The Rock Island Argus., 1882-03-10
pEMocRATTc PRINCIPLES.

i
that we should claim that the principles of
the fathers of the republic are the princi-
pies Of the Democratic party. 1t adraits,
however, that the great author of the
Declaration of Independence was its found
er. That, at least, is one of the truths
which are self evident, for no man who
wrote or believes in that great instrument
could be other than q Democrat But the
Journal has discovered that Mr.. Jefferson
did not support the adoption of the federal
constitution. On the 9th of September,
1892, in a letter to Gen. Washington, he
defends himself from newspaper attacks
in his day, as we summon him to dc to-
day against the Journal He wrote that he
is charged with having written letters
from Europe to my friends to oppose the
present constitution, while depending"
''The charge" he wrote, lis most false
| approve az much of the constitution as
most persons, and more of it was disap-
proved by my accuser than by me, and of
its parts most vitality republican. My OBJ
lection to the constitution was the want of
bill of rights-Col. Hamilton's, that it
wanted king and house of lords. The
sense of America has approved my object
ion and added the bill of rights, and not
the king or lords" John Hancock Sam
Adams, Elbridge Gerry, and hosts of 9TH
ers of those old Democrats, were not will
ing to adopt the constitution without
amendment, and John Hancock, although
president of the Massachusetts convention.
ana sick at the time. was carried into the
convention to offer the nine amendments
with which they hoped to succeed in
adopting it. The first was as follows:
THAT it explicitly declares that all powers
not expressly delegated are reserved to the
several states to be by them exercised
In his message, February 81, 1888 Gov,
Hancock reporting the action of the con-
venticn to the legislature, said: The OBJ
jeet to the proposed constitution are, defense
against external enemies and the promotion
of tranquility and happiness among the
states" The Journal hugs the delusiOn
that Alexander Hamilton believed in ma
tion, centralized monarchy, after the
adoption of the federal constitution. What
ever honest opinion Alexander Hamilton
held as monarchist previous to the adopt
ion of the constitution, he laid aside, and
in the New York convention said: Il in
sist that it never can be the interest or de-
sire of the national Legislature to destroy
state governments" ri
and propheticaIly added: THE states can
never lose their powers till the whole peo-
pie of America are robbed of their liberties. |
these must go together: they must support
each other, or meet one common fate.
It is stated by the journal that the foun-
aers of the Democratic party especially |
The author of the Declaration, also wrote
he Virginia resolutions of 1859. We |
will not stop to dispute as to whether JEFF
'erson or Madison wrote them. Mr.. JEFF |
'erson wrote the Kentucky resolutions of
1898, and both these series of denuncia
ions of the alien and seditioh laws were
7ery popular and excellent resolutions
The second of the Virginia resolutions is as
ollows: That this assembly most solemn
y declares warm attachment to the union
# the states; to maintain which it pledges
IS powers; and that, fer this end, it is
heir duty to watch over and oppose every
nfraction of those principles which con-
titute the only basis of that Union, be-
lone secure its existence and the public
appiness." This resolution seems to con-
rm Mr.. Hamilton's idea and we com
1end its study to the esteemed Journal.
f it does not like the doctrine, perhaps the
rst of the Kentucky resolutions will please
better, which asserted the doctrine that
state has party to a compact, and had
right to decide for itself s'its mode and
,easure of redress" for wrongs inflicted by
ne federal government. If not, we would
sfer it to its own files, and let it read the
solutions of its own party when it was
believer in the doctrines of the fathers of
ls republic, before it lugged in damnable
eresies to defle their work. It will find,
ord for word, without change. Mr.. JEFF
,rson's first Kentucky resolution, on thei
9Th of May, 1859, as a convention on the
Sons of Liberty" in Cleveland Ohio-yes,
over by Hon. Joshua r.
iddings, presented by Hon. Ben. f. Wade. q
nee Republican acting e-president; '
lat Hon. Salmon p. Chase. then Republi-l ?
IN governor of Ohio and since chief jus e
ce of the United States, made an eloquent
beech indorsing the resolution, and ex
ov. William Dennison, since a cabinet (
fcer under Republican administration,
rote letter indorsing it. The fugitive
ave law was fought on this doctrine in
massachusetts, by the great statesman;
obert Rantoul, Jr., and by r. Ell. Dana, =
It was the corner stone of the eonven
,n which nominated Lincoln in 1860 and
und no warmer supporter than Gov. An
ews. We regret that the esteemed jour
U has deserted the early principles of its
'rty to ''follow the false lights on the A
ore" We again repeat what we before a,
serted, to-wit: that the Democratic party 7,
the republic, because it alone upholds,
otects and defends the immortal princi-
es of Washington, of Jefferson, of Madi-
n and Sam Adams upon which this re i
blic is founded; upon which it alone can