The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-08-17

D
ties; he had none Of their diabolical
hatred for the Constitution he did not
lend his lips to their ribald blasphemies,
and his feet were peyer swift 10 running
to shed innocent blood. Before the
great conflict began, his opposition to
the designs of the Abolitionists against
the Federal aud State Governments,
impelled him to the opposite heresy of
the secessionists, Like the Roman
father, who killed his daughter to save
her from worse fate, he chose to de-
stroy the Government, rather than see
it dishonored and violated by lawless
force. When the war was fragrant, he
provoked the EXTREMIST rage Of his as
sociates by exerting himself for peace
which would have lett all the people in
possession Of their constitutional liber.
ties. After the close Of the contest, he
was the advocate of regular and legal,
as well as honest government for all
parts of the country. / have good au.
thority for saying that he never gave
his approval to any form of kidnapping,
or murder, by military commission. 10
short, although he did join the Aboli.
tionists in their "devil's dauce," he
never learned to keep step with his
partners, and we all know that when he
could not stop it, he left it, aud denouuc.
ed it with becoming indignation.
On another point he ought to have
credit The friends of religious free
dom owe him an old debt of gratitude
for the zeal aud ability with which he
resisted the church burners when band
ed together in the secret lodges Of the
Know-Nothing order 1t is but reason.
able to believe that his opposition saved
the country from the great danger it
was once ia OF being bjugated by that
infamous organization.
He has often been accused Of com.
plicity in cheats Of one kind or another,
but in every case he has triumphantly
refuted the charges. For this, and for
other reasons, conclude that his per-
sonal integrity is without stain.
He has many times spoken of the
Democratic party aud its most honored
members in harsh aud abusive terms
These are faults Of manner, aud Of
temper, which, when mended, are always
pardoned. We will not permit our
judgment to be disturbed by considera-
tions SO trtling as this.
/ have looked into his past history
only to ascertain what he is now and
what he is likely to be in the future.
am bound to care nothing for his "an.
tecedents," except as they furnish the
means of estimating his character. /
think | have found out with reasonable
certainty how far we may confde in
him. | dsvoutly believe that, if chosen
President, be will keep his oath, pre-
serve the Constitution inviolate, execute
the laws faithfully, restore the States to
their rightiul autonomy, protect indi.
vidual liberty by jury trial aud haboas
corpus, put the military 10 proper sub
ordination to the civil authority, use
neither force nor fraud to carry elec-
tions, keep his hands clean from cor.
rupting gifts, set his face like flint
against all manner Of financial dishon-
esty, purify the Administration of JUS
tice as much as in him lies, maintain
the public credit by prompt discharge
Of all just obligations, economic the
revenue and tighten taxation, give 10
capital the right which belongs to it,
and at the same time see that labor is
not robbed Of its earnings. lie will
certainly hold his power Of appointment
as public trust, aud not as a part Of
his personal possession to be used for
the support Of his family, or to encour.
age the private liberality of his friends.
He will, so far as he eau without trans
crossing the limits OF his legal authority,
relieve the Southern States from the
gangs that are now preying upon their
vitals in open partnership with the
present Administration.
| think he will do all this; and my
faith is founded on the testimony of his
friends and enemies, on the known facts
of his history, and on the moral infu.
euce which the Democracy will neces.
sarily exert upon his conduct. The
errors Of his past life were caused by
certain evil communications from which
he has clean escaped. He heads great
revolt against wickedness 10 high places,
and | do not believe he will 70 back
upon us aud be guilty Of tho same
wickedness himself.
The contrast between the two candi
dates being SO very strong, no fair
minded Democrat can doubt what he
ought to do Yet, the reluctance which
many of us feel to vote for either Of
than "a hard 10 ovarnau,o III ..I