The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-12
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
BOUGER'S POSTOFFICE
Concordia Parish. La, August 9. 1879.

BouGERs PosToFFICE,
Concordfa Parish La, August 3. 1879.
no the Editor of the Democrat:
The election of Gen. Harrison was certainl,
q defeat for the Democrats, but subseauen
events demonstrated the fact that the peopl
Intended this rebuke more for Mr.. Van Burel
personally than as an abandonment of Demo
cratic principles.
The Harrison-Tyler administration was op
posed by the Democrats and feebly supported
by the Federalists, who had no heart In tn
Wing measures only so far as they opposed
Democracy, and fell to pieces like rope o
sand.
In 1914 the Wings presented Mr.. Clay agail
for President, Mr.. Polk being the Democratic
nominee, and Jas. e. Birney the Federalist ol
Anti-slavery party, as 1t was now called
The Federalist from this time separated from
the Wings finally and forever.
With the election Of Mr.. Polk the Dem.
Ocrats again came into power, and soon after
his accession to power the constitution was
again put to the test In an aggressive war
with Mexico. The call for troops was re-
sponded to with alacrity, the patriotism OF
the people was equal to the emergency, the
war was prosecuted with vigor and brought
to successful termination, resulting In a
large and valuable acquisition Of territory
TO the country and great honor to the troops
engaged in the war, all done without the in
fraction Of letter Of the constitution, dem
onstrating for the third time the power Of
the government under the constitution to
prosecute not only war Of defense, but one
OF aggression. This war not only develop
ed the resources Of the country, adding
largely to Its domain, but 1t also developed
the animus OF the Federal or anti-slavery
party, which was expressed In Congress by
Owen Loveioy, a leading light Of his party, who
said 81 hope the Mexicans will welcome
cur soldiers to hospitable graves with bloody
hands,"
In the canvass of 184S the Democrats pre-
scented Lewis Cass for President, the Wings
the name OF Gen. Taylor, the hero Of Buena
Vista, q non-partisan; the Federals, or Free
Soilers,' as they were now called, Martin
Van Buren, and Charles Francis Adams, a son
of John Quincy Adams for Vice President
Here we find Martin Van Buren, figuring at the
head of the ancient and constant enemies Of
the Democracy. The result Of the election
was the success of Gen. Taylor, whose purity
and patriotism was unquestioned, which,
combined with his military fame, made him
irresistible before the people.
The lovers Of Republican government can
not but reflect with pleasure upon the wis
dom displayed by the people Ia 1910 In COM
polling Mr.. Van Buren, to step down and OUT
FOR intuitively they seemed to understand
that he was q wolf In Sleeps clothing not
withstanding the Endorsement OF their lead
ers. His present position was demonstration
clear as "Holy Writ that the people had
acted wisely.
ton and was succeeded BY Mr. Fillmore; but,
like the Harrison-Tyler administration. failed
TO satisfy the country, and were totally routed
by the Democrats In 1852, with Gen. Pierce as
their candidate, Gen. Winfield Scott being the
Wing nominee. The rout was 50 complete
that as q political organization they never
appeared again. Mr. John T.. Hale had the
honor Of representing the Free Sellers in this
canvass.
The Federals never allowed decade to pass
without uttering something that would infal-
libby connect with their progenitOrs, and to
show that they We're true disciples OF their
fathers. Mr.. Seward, about this time, made
his celebrated higher law speech, and from his
place In the Senate declared that he held his
credentials from Almighty God and was not
bound by the enactments Of man. William
Lloyd Garrison, the founder Of the LiberdtOr,
In 1882. declared that the Constitution was
q league with hell and a covenant with the
devil" Such expressions kept the line I'm
broken.
About this time the Know Nothing party
rose and swept like comet over the Eastern
Gratis, but without avail until It struck the
Old Dominion, when Henry A. Wise, the
nominee OF the Democratic party for Cover
nor, struck 1t a death blow, and ever after its
less trunk. This was the fruit from the seed
Sown during John Adamss administration.
The campaign OF 1856 was very important
and exciting one. James Buchanan was the
Democratic nominee; Nh Fillmore was nomi-
mated by the Know Nothing or American
party, and the Federalists. now called RE
publicans,' Gen. John G. Fremont, who re-
celved a very large vote about one million
three hundred Thousand. This heavy vote
alarmed the country, for those who were
posted in the history Of parties knew full
well that the old blue light Federalists still
lived in this organization, and that their sue
cess meant trouble and bloodshed, and time
has established the fact that they were not
mistaken, but their fears have been terribly
realized. MIR. Buchanan was elected, and
during his administration the John Brown
raid occurred, which was significant only in
the fact that it indicated the animus Of that
cast their shadows before AS an evidence
that he was Endorsed by them, he is to this
day considered martyr in the cause.
The campaigno of 1860 was momentouS one
but unwise councils prevailed in the Demo-
cratic party. They felt strong, satisfied that
the country was Democratic to the core; al
lowed themselves to be split up into factions,
and made the nominations. Mr. Douglas was
offered by one wing, and Mr.. Breckenridge by |
the other. The American party nominated
Mr.. Bell; the Republicans Mr.. Lincoln. The
canvass was utter TO the extreme Mr. Lin
coin and MIR. Seward both claiming in public |
speeches the ''irrepressbie conflict" that Is
that this government could not stand half |
Tree and half slay. that either all must be |
free or all must be slaves. and the platform |
upon which Mr.. Lincoln was nominated de-
clared that Congress should prohibit slavery
IN the Territories. MI. Lincoln was elected |
lover million majority voting against himl |
showing clearly that the hearts of a majority
OF the people were opposed to him and his ag-
gressive policy.
The election Of NJ. Lincoln caused deep
gloon to spread over the land like pall: his |
election upon the platform named and the
sentiments expressed by him during the can
vass was considered by the slave-holdinp
States as sufficient evidence that their inter-
ests would be- attacked by the incoming Fed |
nEal ion thus