Year: 1862

principles These principles have ever been
the North Star, its rudder and compass To
talk Of this Government IS 10 talk of Democ-
racy-to love this Government is 10 love De
mocracy; TO be a patriotic citizen of this
Government is to be lover and admirer of
Democracy-is 10 be Democrat


Democracy is the fundamental principle Of
our GoTernment-its Constitution and It's laws
are peculiarly Democratic. Democracy and our
Government are one. and in this Government
we find the highest and most perfect form of
Democracy, which has as yet entered into the
formation Of any system of Government. They
are one, and We might say inseparabe. 1t is
only run on Democratic principles 1t was
started on them, il will run on no other Fig
ure ii as you may frame as many sectional
Chicago platforms as you please illuminate as
many reasonable secession dogmas as you WILL
it is impossible TO make the masheen " run
to them. The masheen " was started upon
Democratic princples-it has since run on
those principles, aud when it is attempted to
run ii upon any other, civil war is the result
The least attempt to abrogate or ignore the
principles of Democracy, which lie at the foun-
dation Of our Government, and which are set
forth in our Constitution, and on which ii was
intended il should run, by attempting to run
it upon either of these reasonable falacies
will surely end in a failure-it ever will, as it
has now, result in civil war


The Inauguration of our Government marked
an era in governmental philosophy and forma-
tion, which philosopers and statesmen love to
contemplate. 1t was the grandest reform that
ever blessed the people of any age 1t was a
terror to tyrants, kings, and oppressors, wher-
ever existing. but the glory of the people and
the lovers of liberty the wide world over
Never before was a government formed ex-
pressly for the aggrandzement of the people :;
never before was a government formed upon
the principle of self government never before
was government inaugurated and carried for
ward upon the consent of the governed Why,
our popular and Democratic form of govern
ment was so novel and magnificent that its
enemies abroad thought it but glittering toy,
aud were pleased to call ii a bubble" and
when our unfortunate civil war commenced,
they averred that the bubble had burst -
but its enemies at home-party enemies-often
unconsciously exclaim " This is the very best
Government on the face of the green EARTH
The best Government ever vouchsafed to
man." etc.


Other and older governments rest upon
standing armies, hired soldery the more
the bayonets the stronger the government =
Our Democratic form of Government rests in
the affections Of the people it finds its strength
in the milduess aud equality of its laws. Sow
ereignty with those is Inherited by the mon
arch or king, is a centralized power, consoli-
dation; in ours it remains with the people,
and delegated by them when forming a State
or General Government, in which it exists as
distributed and delegated sovereignty. In
those, the people are the servants of the law
makers, the subjects of those who legislate for
their taxation and oppression in ours, the
law makers are the servants of tie people, and
legislate for their protection and welfare, and
for securing to them more of their rights aud
greater measure for freedom.


Democracy, therefore, in our system of gov
ernment, was truly grand reform. Our war
of the Revolution has been fought, and by it
we established and wrote in letters of precious
blood, the right of three millions of people to
selfgovernment


But amid the wreck of war people may
temporarily lose sight of their political liber-
ties, sudden revolution may for time impede
a successful practice of Democratic principles; !;
wicked and gigantic rebellions may for the
time being subvert Democratic form of gov
ernment, yet if the people are fully enlightened
and thoroughly comprehend these just and be-
nign principles, these checks can be but tenn
porary. Now, if the American people have
been fully imbued during the past eighty
years with the principles of self-government,
land the people must be enlightened before q
reform can be successful but indoctrinate the
people with your ideas, and your reform is al
ready established) I say, if the people are thor
oughly imbued, and fully appreciate the princi
pies of selfgovernment and constitutional
liberty, then the reform is permanent and last
ing. Not all the shock of war, nor influence
OF rebellion, can stay its successful progress.


But if the people have failed to comprehend
these principles, and to properly appreciate
them If, in a national calamity or civil com
motion, when these principles are put to trial
We resort to the means of despots and tyrants
TO heal the discord, instead of listening to the
genius of our Government, and inventing some
just and benefcent laws if we forsake our
principles in the hour Of danger, and flee to