Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-16
State Democratic Exc :utivo Com
TIE DEMOCRA!IC ADDRESS.
1t is generally known to the people

ThE uEMOCRA:I ADDRESS.
1t is generally known to the people
at large by this time that certain mem
bers Of Congress fourteen in number
have issued a sort OF semi authoritative
address to the Democracy Of the United
States, which we presume ia intended by
the trainers to be adopted into general
use by the Democratic Conventions Of
the ditferentStates and counties from this
time henceforth, until members Of Con-
press shall see fit to issue another one OF
the same sort. Without questioning the
democ acy Of a sentence OF this address;
without having anything whatever to
cay of its subject matter, we assume
that It is not the province Of memters
Of Congress to lay down platforms for
the people to stand upon; but to the
contrary quite--it is for the people to
prepare and promulge their own plat
form; especially, it is not the province
Of fourteen members to do SO. We
have in Congress to-day fify-fvc Dem.
ocratic members, and bes des that thir.
ty.one Unlonist members, who are
nearly always found working with the
Democratic members in opposition to
the fanatical schemes Of the Abolition
wing; is it not little strange that out
Of the eighty six members to whose
hearts the Union and the Constitution
is as precious as their own blood, only
fourteen could be found who wonld
subscribe to the address? Why is this
fellow members oithc Democratic pres.
why this great disparity? If mem
bcrs of Congress we're clothed with The
right 10 furnish platforms, it would seem
proper that at least bare M jo,ity, OF
perhaps one-third Of their number should
be agreed upon any given limo Of policy
before it is given out to the people. We
confess that we cannot see the Democ.
racy of this movement. Let us be per.
mitcd TO say that we are not among
those who favor the issuance Of Goa
gressional platforms, aud We shall be
among the very last to advocate their
propriety. We have seen the workings
Of the Congressional platform policy
o0ce at least we do not Gaze TO see i,
again. The memory of the Congress.
!onal dictation at Charleston and n,
baltimore should he sufficient to satist,
any reasonably Inclined people tia. the
ere TO be avoided 1t rcmains with til,
Democratic Masses the sovereigns-tt
frame platforms-csc our Government
Is lie. Itremains with the Demccra
G, OF Iowa to frame its owu platform
aaj it is their boundcn duty to d. it
even though they can obtain ono ready
ma!e right from Washington, mucl
cheager. The people ask no dozen O.
men outside ofthcir State or inside of,
y assume the right OF getting up creeds
for them. 1t is the duty of Congressman
to make laws for the country, not to
frame political creeds for political par.
tes. We endorse no such action.
1t may be we'll in this connection to
quote the sentiments of the ALBANY IT.
tas and Aryas, one of the stannchest
Democratic papers Of the day, upon this
vey matter. 1t takes the following
sold grounds
The address which VIC publish in our
columns to-day,signed by fourteen mem.
bsis OF Congress, will strike the De.
MocrAcy Of the Union with surprise.
less on account Of any positions i. pre-
se.'s' tnan by the absence OF signatures.
thetc are ID Democrats and 5 Uoion.
lists in the Senate; and AZ Democrat,
an" 20 on'on','s In the House. Scna.
Tor Carlisle aud others, called Up;on;.ts
a''ended the Democratic consultation
and were. We understand, prepared 10
s'gn an address calling upon the Nonse,.
rasire electors to rally to the support =,
The Constitution.
We have never favored the set,;no ~
Of Congressional platforms tor nat,
government. The Democracy Of N. -
York have always opp, sed THIS assump
ton. They have not found anything II
the recent experience Of such interyen
tons to encourage them. The memor,
Of the attempts Of the Senatorial Cabs
which conspireo against Douglas, to d c
late q platform to the Charleston ant
baltimore Conventions, is get too fresh
They prefer to let the Democracy b,
heard through National and State Con
ventions.
WHArs rae MATTER w1ru MuscA11Nr,
Glover sells State Bank currency Of the