Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-27
FUTURE OF Thu COUNTRY,
FUTURE Or THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
LETTER FROM
HON. c. L. VALLANDIGHAM,
Young Mems Democratic Association
OF Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

GrsrLnn-Fron Jour Presden, and Secre.
taries, as also from individual members. have.
within the past three months, received repeated
cordial invitations 10 address your Association
While a compliance in person would be most
agreeable 10 me. ! do not believe that sither
time or circumstances il suspicious just nov for
active political agitation. But I avail myself OF
Jour kind request, 10 present, very respectfully,
10 writing, few thoughts upon the present po
alton and duty Of the Democratic party. At the
best they can DO bul conjecture IN part, and in
part suggestion; for be would be a bold man
and ough, TO be omniscient Of as we'll the future
a. the present, who should attempt 10 lay down,
In these times. when the scenes change with the
diversity, suddenness and marvellous contrarety
Of theatric representation, a fixed rule Of policy
upon any public question. Yet with this Qualif
cation. aud speaking for myself only. 1 shall ad
dress you with becoming freedom and eandor.
do not, indeed, conceal from myself the appre-
hension that We are rather at the beginning than
the end Of great revolution, aud that free insti
tutions In America are TO day far more upon
trial than at any period during the past four years
IL, indeed. the agencies OF force were at once 10
give place to the arts Of peace. and placid liberty
regulated by law. sub pio rsge. to succeed the
sword. the melancholy forebodings OF the more
thoughtful among Us might vet prove to be the
vain fears Of men whom much learning in his
tory and an enlarged study OF human nature have
made timid | surrender myself willingly. how
ever. for the present, TO the cheering alluson OF
those who believe that miraculous power will
again interpose. aud great calm. at the word OF
command, follow the tempestuous raging OF the
sea.
The Democratic organization will. OF course,
be maintained. Surveying every change Of
party and policy from the beginning OF the
Government to this day; often triumphant, some
times defeated. never conquered; always sdher
ing. "a n national organization, to the essential
principles OF its founders. but adapting its poll
cies. 80 far ~ these principles are admitted. to
the changing circumstances of the country; en-
during even through the great dangers and mis-
takes Of the past four years, and at the end.
numbering one million eight hundred thousand
voters In the States which adhered to the Union
"A number larger within the same States than
at any previous election-it needs now only re
organization and discipline to make II powerful
o. once and ultimately triumphant. For myself
under no circumstances will | consent that the
Democratic organization be dissolved. 20 long
a. IL shall have vitality enough to hold together
The masses OF the party will never sgree TO tho
surrender. whatever 1.-The leaders, so called
might attempt.
The fundamental principles OF the Democratic
party. OF course also, must remain unchanged so
90 long our Federal system. or even any form
OF Democratic Republican Government. shall
survive: and especially its true State lights
Doctrine-not Notification. not Secession, but
the theory of our system laid down IN the Vir
ginis and Kentucky Resolutions of l795. as in
terpreted by their authors: the one by Madison
In his Report in 1893, and the other by Jetler-
sou in his solemn official Inaugural OF 1901.
Thus interpreted they we're, aud | doubt not.
still are the constitutional doctrines Of the new
President. So long as these constitute the ac-
cepted theory and the practice under our system,
there can be no consolidated Govern ment either
Republic or Monarchy, in the States which now
make up the American Union. The other gene
raj principles of the Democratic party are but
variations or applications OF the maxims.
"the greatest good 10 the greatest number"
the Interest of the masses. ''the rights of the
many against the eIsctions OF the few"-aIioms
which, though the demagoguc may misuse or
abuse them. lie, nevertheless. at the foundation
Of all Democratical Government
But true M all this is. 10 would be the extreme
of folly not to comprehend and recognize that as
~ men and policies. the events Of the past four
years. and especially Of the last five weeks. have
wrought q radical change. Old things have
passed AWAY; all things become new. New
books. "a Mr.. Webster said upon an occasion OF
far less significance. are now 30 be opened. A
new epoch in the American ers has been reached !;
and be who cannot now realize, or 10 not willing
To accept this great fact. would do well 10 retire
to his closet and confne hiiuself TO funebral
meditations over the history o. the dead past or
airy speculations upon the impossible future. lie
may become an instructor. bud IL not tit to be an
actor in the stirring scenes which are before US
The time will. indeed come. end may not be far
distant, when il will be justit able and may be
necessary TO inquire into the aeses OF the civil
just now apparently Al an end ,and TO institute a
scrutiny into the measure OF guilt OF those who
responsible for it. well North as South
and it is fortunate that we have a President " no.
upon either side. is among its authors-unless.
indeed. his support of General. Breckenridge tor
the Presidency in LEGO be reckohed up az ainst him
In sl else. at least. whatever risy have been his
position during the war. or shall be his course
nov. he is guiltless. Upon TIE other hand. by
our political foes. the lines Of conduct OF those
who opposed the war demanded Cancellation.
aud insisted that the path of pesce vas the short
est, easiest. cheapest road to t;le Union, and Of
those who, marching in the same direction, but
along the rugged and bloody highway Of war.
denounced only the policies OF the late Admins
tratien, will be called IN question
For myself ! am ready to answer, and by the
record to be adjudged II | cried. il was in the
glorious company of the patrio, founders of our
peculiar system OF government Aud now. &C
cepting the new order OF things, vet enter upon
no defense for sdhering. 10 the Tact moment. to
the policies Of those great men. adopted and
sanctioned as these policies were. BY the second
generation of American statesmen. So far
from il. would conform yet. sc far as possible.
TO their teachings and practice We may not
indeed. be ready 10 follow tbs enthusiast who
would rather err with Plato than be right With
other men: We, neither are ne far enough cor
rupted. trust. To be oblige TO apologize for &C
cepting Washington. jefferson, Sherman, Ham
iton. Webster. Clay and Jackson. examples
worthy of study aud imitation. But they we're
wise in their day and generation Let US be wise
in ours Whether theirs VAS lot the true vis-
dom for US also in the long run. remains 10 be
seen for the end is not yet And be that a. is
NAV, for any m a TO have erred TO the advent.
progress. duration or final issue Of civil war
which has Knocked. far. the Prescience of the
wisest statesmen of as well the Old World 40
the New. is ne dispAragement Of any Judgment
or intellect less than Divine. In any event
beg that il be announced that upon all questions
OF vatcination up TO this point. ! sm paired
OF with the Secretary of State, Mr.. Seward.
But as 10 the present aud future. aud the new
and stupendOus questions which every day will
nov be developed. public mans position must
be determined. not by his mistakes where all
have erred but oy his capacity. his integrity and
his patriotism.
The day has passed when the party epthels
upon either eide. which without justihcs
too, almost without excuse even among the
rancor Of civil war and the heat of partizan dis
cassion, ought any longer to be tolerated No