Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-05-03
FeOm the N. Y. Tribune.
SHAM DEMOCRACY BECOMING AHsAMEI
OF ITSELF

OF ITSELF.
II is one Of the most healthful and cheering
signs Of an improved public sentiment that the
inyeterate champions of profitable Wrong hcrin
at length 10 repudiate ii aiv a .s ~ ~ 8
that they were ever it's partisans. I,.4e, a p.r-
SOU who is introduced to the general public as
"the Hon. Geo. B Smith" has been making
Copperhead speech in the Legislature Of Wiscon
sin, wherein he says;
"Alr. Speaker 1t has aften been said since
this war began that the Democracy sympathized
with the Rebelon--that the Democracy was in
favor Of Slavery. Sir, ii is not true-the Dem
ocratic party never had any sympathy with Re-
bellion, or with Slavery, The Democratic party
has always been opposed to the institution Of
Slayery-they have always deplored its existence
here, and all except Aboltionists previous to the
organization of the Republican party regarded
Slavery as a State institution, with which the
Government OF the United States had nothing to
do"
We quite agree with the Hon. George that
Slavery pas very generally regarded as State
institution, up to the time that it attempted to
divide and subyert the Nation which, we think
even he must perceive, materially altered the
ceee. Butl us refresh his recollection with
few instructive facts:
The State Of Delaware was one of the very
first to adopt the Federal Constitution, and was
theuceforth known as a Federal State support
ing for President George Washington twice
John Adams (twice), Charles c. Piuckuey (twice)
De Witt Clinton, and Rufus King, respectively.
1t had never voted for a candidate of the old Re-
publican party till 1921, when it cast its vote
with that of every other State, for Mr.. Monroe's
reelection. In "a it divided its votes between
Crawford and ]. O. Adams but it voted there
after for John Quincy Adams, Henry Clay, VIII
liam Harrison (twice), Henry Clay again, and
Zachary Taylor, respectively. Since then, it
has voted for Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan,
and John G. Breckinridge successfully aud for
the simple reason that the Shareholders of the
lower counties regarded the modern Democratic
party as the bulwark Of their "pecuiar institu-
ton" Those counties (Kent and Sussex }, con-
tanning seven eighths of the slaves and but half
the free population of State, were formerly the
Federal and have since been the Democratic
slrongholds, electing the Democratic majority to
the present Legislature.
But this is Dot all Not only is Sham Democ.
racy the recognized bulwark Of Slavery in Della
ware, but Slavery has been maintained there for
The benefit Of Democracy. Projects of emanepa-
tion have been Overborne in the Legislature by
the solid vote Of the Democratic party; and now
Delaware continues q Slave State, after Mary
land has chosen convention expressly to rid
herself Of the giant curse. Every one knows
that the growth of the State is retarded and her
wealth aud thrift fearfuly diminished by Slave
ry that if her real estate were taxed to pay for
the ], 1,79S slaves remaining there in 1860 and
they liberated and sent about their business
every property holder therein would be richer
for the operation-that the increased value Of
the land would far more than pay the price of
the slaves. Yet democracy forbids Emancipa-
ton simply because Emancipation would pros
trate Sham Democracy-because the Democratic
ascendenoy, such as il is, could not survive the
extinction Of Slavery.
Turn now to Maryland, where as every de-
Gently informed politician knows Baltimore
and the adjacent Counties were the sLrongholds
of Jetfersonian Democracy from the outsei; while
the Counties down the Chesapeake Bay we're
Federal from Washington's time to Jaokson's,
and then Whig until Slavery upset all old polit-
cal relations. Now they go 'Democratic'-that
is to say, Pro Slavery elecling Democratic
delegates to the Convention by On overwhelming
vote--mnny Of them FedeIasts and Wings OF
other days, but now calling themselves Demo-
Gratis, because they cling TO Slavery and are as
nearly Reheis as they dare be while they remain
on this side of the Potomac, instead of following
the sons and nephews Of many of them into the
camps of Lee and the saddles Of j E b. Steusrt
There are enough more such faets-for Ken
lucky slrikingly illustrates the same general
trulh-but what need Of them2 The Hon. Geo.
B. Smith can hardly enter low groggery in
Wisconsin without hearing Democracy expOund
ed by its more ardent vOtaries as consisting
mainly of hate OF "niggers" and hostility to
"Abolition." These apostles of Mr.. Smiths
political church feel no necessity impelling them
to dissemble and deceive on the main point; they
know what makes them Democrats, and they
reasonably presume that like influences will aud
do. Let him not kick at the ladder whereby he
has climbed to distinction, hut stand by his par
ty-creed and its authentic, because undissem-
bling, expounders