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Modern Democracy

Modern Democracy image
Parent Issue
Day
3
Month
March
Year
1845
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A political is a number of persons CQínbined to effect particular objects thro' the exerciseof theirrigbtsascitizens. The persons cornposing a party muy varyin th?ir opinions & practices upon every sub jeetexcept that fot which fhey have uní tea, but on that there rnust be no división Hepce there can be no permanent politi cal party unless there be some one para mouni principie by which the course o the party shall be regulated. This prin ciple may require a succession of politi cal measures, by which it may be bes carried out, or best defended from oppo sing attacks. While all the measures o the party are consistent with its main principie, its identity is maintained, anc all the members are bound ín consisteney to support the measures which grow out o the fundamental principie they have a dopted. But when the party adoptb measures that are directly and perma nently aniogonistic to Ihat original and paramount principie on which the associa tion was basedj the members are not on ly released from all obl igations of honor 01 consisteney to support the party, buf the) are bound, by their allegiance to the firs principie of their party to make war upon the organizaron they once supporíed. - While the party went for that principie, they adhered to it: when the party sustains measures directly opposed to that principie, they must leave it, or confess themselves to be not the advocates of a principie, but of a mere organizaron. - íf they adhere to their party, they forsake their principies: if they be true to their principies, they must forsake their party-Let us apply these remarks to ihe Democratie party. Their professed principie of ciction is the maintenance of the rights of individuals agaihst the oppressions of the governmenf, or of aristocratie combinations. In maimaining this position, the party have adopted several successive raeasures as they became necessary. They wnged war pon a National Bank, upon the Distribution Law,andupon a High Profective Tariff. These measures they deemed inimicaf to the principie upon which their party was founded, and entertaining the views they did, they acted consistently in opposing thera. But the action of the party is now brought to bear not only negatively, ogainst these threatening evils, but positively, for the establishment of a favorite measure - the Annexation of Texas. - For this the old issues we re thrown aside. At the Baltimore Democratie Convention, the party was newly organized, with a new paramount object, for the establrshment of a new principie with a new test of membership, and under new leaders. - These changes were sufficient to constitute the orgnnization into a new party. Let us examine them for a moment in detail.1. There was a new and paramount party object - the Annexation of Texas. This was new, inasmuch as it had never before been adopted by the party. It was made paramount, as shown by the selectionofthe national candidates, by their answers to interrogatories, and by the course of the party papers, leaders and conventions diMng the Presidential canvass. It is claimed as a great party measure of surpassing importance. 2. Annexation involved the establishment of a neto principie - the extensión of the área, the influence and duration of slavery. It is in vain to deny the position of the Democratie party in this respect. The North does not want Texas at all. The Northern Democrats go for Texas because ihe southern wing of the party desire it. And why do the Slaveholders wish for Texas? That they may make more slave States to counteract the Free States which will be made from the national territory. Let Slavery be forever and irrevocably abolished in Texas, and the Siaveholders would labor as hard against its annexation as a free State, as they now do for joining it to our Union,as a slave state. As a free State.it would be a curse to their institution: as a slave State, it would be an efFectual support. - The relative standing of the three national parties on the question of Slave ry may be thus stated: tbe Liberty pacty is for itiamediate extinetion: the Whig party for maintainingit precisely as it is: and the Dernocrats for extending and strengthening it by adding to its domain. The original principie of the party was the maintenance of individual rights: the present principie of the party is the support of Slaveholding - a monopoly more detestable & abhorrent than any other to which Democrats bave ditected theij; attention. , . 