The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-03-18
The Democratic Party and Slavery

Some observations on this subject, which we
deemed it prudent to offer a few weeks since
have drawn out, from all parts of the loyal states,
responses which show that we were fortunate
enough to strike the keynote of a widely diffus-
ed public sentiment. We have found our views
echoed, with more or less abatement, or more
or less exaggeration, in the loyal press of the
country, in Congress, and especially in numer-
GUS letters of Endorsement from men of infu-
ence and standing in the Democratic party
This favorable impression and these warm in
dorsements are certainly not dueto the novelty
of our views, but only to their timeliness. Ii
they had any merit, it consisted merely in an
ant application to present circumstances of time
honered principles to which the Democratic
partv has always assented. We have not made
converts to a new faith, but only led the way
in the application of old principles to new
problem.
While the main drift of public sentiment to
the Democratic party is toward simple and
unqualified Endorsement OF our position precise
ly as defined it we observe that very few per-
sons and presses, who seem to mistake that po-
siton for an innovation, fall into lines of argu-
ment which evince, on the one side, something
of the exaggerated zeal of new converts, and
on the other, little of the defensive vehemence
natural to men who fear that their party is cut
ting loose from old moorings. These are points
on which we do not think it wise to have u con-
troversy with any class of men who desire the
success of the Democratic party; especially,
as the general sense Of the party, which has
been so widely expressed, is in entire harmony
with our views The only argument we choose
to make on the subject is simply to restate our
position, leaving the statement to make what
ever impression may be thought due to its in
trinsic weight.
1t has for some time been the cue OF the ad-
versaries of tho Democratic party TO sti9matize
it as a pro-slavery party, and to excite preju-
dice against it as the patron and apologist of an
institution which is condemned by the civiliza-
tion of the age That this is an unjust impu-
tation on the Democracy of the Northern States,
is demonstrated by the broad and undeniable
fact that slavery was abolished in all the Norh-
ern States in which it ever existed with the
warm approval and hearty concurrence OF all
tho neonle of these states without distinction OF
marty, No northern Democrat ever opposed
or rcroetted the abolition of slavery in the state
Of his residence, much less ever proposed or
wished its re-establishment. The head of a
family who takes the most careful pains TO train
m his own children in the principles of Chris
tains virtue, gives the stsongest possible evidence
of his approval of those principles, even though
he may not think it his duty to Interfere with
the domestic discipline of his infidel neighbor.
If that neighbor happens to be his partner in
business. the fact that they are members OF tho
same @ firm confers upon neither any control o.
YER YER the household Of the other however strong
" he NAV disapprove Of its management. But
car there be no virtue unless it be Of that med
dIesome and intrusive kind which violates the
sacred right of distinct families, or of distinct
communities, to bs exempt from the oficious