The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-11

Democratic TEST Oh FOuucai OtunO0Oxys
Formerly the Democratic party was one of
progress, progressive Democracy" was
term of reproach employed by its adversaries.
It had no respect for measure, or thing, or
. principle because it was old and moss
grown. 1t laid its hands upon any and every
thing that did not respond to the popular in
stinct, and tally with the popular sentiment
It guarded freedom Of thought with jealons
care. and denounced with unsparing vindic-
tiveness everything that savored of invasion
OF private opinion. Conservatism was to 1t
almost an odious word-certainly suspected
one; while purse-proud aristocracies, over
bearing monopoes and concentrated wealth
were looked upon with distrust if not with abb
solute adherence. Sleeplessly did it watch
over the ballot-box, and utter its maledictions
when the agents of power exercised their sur
reillance over the timid voter to influence his
action by threats-expressed or Implied-of
patronage withdrawn and favors withheld.
Such was the old Democracy of Jefferson
and jackson. Jefferson looked with disiavor
upon all power not directly amenable to the
people. The Supreme Court, with its life ten
ures and its perfect independence of the pop
ular verdict ofthe common people-the sove-
reign will-he especially feared, and was so
suspicious of its growing, grasping power,
and of its liability to reach beyond its le-
Ultimate province, that he styled it the corps
of sappers and miners" that would eventually
/. undermine the constitution. Such was the
Democracy Of Jefferson. With him the fiat
OF the people was the last and highest appeal.
Without stopping to inqnire whether Jefer-
son was right, we would ask the reader to
look at single stage to which the Democrat
ic party arrived, and which 1t passed in Its
downward course, more than three years since.
Who that is posted in party history has for
gotten the efforts to put the .Dred Scott De-
cision' into the Democratic platform as its
chief and almost only plank! There were
plenty of papers and politicians. even in this
State, that proposed to amend the famous
sCincinnati Platform" which claimed to embo-
dy the idea of popular sovereignty" by add
ing to it q section recognizing the binding
nature, upon the Democratic party, of all the
decisions Of the Supreme Court! That party
claiming affinity for Jackson-Jackson, who
would support the constitution only as he UNI
dersiood ii-that party was ready TO gel down
ON It's knees before the mere dictum of Judge
fancy, forswear all their private opinions
and choke down all their instincts, and swear
only by such a creed as he should prescribe
for them! But enough of this.
1t is but little while since Democracy was
the recognized antagonist of slavery. All the
early PRESIDENTS took emphatic ground in OPP
position not only to slavery extension, but TO
slavery existence, beyond the precise point of
time necessary to wipe it out with the least
6 onfusion to the public interest The first six
or seven Presidents were open and updisguis-
ed in their anti-slavery views. They were
not all Democrats, it is true, but they were
one In sentiment on this question.
Washington desired ito see plan adopted
for the abolition Of slavery" John Adams
declared that "every measure OF prudence
ought TO be assumed for the eventual total ex-
tirpation Of slavery from the United States"
Jefferson, In view Of the iniquities Of the in
stitution, said II trembe for my country
when reflect that God is JUST Madison
thought it wrong TO admit, in the constitu-
tion, that there could be property IT. men,"
Monroe said that this evil has preyed upon
the vitals OF the Union and has been prejudi-
cial to all the States where it has existed, and
h likewise repugnant to their several State
constitutions and bills of rights" The views
Of John Quincy Adams are too familiar to be
quoted. Jackson, If not an anti-siavery man,
At least believed in the rights of negroes to
fight for their country. and in an address to
the men of color who assisted in defending
New Orleans, said, II have found in you that
noble enthusiasm which impels to generous
Deeds"
These are facts of history; and Of these sew
en- Presidents, equal In patriotism, wisdom and
craftsmanship to anything that we have yet
had or probably shall ever have, fonr were
Democrats, and guided the nation through
some of its stormiest periods Indeed, SO pat
ent was the fact that the old Democracy was
the antagonism Of slavery that southern po-
litical literature, especially that of the fire.
eater or secession school, was full of admis-
sions that Democracy must be got rid Of that
slavery might flourish.
But how stands the case to-day? How
stood it the day the great rebellion was inaug-
urated! Who were the men that broached and
insugurated disunion? Democrats. Who
were the men that dishonored the national
dag at Charleston, and afterwards bombarded
Sumter? Democrats! Who were the men
that stole the revenue cutters, seized the
Southern forts, rifed the branch mint, and
trampled upou the Constitution? Democrats!
Who il If Davis? A Democratic cabinet
officer and U. S. Senator! Who is A. H. Ste
phens? The Democratic leader of the House
the first half OF Buchanan's administration!
Who was Floyd, Wire, Cobb, Thompson, Tou-
cey, Toombs, Yancey, and SO on to the end of
the chapter? Democ rats, all of them!
And what party to-day stands forth as the
champion Of American slavery, and protests
as with brazen tongue against laying the
weight Of finger on II even 10 save the
Union? The Democratic party! What party
seems TO have no other mission than to growl
over every act that promises to weaken the
slave power Of the nation? Surely it is the
Democratic party. Aud we say unequiyocal-
ly, meaning all that Il Q language implies, that
the only living issue witt this party to-day is
the protection Of slavery. And this, after a
Ii.