The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-17
ADDRESS
or the Democratic Meeting OF Congress
to the Democracy Of the u. :.

or the Democratic Meeting Of Congress
to the Democracy Of the U. :.
The following address, issued on Wed
resday Of last week, is signed by all the
democratic members of Congress from the
free and border slave States
The recent passage of the bill abolishin 9
slavery in the District of Columbia the
probable passage of ultra and fanatical
confscation and emancipation bills the
acton of the House TO dsy, in applying
the Wilmot proqiso to every acre of land
Under the controle of the Federal govern.
meDt-these, aud other signs. signifying
that hereafter the whole strength and
power OF the administration will be applied
to crushing out tho rights of a portion OF
the people of the country, ana prolna..-s
the schemes of the ultra abolition agita-
tors, have induced the publication of this
address
The perilous condition Of our country
demands that we should reason together
Party organization, restricted within prop
er limits, is a positive good, and inde.. /
essential to the preservation OF public Hb-
ertv. without it the best government
would soon degenerate into the world OF
tyrannies In uespotisms 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
organization. The present administration
was chosen by party, and in all civ.l acts
and appointments has recognized, and
still does. its cealty and obligations to that
party. There must and will be an opposi-
ton. The public salty and good demand
II. Shall II be 4 new organization or an
old one? The democratic party was found
ed more than sixty years ago. 1t has
never been disbanded To day it numbers
one million five hundred thousand electors
in the States still loyal to the Union. Its
recent numerous victories in municipal
election in the western and middle States
prove its vitality Within the last ten
months it has held State conventions and
and nominated full democratic tickets in
every free State in the Union OF no
other party opposed to the republicans
can the same be said.
SHALL. THE DEMOCRATIC PAETY BE VOW DIS.
BANDED? ..
Why should it? Are its ancient PRiS.
cipLEs wrong? What are they? Let its
platforms for thirty years speak:
Resoleed, That the American demo
crazy place their trust in the intelligen ce,
the patriotism, and the discriminating
justice of the American people.
That we regard this as distinctive
feature in our political creed, which we
are proud to maintain before the world rs
the great moral element in the form of
government springing from aud upheld by
the POPULAR WILL; and we contrast it with
the creed and practice of federalism, un-
der whatever name or form, which seeks
to palsy the will of the constituent, and
which conceivcs no imposture too mon
strous for the popular credulity.
THAT the FederaI government is one
of limited power, derived solely from the
and the grants of power
made therein ought to be strictly construed
by all the departments and agents of the
government; and that it is inexpedient
and dangerous to exercise doubtful consti-
tutiOnai powers"
And at explanatory of these the follow
ing from Mr.. Jeiferson's first inaugural:
The support OF the STATE GOVERNMENTS
in all their rights as the most competent
of our domestic concerns
and the surest bulwarks against intirepub-
lican tendencies.
The preservation of the GENERAL Gov
ERNMENT in its whole constitutional vigor
rs iH' SncctauCuoT VI OUT peace dt AOluc
ar d safety abroad.
"A jelous care of the right of election
by the people.
"THE SUPREMACY or THE CIVIL OVER THE
AUTHORITY.
Economy in the public expenses, that
labor may be lightly burdened.
The honest payment of our debts and
sacred preservation of the public faith.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION, FREEDOM OF THE
PRESS, AND FREEDOM OF PERSON UNDER PRO- |
LECTION OE THE HABEAs CORPUS AND TRIAL BY
JURIEs IMPARTIAL1.Y SELECTED.
Such democrats, are the principle of
your party, essential to public liberty and
to the stability and wise administration of
the government, alike in peace and war
They are the principles upon which the
constitution and Union were founded |
and. under the control of party which |
adheres to them, the constitution would |
be maintained and the Union could not
be dissolved. Il
Is THE POLICY OF THE DENocRATIc PARTY |
WRONG, THAT It snoULD BE DIsBAEDEn'
Its policy is consistent with lis piinci- |
pies, and may be summed up, from the |
beginning, as follows: The support of !
liberty as against power; ct the people a. |
against their agents and servants; and of |
State rights as against consolidation and I
despotism; q simple govern
ment; no public debt; lou taxes; no pro-
tective tariff; no gensrai system Of inter.
nal improvements Of Federal authority /, !