Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-06-11
The STANDARD.
ADDRESS
fthe Democratic Members of the Federal Cone
Sress to the Democracy Of the United States.

ADDRESS
Ofthe Democratic Members of the Federal Conc
Rress to the Democracy Of the United States.
FELLOW CITIZENS: The perilous condition of our
country demands that we should reason together
Party organization restricted within proper limits
rs positive good and indeed essential to the pre-
servation Of public liberty. Without it the best
government would soon degenerate into the wors,
of tyrannles. In despotsms the chief use of the
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 ad.
stinstraton was chosen by party, and in all civil
acts and appointments has recognized, and Still does,
its falty and obligations to that party There must
ard will be an opposition. The public safety ana
good demand it. Shall it be new organization, or
an old one? The democratic party was founded
more than sixty years age 1t has never been
aisUandedS To day it numbers one million five hum
died thousand electors the States still loyal to the
Union. It's recent numerous victories in municipal
elections in the Western and Middle States prove
its vitality. Within the last ten months it has held
State conventions 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 PARTY BE NOW DIsBANDED?
Why should it? Are its ancient principles
wrong? What are they? Let its platforms for
thirty years speak:
"Resolced, That the American Democracy place
their trust in the intelligence, 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. as the great moral element in
form of government springing from and upheld by
the popular will and We contrast it with the creed
and practice Of Federalism under whatever name
or FORM which seeks to palsy the will of the con-
stituent, and which conceves no imposture too
monstrous for the public creduty.
That the Federal government is one of limited
power derived solely from the constitution and the
grants of power made therein ought 10 be strictly
construed by all thedepartments and agents OF the
government; and that it is inexpedient and danger
GUS to exercise doubtful constitutional powers"
And as explanatory of these the following from
Mr.. Jefferson's inaugural:
1.-The support Of the State governments in all
their rights as the most complete administration Of
our domestic concerns and the surest bulwarks
against antrepublican tendencies.
1.-The preservation Of the general government in
its whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor
of our peace at 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
be lightly burdened
1.-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 protection of the hadeas
corpus, and trial by juries impartally selected"
Such, democrats are the principles of your party,
essential to public liberty and to the stability and
wise administration of the government, alike in
apd war Nheu no nripcn1oS vrhich
the constitution and the Union were founded and,
under the control of party which adheres to them,
the constitution would be maintained and the Union
could rot be Dissolved.
Is the policy of the democratic party wrong, that
it should be disbanded?
Its policy is consistent with its principles, and
may be summed up, from the beginning as follows:
The support of liberty as against power; of the
people against their agents and servants; and of
State rights against consolidation and centralized
despotism; simple government; no public debt;
low taxes; no high protective tariff TO general
system of internal improvements by Federal authori-
ty; no national bank :; hard money for the Federal
public dues; no assumption of State debts expan-
sion of territory self government for the Territories
subject only to the constitution the absolute COM
patibiity of union of the States, part slave and
part Free the admission of new States, with or
without slavery, as they may elect; nonntererence
by the Federal government with slavery in State or
Territory, or in the District of Columbia; and
finally, as set forth in the Cincinnati PLATFORM in
1856, and re affirmed in 1862 absolute and eternal
"repudiaton Of all sectional parties and platforms
concerning domestic slavery which seek to embrol
the States and ncte to treason and armed resistance
to law in the Territories, and whose avowed pur.
poses, if consummated, must end in civil war and
disunion."
Such was the ancient and the recent policy of the
democratic party, running through period of sixty
years policy consistent with the principles ofthe
constitution, and absolutely essential to the preser
Walton Of the Union.
Does the history of the Democratic party prove
that it ought to be abandonedy by their fruits
Shall ye know them" Sectional parties do not
achieve Union triumphs. For sixty years from the
Inauguration Of Jefferson on the 4th Of March, 1861
the democratic party, with short intervals, con-
trolled the power and the policy of the Federal
Government. For forty-eght years out of these
SIXTY democratic men ruled the country; for fifty
TOUR years and eight months the democratic policy
prevailed. During this period Louisiana Florida
Texas, New Mexico and California were SUCCESSFULLY
annexed to our territory, with an area more than
twice as large as all the original thirteen States tope
ther Eight new States were admitted under strict
lydemocratic administrations under the admin.
istration of Fillmore. From five millions the popula
ton increased to thirty one millions. The reyolu
tonary debt was extingushed. Two foreign wars
were successfully prosecuted with moderate OUTLAY
and small army and navy, and without the sus.
pension Of the habeas corpus without one nfraction
OF the constitution without one usurpation of DOW
er; without suppressing single newspaper; with.
out imprisoning single editor; without limit tn
the freedom of the press or of speech in or out of
Congress- but in the midst of the grossest abuse Of
Sotn and without the arrest OF single traitor"
:nough the Hartford Convention sat DURING ono If
the wars ana in the other Senators invited the ene
my to "greet our eoluntesrs uith bloody hands and
'oeleome them to hospita6le grares."
During all this time wealth increased. business
Of all kinds multiplied, prosperity smiled on eyerv
s and 5as san,s low high the North
products at good prices; public liberty was secure
private rights undsturbed evary mans house was
nors for t,s .ns courts were open to all no pass
no bastes the right to assemble ne no
ess ssa' Pss Ss, freedom Of religion
this time the Contribution maintained md ~. "E a.,
of the States preserved. ""o u'e Union
Such were the choice fruits of democrat. .u;.o:
ples and policy carried ont th,I =, prlhcl-