The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-01-22

charters of the olden time, imperfect as
they were, guaranteed many liberties Of
the people, wrung by sturdy manhood
from reluctant kings, and were, in effect
written Constitutions. Il has ever been
part of American education to regard
written constitutions as essential to our
welfare, happiness and freedom. Fol-
more than eighty years, it has been our
boast that there was no such thing as an
unwritten Constitution, or an omnipotent
parliament in the United States. And
for more than three-quarters of century,
we have required every officer, great or
small to solemniy swear to support our
written Constitutions. And, time and
again, have we, by amendments, yet fur
ther restricted the powers of government;
but never, until 1865, by amendment, en-
larged them. These are most significant
facts, and the inference to be drawn from
them is not overthrown by the sad expe
rience of eur late war. In that terrible
struggle large portion of the people be-
came, for time,regardless Of ear funda-
mental laws, and without even murmur
saw them daily violated. They seemed
to think, and most of them probably did
think. that in no other way could the Re-
public be saved from destruction. A most
erroneous and dangerous belief, but new
ertheless entertained by many, though
never by US.
And even now, when war has ceased,
we find a majority of the people of the
North apparently sustaining a self-styled
Congress in the plainest infractions of the
Federal Constitution and of the rights of
the States. But let no Democrat there
fore despair. This state of things is ne
cessarily temporary. The force of rea-
son, education, habit, wisdom, patriotism,
magnanimity, will again be felt and the
landmarks of the fathers will be once
more set up.
Why, gentlemen, what is the plain state
of the case? The fundamental idea Of
American institutions (somewhat modi-
fed in the Federal Government is, that
the majority shall govern, but that the
minority has rights that must be respect
ed. But the Radical party now in power
seeks to establish precisely the reverse of
this. Though minority of the voting
population of the United States, it AFRO
gates to itself an exclusive right to rule,
and it denies to millions of citizens their
plaiuest constitutional privileges. It
does not deny that it is a minority. On
the contrary it avows it, and makes that
fact the ground for seeking to enfrauchise
a half million of negroes in order to re-
cruit its rank of voters. But as that
would still leave it in minority, it de-
mands the disfraDchisement of million
of whites. 1t seeks thus to perpetuate,
or at least to prolong, its power, and to
hold down the majority of American peo-
pie by mere brute force This is the
Radical plan for pacifying and uniting
the country; openly avowed by the Radi-
cal leaders in the so-called Congress of
the United States. 1t is the Russian plan
with Poland, the English plan with Ire
land, over again. it is an attempt to
practice the lessons of European despot-
ism upon the American continent, with a
superadded leaven of Hypocrisy in the
shape of mock elections | don't be-
lieve, gentlemen, that a scheme so repug
nant to every principle that ever honored
America, to every idea that Americans
have for a century cherished, can sue
coed, or that party that upholds it, or
allows Itself to be identified with it, can
long retain power.
| know full well the force of party or
ganization and party ties, and it has been
exemplifed too lately to be easily forgot
ten. For opposing the mad and anti
American plans of the Radicals, the
President has been deserted by the party
that elected him, and is threatened with
impeachment. For coming to the res
cue Of the Constitution in point most
vital to the safety and liberty of every
man, woman and child in the Republic,
the Supreme Court is menaced with sig
nal but as yet underlined chastisement.-
For daring to breathe the word "Consti-
tuition, the Democratic party is denounc-
ed as traitors or sympathizers with trea-
son. Ard threats of armed force to put
down the will Of the majority of the
people, whenever it shall be expressed,
have been heard too often to permit those
who desire peace to feel unconcerned.-
That these are evil omens it would be
folly to deny, and, assuredly. they teach
us but too plainly that the future is full
of danger.
But nevertheless, 1 adhere to my be-
! lief There is still virtue enough in the
country to save it, and-it will be saved.
The Democratic party, mighty host, is
ali right, and the time is not fsr distant
when thousands and tens of thousands of
our opponents will freely confess it. But,
be that time far off or near, our duty, my
fellow Democrats, is plain. We are en-
listed in sacred cause; enlisted not for
one, or five, or ten years only, but for our
entire lives. We cannot abandon our
principles, we cannot desert our banners,
we cannot give up the ship.
What, then. can we do, but battle man
fully and earnestly for the right? And,
be assured, my friends, that we cannot
achieve success by supineness, irresolu-
tion and Incidence. If you would save
your country from destruction, if you
would transmit the name of your grand
old party untarnished to posterity, if you
would preserve your liberties, property
and sacred honor, if you wonld.abestow
upon your children the blessings of peace
and prosperity, you must reject all such
phrases as ''masterly inactivity, all timid