Year: 1862

cess Dut nave succeSslVely disappeared from
history. This was not accidental. The Dem
ocratic party was as subject to accident a its
rivals. 1t has been frequently defeated. But
it has survived all its defeats, while its ancient
enemies have not survived occasional success.
The reason is apparent. II was founded on
the true principles of our Government, and
guided by true sympathy with the spirit of
American Institutions They rested in a mar
rover comprehension of the genius of the
American people, and In mistaken views of
the principles of the Constitution. They died
the death of error; it lives the life of truth.


The history of the country is the history of
the Democratic party. With occasional in
termissions, it has administered the National
Government and guided the mark of Ameri-
can history. Under its influence, the true
spirit of the Constitution displaced the mar
row and un-American comprehension of our
system of Government which originally pre-
vailed, and gave tone to the Administration
Of the elder Adams. Under its influence the
commercial and economical interests of the
country were emancipated from the hot house
system of tariffs and currency, which bound
American energy and skill in the chains of
European theory. Under its leadership, the
American flag was carried in glory through
war, and sent in peace floating in security over
all the seas of commerce. Under its leader
ship the area of the country was almost
doubled, and new fields of enterprise we're
populated by prosperous American commu-
mites. Under the guidance of no other party
was any great stride made in civil or com
mercial prosperity, was war ever waged
with foreign enemy, was an acre of territory
ever added to our vast domain. The Demo-
cratic party led the country from its feeble
and poor condition at the beginning of the
present century, to the great and glorious
empire of freedom, the unparalleled political
and material prosperity, in which it met with
its last defeat in the Presidential election of
1860.


Such defeats of the great party of the
country never before carried with them per-
manent evil to the nation. The old opponents
of the Democracy took the Administration of
the Government upon its defeat, and surren-
dered it again upon its success, the Constitu-
ton and the Union remaining unimpalred.
The ancient antagonists of the Democracy,
whatever their sins of doctrine or action were
national parties, resting upon no sectional
policy, representing no sectional constituency.
When in power, they administered the Gov
ernment upon the policy of majority of the
whole country. When in opposition they
spoke for a minority of the whole country.
They were loyal because they were national.
The Union was safe, because they were loyal
Their success was harmless to the Constitu-
ton, because it was the defeat of constitu-
tional party, and not of the spirit of the Con-
itself.


The defeat of the Democratic party in 1860
has been followed by the revolt of several of
the States from the Union, and by the present
terrible civil war, because it was defeated by
a sectional party. We reprobate that revolt,
as unnecessary, unjusti6able, unholy. Devo-
ted to the Constitution, we invoke the ven-
geance of God upon all who raise their sacre-
hgiOus hands against it, whether wearing the
soft gloves of peace or the bloody gauntlets
of war. But we affirm that the revolt and
consequent civil war were long foretold and
probable result of the accession to power of
a sectional party, because their success was
the defeat of the spirit of the Constitution.


In so vast union of States, OF such differ
ing interests, habits and institutions, the dam
ger Of sectional parties to the peace and per-
manence to the Union, was early foreseen by
the fathers of the Constitution. The Father
of his Country, himself, gave voice to these
in his Farewell Address in
1896. He passed eulogium upon the Union,
which no tongue or pen has since improved.
He urged the "unity of the Government
which constitutes us one people" He i'm
pressed upon the nation, that it was 'a main
pillar in the edifce of our real independence;
the support of our tranquility at home; of our
power abroad, of our safety, of our prosperi-
ty, of the very liberty which we so highly
In, of be
the people and their posteTity against the
dangers it might encounter, and with his
parting words invoked them "indignantly TO
frOwn upon the first dawni,g of every atteml
to ALLEVIATE any portion of our country from
the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which
now linked together the various parts" He
enlarged upon the mutual dependence of the
various parts of the country, North and South,
East and West; he warned us against parties
founded on geographical determinations
whence designing men may endeayor to ex-
cite belief that there is a real difference of
local interests and views" He foretold that
lone of the expedients of party is to acquire
influence within particular districts, is to mis-
represent the opinions and aims Of other dis
tricts." He forewarned US that "we could
not shield ourselves too much against the
jealouses and heart-burnings which would
spring from these misrepresentation, which
tend to render aliens to each other, those who
ought to be bound together by fraternal alfec-
tion." Fearful prophecy, fearfully fulfilled
How the great spirit of the illustrious Wash
ington would have mourned had he been able
to foresee the tull and terrible measure of the
danger he foretold, the insane and terrible
disregard of his holy advice which has accom-
plished it.


There was no reason why the several States
of the Union should not have abided together
in harmony for all time. Their domestic in
stitutions, their social condition, and their
habits of life, differed indeed from the begin
ming. And, in the language of General
jackson, ''this difference was unavoidably in
creased by the varying principles upon which
the American colonies were originally planted;
principles which had taken deep root in their
social relations before the revolution, and
therefore, of necessity, influencing their policy
since they become free and independent


States" The progress of all the States was
great, but frequently in different directions.
But the Constitution left to the several States
the exclusive control of their domestic con-
Germs; and had the spirit of Constitution pre-


vailed, differences of domestic institutions


would never have disturbed the peaceful re-
lations of the States in the Union. The


slavery of the African race formed from the


beginning the most important and dangerous


of these differences. The Constitution was a


compact of compromises, and in no instance


more wisely or generously so than in relation


to the institution of slavery. And had the


several States of Union abided in their poll


ties by that necessary and magnanimous spirit


of compromise. the Union would now be un-