Council Bluffs bugle. [volume] (Council Bluffs, Iowa) 1860-1868, 1868-11-19
VOLUME XVIII.
TAe Duty OF Democrats.

/ eA& t3E NGIy 40UundktUs1 III ntiF kOSe
ernment and when entirely and per-
manently ignored and oyerthrosn
| in this country, our Republican form
of government will be overthrown
and destroyed. The principles OF
the Democratic party are the princi-
| Piles of the people, and the only ones
that acknowledge their right to gov
ern themselves. In the late Presi-
DENTAL election these principles have
In great measure been lost sight OF
and the ship of state has been placed
in the hands of those, who, We fear,
will steer it more by prejudice and
party bias than by the polar star OF
principle. But while we believe
this, and while we fear that all Is lost,
it Is the duty of Democrats to sup
port the powers that be in every
thing that Is right and for the inter
ests OF the country and happiness OF
the people. Democrats should offer
no factious opposition to the party
in power and oppose Its measures
only because they are proposed by
that party. The question with Dem
oerats should be, is the measure
right ? and if found to be right and
in accordance with the Constitution,
it should receive their support, but
if found to be wrong and in violation
Of the provisions of that sacred in
strument, 1t should receive their
most earnest and determined oppo-
sition. The people at the late elec~
tion have seemingly ignored the
rights of States and the doctrine of
State sovereignty as advocated and
established by the Revolutionary
Fathers, and have seemingly en-
dorsed the doctrine of Congressional
legislation within and for the States,
and have to all intents and purposes
admitted the right Of Congress to en-
force negro suffrage, pass tariff laws,
exempt bonds from taxation and
provide one kind of money for Office
holders and b0ndholdcrs, and an
other for the laboring classes; to es-
tablish standing armies and military
governments in portions Of the
Union, and to create swaruIs Of new
officers to eat up and destroy the
substance Of the people. All these
things we say the people by their
votes at the late election have SEEM
ingIy endorsed, and ii their sober
second thought" don't induee them
to change their opinion, then This
government is to all insents and pur-
/ poses changed and reyoiutioaized-
! instead Of a government Of limited
powers, it IS one possessing untimi-
ted power. Ifthis be 50, and il shall
appear that the people after due CON
sideration have consented to, and
indorsed the revolution, then il will
be the duty Of Democrats to
adapt themselves and their
action to the case as it is
found to exist. II it is found that
State rights have been ignored and
entirely lost-if 1t is admitted that
the laws of Congress- whether en-
acted within or without the Const.-
tuition, are the supreme laws of
the land" and that the President Is
only an officer to execute the will of
Congress, it viii then be the duty Of
the Democracy to demand the elec-
ton of the President by direct vote
of the people, without the interposi-
ton Of electors, or regard to State
laws, lines or boundaries. If the
Lincoln doctrine, that the Estates |
bear the same relation to the Union |
that county bears to a State" " Is |
the doctrine Of the people and is es-
tablished by them, then it follows /
that they should elect the President |
by general vote of all the States, |
Just as the Governor is elected by |
general vote of all the counties in a
State, and If this Is to be the rule,
the sooner it is established and the
people settle down upon 1t and ac-
quiesce in it, the better it win be for
the country. These remarks are
made upon the hypothesis that the
people have endorsed the usurpa-
tions of Congress and have thereby
our form Of govern
ment. The Democracy have warn
ed the people from time to time
against the course they were pursu-
ing, and have only been met with
SCOTS and ieeFs for their Kind warm
ings and well intended advice. II
now comes calamity upon them, If
a strong government is to take the
place of the mild one we have had I
for the past eighty years-if the
people have so willed it, LET the De-
mocracy repare to take hold of 1t !
and rule and conduct it. This Is the
duty of Democrats--if they can't
have a government as they would I
have it, they should do the best they +
can with one they have.
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