The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-02-06
Men change, but Principles, never.
Our neighbor of the Democrat. in comment


Inc upon remarks made by us last week,
makes two statements which we here repro
duco:
C) Those who can perceive the political prin::
ciples which uAderlie party organizations, anu
have the candor to admit the truth, know ths'
the Democratic party Of to-day Adheres to the
same great and benefcent principles when us
tingushed the party In the days OF Jefferson
and Jackson-principles which made our states Yes
and people united, prosperous, and happy; u'
Al. federal party, that now bears sway In one
half Of the States only to war upon the other
70, me Democratic party has for the last
8fteen years-as before-stood by the Union,
the Constitution, and the laws, against Sec
tional, dsunion, abolition party which, IN us
real no abrogatc slavery. would overthrow every
principle and advantage secured by the Demo-
cratic principles upon which our government
was founded and Was conducted till the advent
of Republican sectionalism.
(l) We propose to examine the record oil
this party, and sec how it proves the of re-
peated assertion that ''the Democratic party
occupies to-day the same position il has ever
occupied" In doing this We arc well aware
that we shall bring forward statements with
which our readers are familiar. The Repub-
lican party was called into being in conse-
quence Of the departure Of the Democratic
party from the faith oil along professed BY
them, and to which they nominally. at least,
adhered up to 1850. That departure consist
ed in prostitutiug powerful party to the
interests of slavery, as We shall show.
In ls4s the Legislature Of this State, then
democratic, passed the following resolves by
almost an unanimous vote, in both branch
e.:
Re,olrsd. That we hereby declare for our
selves and in behalf Of the people OF this STATE
our uncompromising opposition to the extern en-;
sion of slavery into any territory Oh the oni'eu
States which Is now free.
R.soirsd, That in organizing governments
for New Mexico and California, the introduce
ton and existence of slavery in these terrific
ries should be positively prohibited by an act
Of Congress.
Resolved, That our Senator's in Congress are
hereby instructed. and our Representatives re-
ouested, TO vote against any act establishing
governments for said territories that does not
contain an express prohibition o. ddrery,
We will not rccite the record OF the Dem
ocrat upon tho principles cnunciated in the
above, lest this article might boar the SEM
blanco of cruelty, but pass on.
In that same year the Democratic State
Convention Of Massachusetts, unanimously
adopted three resolves which were introduced
by no less Democrat than Benjamin f.
Hallctt, then Chairman Of the Democratic
State Committee:
Rs,olred, That We are opposed to slavery in
every form and color, and in favor OF freedom
and free soil wherever man lives, throughout
Gods heritage.
Resoirsa, That, by common law and common
sense, as well rs by the decision OF the Supreme
Court of the United States Tin Prigg VS.. Penn
mere municipal regulation, founded upon and
limited to the verge of the territorial law;
that is, the limits Of the State creating IL.
Rssoired, therefore, That rs That as siarery
does not ernst BY any municipal iap in the nep
territories. and Congresshas no poirer TO tnsii-
tute IL, the local laws Of any State authorizing
slavery can never be transported there; nor can
slarsry erist there but by local la,o OF the
territories, sanctioned by Congress.
Tho resolves thus far quoted differ in no
respect from tho principles Of the Rcpubli-
can party upon the dividing question separa-
ting the two parties; on tho contrary, these
resolutions have been adopted and inserted
into their platform by the Republicans.
In 1850 the Democratic Convention in N.
Hampshire adopted the following:
Resolrea, That pe are opposed 10 the admis-
sion of any nev State into The .AmericaR Ua-
ion, ,gith tie proriso that slarsry shall be toier-
ated.
Resoired, That il is the duty Of the members
Of our State Legislature, whenever the subject
shall be brought before them, to give their In
fuencc In favor Of freedom.
We present one moro specimen adopted by
tho Democracy Of Ohio as late as tho 9Th OF
January, 1855:
Rssoirsd. That the people Of Ohio, now, as
they have always done. look upon slavery as
An evil, and unfavorable to the development Of
the spirit and practical benefits of free institu-
tons; and that, entertaining these sentiments,
they win at all times feel II to DO their duty to
use all mower clearly given by the terms OF the
national compact, TO prersnt its increase, to
mitigate. and, 6ually, to eradicate the sril.
1t is easy to multiply such itcms Of rec
ord, but with the above VIC arc content
Now IL the democratic party occupies the
position it has always occupied since the
DAYS of Jefferson and Jackson" il is irrcyo-
cably opposed to the extension Of slavery and
tho admission Of any moro slave States-a
credit to which ii Is by no means entitled
The adoption Of the Cincinnati platform,
and the election Of Pierce, gave to the par
tvs position 6nality, and since that time
the order has been ''right about face" and
the party has been more thoroughly devoted
to the extension and perpetuation Of slavery
than to these it was ever opposed. When,
therefore. writer or speaker asserts that the
Democratic party Of to-day is the same as
tho party Of jefferson or jackson, the asser-
ton becomes mere twaddle.
(@ To tho assertion that the Democratic
party has ever supported tho Union and the
Constitution, the most complete and damn
inc record can DO brought, showing its utter
falsity. In 1860, seventeen States cast Re-
publican votes, and fourteen cast Democratic
votes. Alabama, Arkansas. Florida, Geor-
gia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North
and South Carolina, Texas and Virginia,
.lovcr of Tho fo,rtssr Afterwards seeded