Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-03-13
The Mission Of Parties.

The History of the United States fur
nishes some singular facts respecting what
may be called the Mission of Parties. The
National Republican, or as it called itself
in Gen. Jackson's days, the Democratic,
had almost absolute sway Of the govern
ment from its formation to the termina-
ton of Buchanan's traitOrous administra-
ton, for although during that time its op-
ponents in a few instances elected PreSi-
dents, they seldom obtained a decisive
control of Congress for more than few
years. From the day of the elder Adams
what we will by courtesy call the demo-
cratic party held for its motto " Equal
Laws and Equal Rights" and though at
times in a measure departing from those
time-hOnOrcd doctrines, it continued to
prosper and held firm footing in nearly
all the States. During all this time the
Declaration of Independence, with its sig
niticant assertion at the outset that " al
men are created equal, was annually read
and listened to with reverence from Maine
to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Atlantic
~ tLAC liANAA Julius vi CIV lllLdIIOli west
ward. Abstract theories were occasional
Iy advanced in the Southern States, but
these. were so successfully cOmbated bv
enlightened minds in their midst that
they amounted TO no more than the ridic-
uIous assumption frequently seen and
heard at sO-calIed democratic meetings
that Liberty can mean both Freedom a5,d
Slavery. The first great dereliction from
duty and profession that party committed
was in 1890, when a large portion ar
rayed itself on the side of Slavery, justify
ing it as morally right and claiming pecu-
liar privileges under the Constitution. not
only for its preservation where it existed
butfor its extension. From this arose the
Missouri Compromise, which. aIthourb
for many years regarded as a masterpiece
OF Legislation, was in reality the founda-
ton of all our subsequent difficulties to
the inception and close Of the recent re-
oelilon, because it was a victory for the
Slave Power From that time forward
Though then quite young we were nar-
sohaIIy rognizant Of the rise and progress
OF Notification, a doctrine which had
hardly single supporter among the
Northern democracy, but had obtained
firm toothold with the leaders of that mar
ty South. The masses however were not
yet ripe Tor Calhoun's schemes, and that
willy politician, failing TO accomplish his
purposes OF aggrandizementthrour Gem
eral Jackson, whom he had at one tin,a
hoped to make a convert, turned his now
eriul mind to making Slavery of DersopaI
interest to manywho had thus far regard
ed the institution as of doubtful right
morally or religiously. In this. with the
ald OF able and trained coadiutors bespc-
ceeded, and through them the MARYLAND
and Virginia chivalric slave owners wore
soon taught that slduc-5recdinq was fa,
more profitable than raising douhtf,
crops. Up to that time owners parted
withmuch reluctance with servants, man,
of whom had been their playmates il
childhood and subsequently almost com
paniOns; and the slave-trader was the,
regarded as little better than an inhuma
monster with whom association was to b
summed save under actual necessity. W
can recall to mind at the present day tin
strongest kind of expressions made on th
streets OF Baltimore forty years ago agains
noted slave trader residing short Iii.
tance from the city, whenever it becanl
known that he was filling his dens wit
husbands torn from their wives, wivt
from their husbands, and children frol
theirparents, preparatory to sending theI
to the rice swamps of Carolina, the cotto
fields of Georgia, or sugar plantations
Louisiana, there to linger out a life of Ill
requited labor, without hope of ever b.
ingrestored to, oreven hearing from, the