3. A neto test of membership has been established at (he head quarlers ofthe party. - Members of Congress who take ground against the scheaae are denounced as unwonhy of iheir ploces, and' the cause of ultímate disgrace and defeat to the party. They ure tolíl ibat if they de{ent a-nnexation, they may ex peet to be mark.ed by Mr. Polktion, and their personal expeetations will be defeated. We gave quotations to this effect in our paper of lasl week, and refcri-ed to Ihe case of Hon. John P. Male, of New Hampshire. "vho ís proscribed by the whole party of his State. The new test is now being made as fast as the Democracy will bear it. 4. This new organhation teas efected under new leaders.- Polk, Dallas, Walker, Calhoun- all prominent Slaveholders - are now the presiding spirits of the party, and are to give form and shape to its measures. Van Buren and other veterans of the party were Üirown aside, and men of ihirdand fourth rate distinclion in the party assumed its government, and will attempt to control the nation for tho next four years. Now, íf there be a new paramount party object - if ihat object be the extensión of slavery instead of Liberty - iF adherence to this is a necessary requisite ot party membership - and if new party leaders have been chosen who are fully devoted to the perpetuity of Slaveholding - we ask, vvhere is the ancient Democratie party? Where is its professed attachment to Freedom - to Equal Rights? Can it be that honest and intelligent men can be beguiled by the mere name of "Deanocracy" to support measures as far removed from its spirit as heaven is from heil? Adherence to the party which is fully committed to the support of Slavery can be nolonger wise, honc rabie, patriotie, or necessary.We invite the attention of Democrats to a consideration of these points, and will conclude with a single suggestion to to all members of the party. There is reason to beJieve that the Anne.xation of Texas will not take place. The difficulties are every day increasing. Should the Senate pass the pending Joint Kesolutioa, nothing certain will be effected. - The consent of Texas must be obtained, and the prospect of thatassent every day diminishes. Her territory is filling with foreign non-slaveholders who become citzens after six months residence,while the emigration. from the States is small. -Mexico is no Jonger in a condition to threaten Texas with war. Texas is large enough in extent to constitute an indejendent and power fui nation; and it is well knovvn that not a few of her ambitious spirits would prefer lo be the chiefs of a nation, rat her than that their country should be a mere adjunct of the Union. Besides, adv ices from Washington indícate strongly that the present Resolution will not pass the Senate. In this case, the chances for Annexntion at the next session will be less than at this, and will constantly diminish. The project will then have been airead}' twice defeated, and the large number of new mevnbers, fresh frdm the people, admonished by an iricreasing Liberty volé and a rising autislavery influence in all the Free States, will choose to obey their constituents at home. rather than the Slaveholding Executive at Washington.We repeat that there is good reason to believe that the project will fail of successj and the consequence will be that it will grow more and more odious to a mass of the people, until its infamy shall be recorded on the pages of the historian. We say, then, to all Democrats - Beware how you commit yourselves to a failing cause. You that have enlisted in it, go no further: you that have not supported it, be not drawn into it. If Annexation do not succeed, the antislavery feeling of the North will be redoubled on its defeat; and whatever channel it may take, it will carry all before it. But as the advice or prophecy of Abolitionists may be considered as interested, we subjoin a confirmation of our views from a recent letter of Hon. Edmund Burke, Member of Congress from New Hampshire, whoe zeal for Annexation and servility to slaveholders has never been doubted. Being a prophet of your own party, perhaps you will listen to him! "And I will take the liberty further to add, that if the Measure of annexation shall be defeated at this session of Congress, it will bedone by the quibblingand' pettifogging of New York politicians, in regard to the details; and then, these results will, in my belief, follow:It will necessarily make the annexation of Texas a leading measure of the new adminstration. It will be forced ypon the administraüon as a party measure, and parties in the Union will divide on that measure. It will break down the Democracy of New York, and throw her inevitably intothe hands of the Whig party. It will have the same effect in (Jonnedicut, and probably in Maino. In New Hampshi-re, whose Democracy has never wavered nor quailed in any crisis, we shall weather the storm. The end will be the prostration of the Democracy of New York, and all the States north of her, except New Hampshire, and the ascendency of a Northern partij, composedof Federalists, Abolitionists,. and renegado Democrats. And from all this. the democratie party will reap nothing but defeat and disgrace."

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News