The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-10-14


but helping the enemy in every possible
way. 1t was while England had her tight
est grasp on the throat of the nation that
the Hartford convention was called to dis
member il; and this, Mr.. Jefferson says,
they would have accomplished but for the
battle Of New Orleans and the Peace Of
Ghent. John Quincy Adams in 1889,
and Abraham Lincoln in 1847, made elab-
orate arguments in favor af the legal right
Of a state to go out. The later abolition
lists did not attempt to conceal their ran
corous hostility to the union. "No union
with slayeholders',, was one Of their watch
words, and down to the opening of the war
its destruction was the ayowed object Of
their Vaccinations.
There is one conclusive proof of your
enmity to the union, and that is your un-
wayering opposition to the constitution
which held the states together. You know
as well as | do how absurd it is.to suppose
that any man or party can support the
union, aud at the same time trample on
the constitution and you certainly are
not ignorant that you and your predeces-
sors, from the earliest times, have been
anti-constitutional in all your procliVities.
Contemptuous disregard of constitutional
obligations is not now the mere germ Of a
doctrine; it is part of your settled creed
Before the war, and since, you have trod-
den under foot every provision contained
in the great chapter of our liberties do
not speak at random. | challenge you to
designate single constitutional right of
the states, or Of individuals, which you
have not at some time, or in some way,
deliberately violated.
This contempt for the constitution, this
practical denial that an oath to support it
is sacred, implies disregard Of all laws,
human and divine, and when adopted, it
left nothing to guide you except the pro-
pensities, evil or good, of your natural
hearts. Many Of you (and notably you
yourself) contracted no individual guilt,
because you were too proud for petty lar
ceny, too benevolent for large handed rob
berry, and two full Of Kindness to break
wantonly into the tabernacle of human
life. But generally the moral principles
of the ultrl-aboltionists (if they ever had
any became so wholly perverted that they
saw nothing wrong in the worst offenses
that could be committed against their po-
litical opponents. In their eyes theft and
murder not only lost their felonious char.
acter, but became meritorious if the vic
tins lived south of Mason and Dixon's
line. When John Brown stole horses in
the peace of God and the state of Mis-
souri,, he was taking lawful booty; when
he sneaked into quiet Virginia village
on Sunday night and assassinated de-
fenseless citizens, he was hero, and when
he died felon's death ON the scaffold, to
which he was justly condemned, he became
q martyr. etF
You persist in misunderstanding the
ante-bellum attitude of the northern dem.
ocracy. We stood steadfastly by the union
against all attempts Of the New England
party to break it up by secession. We
sustained the constitution against the fero-
cious assaults of the abolitionists we Ia
bored earnestly to save republican institu-
tions from the destruction with which they
were threatened by you, and as long as
the southern people acted with US we CRATE
fully accepted their aid in the good work.
Your averment that the Democratic party
desired the aggrandizement of slavery, and
" yielded their. consciences" on that sub
subject to the South, is grossly unjust if
you mean to charge them with anything
more than willingness to protect the
as well as the northern and mid
le states in the exercise of their constitu-
tional rights. We had disposed Of slavery
within our own Jurisdiction according to
our sense Of sound policy and justice But
we had made an express compact with the
other states to leave the entire control Of
their domestic affairs to themselves. We
kopt our covenant simply because it would
have been gross dishonesty to break it.
The abolitionists took different view, and
refused to keep faith. They swore as SOL
emnly as we did to observe the terms of
The bargain. but according to their code IL
was a sin not to violate h The fact is
true that we did not think il right to cut
the throats, or shoot or stranale the men
,r women Of the South for BELIEVING in
negro slavery but that Is no justification
,f your assertion that we vielded our com
sciences to them. l.'.i - l10i1 "
Aoain: You charge ne (tbe northern
with boy;no given had advice
d the southern neonle This consisted
vou saw IL assuring them that If thew se'
,edod we yould take tbeir mart aoa;nst anv
,ttemnt To force them hack ouainVipto The
,n;on This il a cross error and Won
viii see Il when / recall your attention to
.be facts Tn ali our exbortat;ons to
,ontbern men aoa;nst secession we were
net bv tho exnression of their fear that
be obol;tionists intended n anv event 10
nvode and slonebter them Rome reason
;or his annrebension was o;ysn bv tbe
;erce IL threats If your lead;ng men and es
,ec;allv bv vour almost un;versaI admire.
;on of Rroyn for HE r,;d ;n,o V;rc;n;a
ysrt,;n democrats TanJ very GOOD men
ooI J;d then declare that i,vIsss oxno
wv Nae NsaNe NSe-efAS ~f@NN soVsN'D S4PN