The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-05-21
consummated, must end in civil war and


Such, Democrats, was the annient and
the recent policy of the Democratic par
ty, running through o period of sixty
years-a policy consistent with the prin-
ciples of the Constitution, and absolutely
essentia! 10 the preservation Of the Union.
Does the history of the Democratic
party prove that it ought to be abandon
ed? BY their fruits shall ye know them.
Sectional parties do not achieve Union
triumphs. For sixty years from the in
auguration of Jefferson on the 4sh of
March. 1901. the Democratic party, with
short intervals, controlled the power and
the policy of the Federal Government.
For forty eight years out of these sky,
Democratic men ruled the country; for
fifty. four years and eight months the
Democratic policy prevailed. During this
period Louisiana, Flerida, Texas, New
Mexico and California were successively
annexed to our territory, with an area
more than twice as large as all the ori-
ginal Thirteen States together. Eight
new States were admitted under strictly
Democratic Administrations-one under
the administration of Fillmore. From
FIVE millions, the population increased to
thirty-one millions. The Revolutionary
debt was extinguished. Two foreign
wars were successfully prosecuted, with a
moderate outlay and small army and
navy. and without the suspension of the
habeas corpus: without one infraction of
the Constitution, without one usurpation
of power; without suppressing single
newspaper; without imprlsoning single
editor; without limit to the freedom of
the press, or of speech in or out of Con-
gress, bat in the midst OF the grossest
abuse of both; and without the arrest OF
a single "traitor," though the Hartford
Convention set during one of the wars,
and in the other Senators invited the ene-
my to "greet our volunteers with bloody
hands, and welcome them to hospitable
graves"
During oil this time wealt increased,
business of all kinds multiplied, prosperi-
ty smiled on every side, taxes were low.
wages were high, the North and the South
furnished market for each others pro-
duets at good prices; public liberty was
secure, private rights undisturbed; every
mans house was his castle; the courts
were open to all; no passports for travel,
no secret police, no spies, no informers,
no bastiles, the right to assemble peace
ably. the right to petition; freedom of re-
ligion, freedom of speech, free ballot
and free press; and all this time the
Constitution maintained and the Union oi
the States preserved.
Such were the choice fruits Of Demo
cratic principles and policy, carried out
through the whole period during which
the Democratic party held the power and
administered the Federal Government
Such has been the history Of that party
1t is Union party, for it preserved the
Union, by wisdom, peace, aud compromise
for more than half century.
Then, Democrats, neither the ancient
principles, the policy, nor the past history
of the Democratic party require nor would
justify its disbandment.
Is there any thing in the present crisis
which demands it? The more immediate
issue is, TO MAINTAIN THE CONSTITUTION
AS 1T is, AND TO RESTORE THE UNION AZ
IT WAS.
To maintain the Constitution is to re
spect the rights of the States and the lib
critics of the citizen. 1t is to adher,
faithfully to the very principles and polio!
which the Democratic party has professet
for more than half century. Let it
history, and the results. from the begin
ming, prove whether it has practiced them
We appeal proudly to the record.
;. The first step toward restoration o
the Union as it was is to maintain tn
Constitution as tits. So lorg as it wa
maintained in fact, and not threatenet
with infraction in spirit and in letter, &C
tual or imminent the Union was uubro
ken.
To restore the Union, it is essential
first, to give assurance to every State ant
to the people of every section that thei
rights and liberties and property will b
secure within the Union under the Con
stitution What assurance SO doubly sur
as the restoration to power of that an
f cent organized consolidated Democrat
party which for sixty years did secure tn
f property. rights and liberties of the State
and of the people, and preserve the Unior
and with them the multiplied blessing
which distinguished US above all othe
nations?
To restore the Union is to crush or
E sectionalism North and South. To begi
f the great work of restoration through tn
ballot box is to kill abolition. The bite
t waters of secession flowed Grst and al
e fed still from the unclean fountains
j, AbolitIonism. The fountain must
n dried up. Armies may break down tf
!, power of the Confederate Government
e the South; but the work of restoratic
e can only be carried on through polite
i. organization and the ballot box 10 Il
+. North and West. In this great work v
d invite the cordial CO operation of all ms