Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-05-30
WHAT DOES he MEAN2


he may be Democrat. We sincerely hope for
the sake of his eternal salvation in the world
to come that he is Democrat. There are,
hOweveT,-we say it with shudder,-two or
three pEaHEs in the platform he proposes for
the Democratic party, that have q fearfully
Radical OdOr Without mentioning the rest,
We will select the very 6rst, containing seuti-
ment to which-if we do not misunderstood
tive can never give our assent. This senti.
ment is nothing more or less than that the
trar settled irrevOcObly the question of seces-
sion. We hope our readers will not become
alarmed. We are not going to discuss that
right as it existed in 81. ALExANDER II.
STEPHENS has done that in an argument so
irrefutable as to entitle him 10 a monument
with DAVIS or LEE from the Southern peo-
pie. But unless it be really true, the sacrifices
made by the Southern people we're too great,
the gallant lives lost were too numerous, the
scars still borne by many are too deep, to con.
cedc that it was all in the cause of rebellion
If he means merely that the war proved that
secession will over be imPracticabIe, We have
nothing more TO say. That is not at all the
question. But it must be remembered the
Federal troops were three to one, and armed
the majority of them with breach loading,
seven shooting rifles, and to say that tho re-
suit of such an unequal fight proved any
thing except that three men with the aggre-
gate number of twcnty-one shots, are more
than n match for one man with one shot. Is
carrying the doctrine of Divine interposition
too far. The result could not have been
altered except by miracle, quite equal to the
one that gave so inordinate an appetite to
Pharoah's lean kline.
Our objection to the cry-now becoming
too commOn-that "thc war settled secession"
is that it may mean almost nothing or alto.
gether too much. 1t will, therefore, never do
for plank in the Democratic platform. Tn.
explained, 1t does not keep broad enough the
line of demarkatiou between the two parties.
While standing upon it, one would never feel
certain that he was not upon the work erected
by whitc-washed Radicals, or weak>kneed
Democrats. We do not know enough of tho
autecedentS of the "!StaIeSman" to charge
that he belongs either to tho one or to the
other of these classes but simply that all
persons calling themselves Democrats. and
making use of this cry unexplained, place
themselves in false position. To deny to
the States rights that must exist somewhere
and which were never surrendered BY them.
may be keeping the promise of democracy to
the ear but 1t is certainly breaking it TO the
hope. The doctrines of Estate lines" and
"Sirict construction" may be "fossils," but if
so, Democracy is fossil too. Without them.
the party will very much resemble the play
of Hamlet with the character of the prince
OF Denmark left out, and Southern man
may then truly ask "whcre shall / 90 ~
Without them, the only alternatives presented
are, either the dissolution of the Union by the
withdrawal Of the States in Crours. or a con.
s"IIdatcd central despotism at Washington
UGh item, by the cultivation of a spirit of
mutual torbearancc, the country may vet be.
come grand constellation of Repubiics.
stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific
one Government in its entire foreign inter.
course, aud in its ready resentment of insults
or injuries offered to any, or to all, of its
members :. but many in the regulation BY
each State of its OWL internal, local affairs
The longer We live the more profound be-
comes our reverence FOR tho intellect of that
greatest POLITICAL genius the country has ever
produced 7homGs jefferson. Without the
light of af'cr events, he clearly saw that the
country was too vast, the interest too conflict.
ing, and the habits of the people too differ,
ent to he held together Ly J1rcc. The doc
tr'ne OF State Sovereignty, therefore, would
act as check upon any combination of ma
Jor'ty OF the States to defeat the interests of
mlnoIity,nnd thus the States afraid OF the 60.
ccssion oFsome Of their number, and prompt-
ed by their love for the Union, created
by the ordeal through which they had lust
passed, would mutually adopt a kindly and
concilatOry course. Ii this was indeed his
idea, 1t may have been big mistake. but VIC
are humbly OF opinion that if it had aIwoVs
been living and an active principle in the
administration OF the Government We shouId
have had no war, the States would still have
been really united, and We should lave rs.
capped the despOtism into which We have now
driitcd.
FIRE IN BALTIMoRE.-A FIRE occurred in
Sharp street, Baltimore, on Monday, 22d inst.
IN the large warehouse, No, %, occupied by
VIM. II. Brown & Bro. importers Of drug,
Sists' supplies. ! he stock aud building wero
entirely destroyed. No. %, occupied by
Stelman, Liurichs & Co, importers of notions