The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-03-12
Politics aud Science
and Democrats

IL mas Deen Inc custom OF late, among
certain class of Abolitionists, to call
Democrats by the name of "Butternuts.' =
This nickname is likely to be Of as much
advantage to our party, as the epithet Qua
ker and Methodist has been to The once
despised. blt now influential, religious
bodies bearing these titles. There is some
thing in the word. "Butternut," that is
rather pleasing; and there is mulch in the
historical associations connected with the
White Walnut tree, of which Butternut is
the synonym, to endear it to the back
woodsman. When the writer was boy.
this tree supplied the coloring matter for
nearly all the fabrics worn by the Wes-
tern people. Imported dyes, like impor
ted wearing apparel we're then equally un-
known in tho West.
When the m dnight war cry of the In
dian reused the mothers in Ohio flom
their slumbers, il was the brave Blu ter
nut-cIad sons of kentucky" who rushed
across to rescue. ''Bulternut" was then
no epithet Of repro oach in the West.
This costume is still worn in the noun
tain ranges of Kentucky and Tennes see,
and in southern I;linos and Missouri. On
the gathering together Of the soldiers.
at the outbreak of the war. the fresh re-
crui.s from these districts appeared in the
ranks with garments IF Butternut-colored
cloth. In dersion, their 'store-cloth'
companions called them 'Butternuts;" and,
as they were mostly Democrats, from Dem
ocratic, districts, the name ere long, was
applied, BY the Republicans, to the whole
Democratic party.
But this Butternut custome was not
limited to one side. 1t being common to
both rebel and loyal soldiers. The epthei
was used wi h the greater zest BY the Alb
olitioiss, because the earlier rebel prison
, ers were drssed in "Butternut" and its ap.
plication to the Democrats, they expected
would not only fasten upon them an op
proprious name, but convey the impress
ion also that they were iu sympathy with
The rebels
So much for history. Let us now ex
anime this term ofreproach in the light o
siencc.
The White Walnut tree has the generi
name in Botany, of Juglans, or the Ire,
# Jove.
We thank our abolition friends for thi
name. 1t indicates that the "Butternuts
arc the heaven or daned party, dervin!
their power and influence from Omnpo
lance. But not only is the tree signican
of the near relation of the Democrats to th
power that controles the fate Of nations
> the fruit is also embematic of the innat
sentiments and affections of the party. Oh
removing the outer hull and saving tn
nut into two parts, near the centre, tn
most elaborate ornsmcntation is presen
tod.
Look closely at the central area it pre-
sehts two hearts, united at the base, AM
may well justify the exclamation u.tere,
when the discovery was made:
1.-TWO hearts-the Northern and South
ern-united a. the base, and bound togetl
J. er indissolubly only in the 'Butternu.s!
Again we thank the Abolitionists for be
slowing this name Upon US. "Old Hick
ory" WAS not more potent AS applied I
" General Jackson, then will be, in the futur
: he term "Bntt2rnuts,' as applied to tn
Democratic party. Our tree designate
ns as the favorites of Heaven, while W
" are represented in it's fruits as uniting th
y Northern and Southern hearts; and thu
are we foreshadowcd, in the "Bu.ternut,
= rs destined to restore the Union and tn
Constitution, As formed by tie great heart
n Of The North and the South at The Revolu
ZION. This glorious work, now every
! where prayed for BY a suffering people
T. but impossible in the hands of those VIII
are clamoriag for the she, ing Of addition
II al rivers of blood-can only be accom-
" plished by the 'Butiernuts."
y" Look, also at the rampant surroundiu
u the central area. and see how its j,gge
buttresscs render it impena,rable to an as
Sc sailing foe, and give perfect security ,
+" the united hearts intrenched within. S
D 1t is with the Democratic party. 1t ha
y" the rights of the people snshrined in ii
Ieart, and will resist the aggressions
sc every foe to constitutional freedom, an
'N present an impepelrable barrier agsins
he foreign assaults Gin. EoQuirer.
e. You cannot preserve happy domesti
ID pairs in family jars.
4 &