Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-10-22
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
why Should the Democratic Party
want 10 Preserve slavery.


Judging from the tone of the Democratic
newspapers, we must conclude they are
deeply dissattstied with the prospect that
one OF the results Of the war will be to
place slavery in the course of ultimate ex-
tinctiOn. Our doctrine Is that slavery is
certainly not sacred institution, aud
should, at least, take its chances in the
war. We do not feel, when upon slave
territory, that our shoes should be taken
from Onr feet because it is holy ground
The object of the war Is the restoration Of
the Union and the VindiealiOn Of the laws.
II slavery is in the way Of the attainmSnt
of this object, let it be crushed out of the
way. So tar as slavery is not in the way,
ocrats" seem to be sricklers fOE,the preser-
vatiOn of slavery, whatever else may hap
pen. This is curious circumstance. Il
is among the qneerest political phenomena
of the times. What interest has the Dem
ocratic party in the preservation of slave
Ey? Why should it tear itself with agonies
at every symptom that the monster is dy-
ing2 The slavery questions have ruined
the Democratic party. The power e0neen-
centrated in the hands of the feI0 10 the
slave States, by the PecWfiaTfty of slavery,
became great political engine, aud this
was the very rack upon which the Demo.
cratic party was stretched, and dwFithed and
was broken, at Charleston. This truth Is
indisputable.
The Democratic party was dIsrupted at
Charleston, mot because there were Ab0li-
tionists in the North, but because the
cotton State politicians insisted that the
test Of Democracy should be the support Of
their theory TINT slavery under the COnsti-
tuition should be protected in all the ter
ritOFies. On this point the ''Yaneeyites.H
Rs the Cincinnati EEqHinr was in the
habit Of calling them, we're inexOFable.
II was an unreasonable, arrogant, uncalled
for, insOIent, inexcusable demand, made
by meager minority Of the Democratic
party upon the great majority of IL; and IL
vas simply, solely aud openly madein be.
half of sthe political power Of slavery
No intelligent man who has = grain Of
honesty in his composition, will deny this.
Then why should not all good Democrats
rejoice, with John Br0ngh, that this peeu-
liar. aggressive and disorganizing power,
is likely 70 be overthFOHn foreVerR 10 any
party should be filled with thanksgiving a.
the appearance that there is no longer 70
be q sectional interest, prone 20 assert
itself as the master Of the whole land, and
interfering with, weakening aud breaking
down nati0naljty in political organizations,
and hostile 70 the nation itself, We should
think il ought 70 be the Democratic party.
Democrats are accustomed 70 talk Of the
Union as Il WAS, as II It Werg possible the
eountry could pass through snch eontuE
sions as il has experienced for the last three
years. and settle down exactly ''as Il G1asp
| They are hag.Fidden BY an Imagining Of
thing impossible. IL crOss,examiued on
the subject; We. dOnbt. whether many Of
them would have the hardih0od 70 assert
that they really want lhei Union precisely
1 as e was. Do they want aEhent the next
Democratic National Convention assem-
bIes, 70 find the delegations Of the Gulf
] States under instructions 70 withdraw from