The Placer herald., 1862-06-21
ADDRESS
Democratic Members Of Congress to the
Democracy of the United States.
OF TIL

Democratic Members of Congress to the
Democracy Of the United States.
FELLOW CITIZENS: = The perilous condition of
our country demands that we should reason to-
geth. Party organization, restricted within pro-
per limits, is positive good, and indeed essen
tial to the preservation of public liberty. With
out it the best government would soon degene-
rate into the worst Of tyrannies. In 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
lesson in history, the necessity Of party organi-
zation. The present Administration was chosen
by party, and in all civil acts and appointments
has recognized, and still does, its fealty and obli
cations to that party. There must and will be
an opposition. The public safety and good de-
mand it. Shall it be a new organization or an
old one? The Democratic party was founded
more than sixty years ago. 1t has never been
disbanded. To-day it numbers 1900, 900 electors
in the States still loyal to the Union Its recent
numerous victories in municipal elections in the
Western and Middle States prove its Vitality
Within the last ten months it has called State
Conventions and nominated full Democratic tick
cts in every free State in the Union. or no
other party opposed to the Republicans can the
same be said.
Shall the Democratic party be now disbanded?
Why should it? Are its ancient principles wrong?
What are they? Let it's platforms for thirty years
speak:
Resolved. Thlt the American Democracy place
their trust in the intelligence, the patriotism, and
the discriminating justice of the American peo-
pie.
Resoiced. That we regard this rs distinctive
feature in our political creed, which we are
proud to maintain before the world rs the great
moral element in form of Government spring
ing from and upheld by the popular will; and we
contrast it with the creed and practice OF Fede-
ralism under whatsoever name or form, which
seeks to palsy the will of the constituent, and
which conceives no imposture too monstrous for
the popular credulity.
Res0Ived That the Federal Government is one
of limited power, derived solely from the Con-
stitution; and the grants of power made therein
ght to be strictly construed ny all the depart
ments and agents of the Government; and
that ii is ineXpedent and dangerous to eXer-
else doubtful constitutional powers.
And as explanatory Of these the following
from Jelfersons first Inaugural:
The support of the State Governments in all
their rights as the most competent atlminisra-
,ion of our domestic concerns and the surest bull
warkS against anti-republican tendencies.
The preservation OF the General Government
in its whole constitutional vigor as the sheet
anchor OF our peace ut home and safety abroad.
A jealous care Of the right Of election by the
people.
The supremacy of the civil over the military
authority.
Economy in the public expense, that labor may
he lightly burdened.
The honcst payment of our debts aud sacred
pres, rvation of the public faith.
Freedom of religion, freedom Of the press, and
freedom of persons under protection OF habeas
corpus and trial by urics imparially secured.
Such. Democrats, are the principles of your
party. essential to public liberty and to the stabl-
iy and wise administration Of the Government
alike in peace and war. They are the principles
upon which the Constitution and the Union were
founded: aud under the control of party which
adhercs to them. the Constitution would be mIn
tanned and the Union could not be dissolved.
l. the policy of the Democratic party wrong.
that it should be dsbanded?
Its policy is consistent with the principles, and
may be summed up, from the beginning us fol-
lows: The support of liberty rs against power;
of the people as against their agents and servants;
and Of State rights as against consolidation and
centralized despoism; a simple Government; no
public debt; low taxes; no high protective tariff;
no general system of internal Improvements by
Federal authority; no national bank hard money
for the Federal public dues; no assumption of
State debts; expansion of territory; self-govern-
mcnt for the Territories subject only TO the Cons
ststutivn; the absolute compatibility of a Union
Of the States part free and part slave;' the ad.
mission of new States with or without slavery,
US they may elect nOn-interfcrence by the Fede-
raj Government with slavery in State or Terrific
ry, or in the District Of Columbia and finally as
SeG IOTCl Ill tuc luuutl pluGIOTul Ill IOoO,
reahirmed in 1860, absolute and eternal "repudi-
alton of all sectional parties and platforms con-
cerning domestic slavery, which seek to embroll
the States and incite to treason and armed resist
ance to law in the Territories, and whose avowed
purposes if consummated, must end in civil war
and disuniOn."
Such was the ancient and recent policy of the
Democratic party running through period of
| sixty years. Il policy consistent with the princi-
Piles OF the Constitution. and absolutely essential
to the preservation Of the Union.
Does the history of the Demobratic party prove
that it ought to he abandoned? "By their fruits
ye shall know them" Sectional parties do not
achieve Union triumphs. For sixty years. from
the Inauguration of Jefferson, on the 4th of March
1901, the Democratic party, with short intervals
controlled the policy Of the Federal Government
For forty-eight years out of these sixty, Demo-
cratic ruled the country; for fifty;four years
and eight months the Democratic policy prevail
ed. During this period, Louisiana. Florida, Call
fornia and New Mexico were successfully annex
ed to our territory, with an twice as large as
all the original thirteen States together. Eight
new States were admitted under strictly Demo-
cratic Administrations-one under the Admins
tration of Fillmore. From five millions, the pop
ulation increased to thirty one millions. The
Revolutionary debt was eXtinguished. Two for
eign wars were successfully prosecuted, with
moderate outlay and Il small Army and Navy, and
without the suspension of the habeas corpus;
without one nfraction of the Constitution; with
out one usurpaton of power; without suppress
ing single newspaper; without imprisoning
single editor; without limit to the freedom of
the press or of speech, in or out of Congress,
but in the midst of the grossest abuse OF both;
and without the arrest of single traitor,' al-
though the Hartford Convention sat during one
of the wars, and in the other Senators invited
the enemy to 'greet our volunteers with bloody
hands and welcome them to hospitable graves"
During all the time wealth increased, business
of all kinds multiplied prosperity smiled on
every side taxes were low, wages were high, the
North and Soath furnished a market for each
others products at good prices; public liberty
was secure, private rights undsturbed; every