Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-05-20
ADDRESS
OF THE
Democratic Members Of Congress
TO THE
People Ofthe United States.
Special Dispatch to The Chicago rlms,.

nois, have issued the following address to
the Democracy Of the United States. Its
regarded here as of great importance, as
fOreshadowing and indicating future polit,
zeal movements affecting the whole couu-
try.
The recent passage Of the bill abolishiny
slavery in the District of Columbia the
probable passage of ultra and fanatical
confscativn and emancipation bills; the
action the House, to-day, In applying
the Wilmot proviso to every acre Of land
under the control Of the Federal Govern
meDt,-these, and other signs, signisying
that hereafter the whole strength aud pow.
er of the Administration will be applied
to crushing out the rights of portion of
the people of the country, and promoting
the schemes of ultra abolition agitators,
have induced the publication of this ad-
dress:
The perilous condition Of our country
demands that we should reason together
Party organization. restricted within prom
er limits, is a positive good, and indeed es.
sential to the preservation of public liber-
ty. Without it the best government would
soon degenerate into the worst of tyran-
MES. 10 despotisms the chief use of power
is in crushing out party opposition. In
our own country the experience of the last
twelve months proves, more than any les
son in history, the necessity of party or
ganization. The present administration
was chosen by party, and in all civil acts
and appointments has recognized, and still
does, ITS fealty and obligations to that par
ty. There must and will be an opposition.
The public safety and coed demand it
Shall 1t be new organization or an old
Onef The Democratic party was founded
more than sixty years ago. 1t has never
boen disbanded. To,day it numbers one
million five hundred thousand electors in
the States still loyal to the Union. Its re-
cent numerous victories in municipal cleo
tons in the Western and Middle States
prove it's vitality. Within the last ten
months it has held State conventions and
nominated full democratic tickets in every
free State in tue Union. OF no other party
opposed to the republicans can the same be
said.
SHALL THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Re NOW DIS
BANDED?
Why should it? Are it's ancient princi-
pies wrong? What are they? Let its
platforms for thirty years sneak:
''ReSOlred, That the American Democ
racy place their trust in the intelligence,
the patriotism, and the discriminating JUS
tice Of the American people.
THAT we regard this as distinctive
feature in our political creed, which we are
proud to maintain before the world, as the
great moral element in the form of govern.
ment springing from and upheld by the
popular will and we contrast it with the
creed and practice of federalism pnhar
whatever name or form. which seeks 10
palsy the will of the constituent, and which
conceives no imposture too monstrous fer
the popular credulity.
That the Federal government is one OF
limited power, derived solely from the con-
stitution and the grants Of power made
therein ought to be strictly construed by
all the departments and agents of the gov
eminent; and that it is inexpedient anC
dangerous to exercise doubtful constitu
tIonal powers"
And as explanatory of these the follow
ing from Mr.. Jefferson's frst inaugural:
The support OF the State government il
all their rights as the most competent ad
ministrations of our domestic concerns anC
the surest bulwarks against anti-republicar
tendencies.
1.-The preservation of the general gov
eminent in its whole constitutional vigor al
/ the sheet anchor of our peace at home auC
( safety abroad.
"a jealous care Of the right of election
by the people.
THE supremacy of the civil over th
military authority.
Economy in the public expense, tina
labor may be lightly burdened
1.-The honest payment of our debts ant
sacred preservation of the public faith
Freedom of religion, freedom of tn
press, and freedom of persons under pro-
lection Of the habeas corpus and trial b,
| juries impartially selected"
Such, Democrats, are the principles O
| your party, essential to public liberty ant
to the stability and wise administration O
the government, alike 10 peace and war;
They are the principles upon which tn
constitution aud Uaion were founded: and
under the control Of party which adhere
| to them. the constitution would be main.
tanned and the Union could not be dissolv
ed.
is THE POLICY OF TUE DEMOCRATIC PART
WRONG, THAT 1T SHOULD BE DIsBANDED?
Its policy is consistent with it's princi
Piles, and mag be summed up, from the be
ginning, as follows:
The support Of liberty as against power
of the people as against their agents an
servants; and of State rights as agaiIs
consolidation and centralized despotism
simple government; no public debt 10,
taxes no protective tariff; no general sys
TEN of internal improvements by Fedt IA
authority no National Bank hard none
for the Federal public dues no sssumptio
of State debts; expansion Of territ, rs
sci! government for the Territories. sulieC
only to the constitution the absolute CON
patibility of Union Of the States, "par
slave and part free :" the admission Of re-
States, with or without slavery, as the
NAV elect nom interference by the Feeders
government with slavery in the State an
Territory or 10 the District Of Columbia
and, finally, as set forth in the Cincinna
platform in 1856, and re affirmed in 1861
absolute and eteI nal "repudiati0n Of a
sectional parties aud platforms cOncernin
domestic slavery, which seek to embroil IL
States and incite to treason ard armed re
sistance TO law in the Territories, az,
iotOse dcOTed puTpOsee, If consunlmdte,
must end ia civil war and disuoiun."
Such, Democrats, was the ancient an
the recent policy of the democratic part
running through period Of Sky years
policy consistent with the principle Of Il
constitution, and absolutely essential to Il
preservation of the Union.
DOES THE HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PART
PROVE THAT 1T OUGHT TO BE ABANDONED
by their fruits shall We know them
Sectional parties do not achieve Union TT
umphs. For sixty years from the inaugU
ration of Jefferson, on the 4th Of Marc
1901, the Democratic party, with short il
r tervals. controlled the power and the polit
of the Federal government. For forty
eight years out Of these sixty. democrat
men ruled the country for tiftv four yea
and eight months the democratic par
prevailed. During this period Louisian
Florida, Texas, New Mexico aud Califo
MIA were successfully annexed to our ter