Year: 1859

and unworthy, and the party still marches
forward to accomplish its high destiny with
out turning from its path to win back the
wanderer or avoid his hostility or opposition.
Such being our creed, and such being the
position of parties here, we doubt not but
that the Democracy will see to it in each
county, that boilers, disturbing fusionists,
and Black Republicans, be kept out of our
primary assemblages. Let the sturdy De
mocracy control their own meetings; and if
afterwards they fail to secure the nominee
of their choice, they will at least have the
satisfaction of knowing that they did not
solicit aid from a fusion of the "odds and
ends for the attainment of that object


Fellow Democrats, your committee would
call your attention to the fact that the op-
position have repeatedly charged upon us
that considerable section of the Demo
cracy is personal party-wedded, irretriev-
ably, to the fortunes of our present dele
gate in Congress Whatever of truth there
may be in this, the limits of this address will
not permit us to go into an investigation of
the cause, or the circumstances attending its
origin. 1t is sufficient for our purpose at
this time to say that ioe deny the existence of
such party in The Democratic ranks, dis
connected from principle, unless IL be amongst
those lchO hare banded together in solemn
,ooreadnt, and s0Orn that he should not be re-
turned, if they could prercnt IL. If there is
a STEVENS and anti-SrEvENs party in the
Territory, they were breathed into existence,
or at least took definite shape during the
progress of the Indian war Of 1866, and
up to the present time, the former have but
been resisting the aggressions of the latter.
Yonr committee peremptorily ignore all
personal parties in politics, inasmuch as per-
sonal preferences constitute no portion of
our creed. We deny that any man or set
of men have anything like a pre-emption
right upon the party, and hold that a man
may be a Democrat without being anybody's
man. Our experience has been that de-
moralization and defeat sooner or later over
take all purely personal parties in politics.
With steadfast adherence to the principles
and asages of the party leaving rival aspi-
rants for place on,a common and equitable
level to fight their own battles, and stand
or fall by their own acts, or by the course Of
policy marked out by themselves, the masses
will not fail to make use of wise discrimi-
nation in their choice of such members
thereof for public serN ants as will best pro-


mote the public good. The idea that the


Democratic party belongs to this or that


class of politicians-to this or that leader,


is libel upon its name, and an insult to


the masses who compose it. Our views on


this subject are fully and concisely express


ed in the following extract from an article


which appeared in the Richmond South Q


short time prior to the assembling of the


Democratic State Convention in Virginia


ait Is still more irrational to talk of parceling out


the Virginia Democracy among this and that aspiring


leader. They are exclusively concerned for th,


triumph Of principles and they care nothing for moI


except as instruments for the attainment Of their oh


jects in the policy Of government schism Of tht
shells is impossible among the Democracy Of thi


State They are the property OF no individual. Sena
tor Hunter was his special admirers; Governor Wis


has bis particular friends; but the Virginia Dcnoc


racy are neither Hunter men nor Wise men, SOM
prefer Mr.. LetcheT for Governor while others prele


Mr.. Faulkner; but 1t is difference which a conven


ton will adjust with exclusive reference to the in


terests Of the party These partiates inevitable


but they need result in no detriment to the Democ
racy 1t matters not with how much zeal partizal


may urge the claims Of particular aspirant, tina
nothing be dcrogated from the Just pretensions o


another. When, however, the interests of one MAJ


are attempted to be promoted at the expense Of


rivals reputation, and Democrats are preciptaed int


scandalous contest over personal issues, then IS Their
reason to apprehend the ruin of the party"


In connection with the above, we woulC
say, that we doubt not but that the Rich
, mond South, would fully concur with us il
: the suggestion that where quite number
: of political asprants for the same place
cohspire together for the purpose of break
ing down and causing the political ruin o
p zone man who may stand prominently in
n their way Of preferment, that such con
test would be equally scandalons, and cal
= culated to prove equally ruinous totth,
J party.


: Democrats of Washington, allow u
: again to congratulate you upon the fac
f that at each general election since th'
e organization of the territory you havt
! fought the opposition upon principle, undei
C various names and phases assumed b.
' them, and have come off ever victorious
Let the memories Of bye-gone days arouS
! you to the Importance Of the conflict whicl
: is to take place on the 10th day of Ma.
: next, for we are most assuredly Of opinion
S that a well drilled and disciplined organiza