thus:
ats policy is consistent with lis principles,
and may be summed up, from the beginning.
as follows The support of liberty as against
pOver; OF tho people as against their agents
aud servants; and of State rights as against
consolidation aud centralized despOIism ; u
simple Government; no public debt; low
taxes; no high protective tariff; no general
system of informal improvements by Federal
authority no National Bank hard money
for tho Federal public dues; no assumption
of State debts expansion OF territory selt-
government for the Territories subject onl y
10 the Constitution tho absolute compati.
blity of Union Of tho States part Slave
aud part free tho admission Of new States.
with or without Slavery, as they may elect |;
non-intcrference by tho Federal Govern
ment with Slavery IN State and Territory.
or in tho District of Columbia and. finally y,
f,. 4, ;.. hn tfn -.
1856, and reaflirmed in 1860, absolute and
eternal 'ropudation of ALL SECTIONAL PAR.
TIES AND PLATFORMS concerning domestic
Slavery which seek to embroil the States,
and incte to treason and armed resistance
10 law in the Territories, and ,chose apo,oed
purposes. If consummated, must end in CIVIL
WAR AND DIsUNIoN.'
Such was the ancient and tho recent policy
Of The Democratic party, running through a
period of sixty years, policy consistent with
the principles OF the Constitution, and nb.
Bolutelv essential to the preservation Of the
Union"
The authors of this address rely now, as
heretofore, upon the charm of the name
Democracy, and the strength of party tradi-
tions, watchwords and projudices. They
know full well that the issues which divided
parties a few years ago, whatever vitality
they may havo once possessed, have become
obsolete, and can never be revived until the
authority Of the Government shall bo rocog-
nzed in all the States; and yet thoy hope
through the power of party organization
md the inhueuce of partisan appeals, to
induce the Democracy of the North agar
60 follow their leadership, whilo they do
livor the Government over to the control Of
tho men who are now in arms against it,
That is the meaning, and tho only
meaning, of tho above extract. What
have loyal mon--Democrats or Rcpub.
licans--to do with tho questions of State
rights, simple Government, no public debt,
low taxes, no high protective tariff. no gen,
oral systom of internal improvements by
Federal authority, no National Bank. hard
money for the public dues, &c, while thi,
mighty contest for National existence /.
raging? Upon tho only questions OF vitalit,
presented by tho authors of this address
atbey are with the South, and to be with tn,
South in this crisis. under any pretence, i
10 givo aid and comfort to tho enemy -
What do thoy mean by expansion OF terri
tory but expansion of slave territory d,
they hope, with restored Union, to ado
Cuba to tho nu mber of Slave States, to in
demnify their Southern brethren for th,
losses they have sustained, by reason
Of their internal Rebellion What ar,
we to understand by self'governmon
for tho Territories, but the right o
the Shareholders to take thoir slaves int
them, and bold them thoro as property
any law that may be enacted by Congress
TO tho contrary notwithstanding WhC
ever heard of any other kind of selfgovern
ment being claimed for the Territories
What a burning shame to those fourteen
Democratic Members of Congress, aud wha
an insult to the loyal mon of the North, Il
affirm, 10 tho face of this Shareholders Re
bellion, "tho absolute compatibility of
Union OF the States, part slave and par
freor Is any man so dull as not to per
ceiye their sympathios and object, when, a
this late day, they speak Of "the admission
of new States, with or without Slavery, a
,ha. n,ay alazt :" oF 0non In Ia IN ~ III,