Year: 1859

We find in the philadelphia FfesS, full re-
port of the proceedings of the Union State
Rights Democratic Convention, held at Harris
burg, Pa, April 18th. We make the following
extract from the address adopted by the Con-
vention


There is no well-setted Democratic priucple
which we are not willing to adopt and eager TO
defend. We yield unfaltering obedience to the
great principle Of selfgovernment which under
lies our Institutions, and forms the cornerstone
of Democracy No man who is faithless to this


no matter by what name be may be called
can Justly be considered a Democrat and1Ne
will be as unyielding and exacting in car ens
dorsements of this vital doctrine asils Import
anee requires. We agree with SeHerson il ot.
preciating the Importance of an Economical "a
ministraton of the Government, Md for that
reason do not hesitate to denouncc 3hn fearful
extravagance which has been sanctidNNg By uns
faithful public servants. We also beiieveANft1
him that one of the surest preventatires against


the establishment of despotism is the preserva-


tiOn of the strength of local Governments from


the encroachments of Federal power; and,
therefore, we protest against the covert attack
made upon the Governor Of Pennsylvania by
the pensioned agents Of the National Admins
tration, on account of his manlness in rebuk-
ing its dependents, aud denounce the persistent
efforts which have been made to control the pol
itics of the country by the sklful use of the pat
ronage and money of the Federal Government.


We agree with Jackson, that "the Federal
Union must and shall be preserved . and there
fore we seek to advance principles which should
command the confidence and deserve the sup
port of the people of all sections Of this Union,
aud shun with abhorrence the ultrasm of Sec
tionalists of the South and Of the North. Warn
~ tho af ha iyvO nf
the Imminent danger which threatens the vital
principles of The Democratic party If it is to be
entirely surrendered TO the control of Southern
seetionalists and corrupt Admuistrationists, we
protest against their action in decided terms
and will sterDly resist alike the demand made
In defiance of the pledged faith Of the Demo-
cratic party. for the interference Of the Federal
Government TO protect or force slavery into
Territories against the will of their inhabitants,
aud the clamors for the exclusion of slavery
within them by Congressional action. and for
an enforced similarity in the institutions of all
the States through the exercise of Federal innu-
ences. While we have no antpathy against the
people of the South, and are ready to do our
utmost to preserve and strengthen every Con-
stitutioual guarantee they possess, we are
equally determined to defend to the uttermost
the rights of the people of the North, aud the
rights of the settlers of the Territories TO form
and regulate their domestic Institutions In their
own way. The past history of the Democratic
party has been such as to Inspire us with hope
that, if its movements are characterized by
proper wisdom and forbearance, it may again
commend itself to the confidence Of the nation.
But this can never be done, if it is to be com


mtted TO Southern ultraists il it is 10 be a


mere sectional organization for the advance


ment and protection Of the interests of slavery


in defiance of the vital principles of free Gov


ernment, and if the Democracy of the North
are to be forced into position revolving to the
Judgment and patriotism Of the people Of free
States


Every observer of the events of the last two


momentous years cannot fail TO perceive that


the disunion sentiment has Leen greatly
strengthened in the Southern States by the pol


icy of the Federal Administration. Encour-
aged by this policy, the extreme men of the


South have not only abandoned the accepted


creed of the Democratic party, but make The


acceptance of their new sectional platform the
condition of their cooperation with the party
and even of their continuance in the Union.
The very last movement in the South indicates
the formation of Southern party in contradis-
tnction to the Republican organization OF the
North and the Charleston MercHy the organ
of these extremists, announces that "the Demo
cratic party exists only in the south" and
THAT il is Southern party, and nothing else"


II these preparations indicate anything, they
assuredIy mean that the day is fast approach
ina so much dreaded by the Father of his Coun-
try, and that henceiorth this happy eOnfederacy
will be divided into geographical parties, each
intent upon ts own interests, and each the in-
furiated foe Of the other. There can be no
union of these States upon sectional platform.
We must stand together on constitutional prin-
cpes. or surrender the Republic to incurable
divisions.


We are here also as law-obeyiDg Democrats.
We desire to be understood as uph0lding the |
principles Of the Federal Constitution. aud the
statute laws enacted under them, and Of resist !
lug those who are violating them. We are
here to call upon every citizen to assist us in
the Constitution and laws as they |
are aud 10 declare that there is no higher law
North or South which can Justify any man in
doing violence to either. We arraign the Fede-
raj Administration as the worst enemy the Fed
era Constitution has ever had, as having at
tempted to weaken that instrument in the af-
lectious of the people by allowing the laws en-
acted TO carry out its provisions to be wrested
from their true meaning or to be ruthessly vlo'
lated We arraign that Administration for es-
tablishing a precedent by which the money OF
the people is 10 be used to corrupt the elections
in utter disregard of law. We arriagn il for its |
unconstitutional war upon State rights and
State equality for its assaults upon the inde- |
pendence Of ihe representatives Of the people |
in Congress assembled for its despotic pro-
scription of men for opinions sake for the alb
sence Of frugality and integrity in its depart !
ments for lie guilty profers of brbes to a por-
ton Of its Own people, as well as to those Of
distant foreign government and finally, for
bringing the name Of our Republic into dis
grace and shame before the nations Of the eart1.
And all these, not merely without law, but
against law not merely with no warrant from
the Constitution. but in deliberate violation oil
its letter and its spirit. Our duty in such an
emergency rises above mere party duty. II
is far more sacred impulse and conviction
that compels us to come forward to protest
against vice and aggression which must over
throw the liberties OF the people. and add an
other failure to the long procession of extinct
republics. uulets averted at once and forever.
We are unwilling that the enemies of this
Union, either in this or in other lands, should
hold the American people responsible for the
manifold transgessions Of those who have be-
4 f. I'll. r. hn rfH both tfol