The Montrose Democrat. (Montrose, Pa.) 1849-1876, August 20, 1857, Image 1

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6etrition, Tropriztors.
)tictt Vottrß.
.77-4
" 0- S IV A R D . "
. , nr.nuot: num.
tinfurl the standard to the breeze ;
the 'glorious' etisign high;'
Shout! shout Mold for victory,
Onward I islbe battle cry—
,..Onward! though the deep'oing gloom
Gathers thickly on our way,
Soon will vanish alt the darkness,
At ihe breaking of the day.
Standees flood around us dashing,.
Seeks to overwhelm the April-
Sorrow•'a deep and chafing billows
At our feet They madly roll.
Bot, regardless of our danger,
Fix tin i - airit the quivering eye,
Gazing only in the fsoie, •
Onward', shout the battle cry
If the storms, in fhture raging,
Dash our bark upon the shore,
&tilling oft, but ne'er despairing,
We will biave the flood once Libre,
Knowing nought but P EBSEVERAXCE,
Like the eagle soaring high,
Far above the raging tempest—
Onward ! shouts the battle cry.
Onward passing, turning never . •
From the path that leads to fame—
Onward! upwar - di never tiring,
• - We wilt gain ourselves a name;
And as clouds around us gather,
Let as raise the shout on high,
While the distant .. .bills re-echo,
OncV:ird ! 'tisous battle cry.
USE: of FLOWERS
BY MAY TIOW,ITT.
,•
God might have made the earth bring forth
Enmigh for gredt and small—
The oak tree and the cedar tree,
With not a flower at all.
He might have made - enough, cnoagh,
Fur every want of ours—
For luxury, medicine, and toil,
And Yet have made no flowers
The ore within' the Mountain mine
. Requireth none to grow;
Nor Both it need the lotus-floWer
To makelhe ricer flow.
The clouds might give abundant rain,
The mighty dews might Tall,.
And the herb that keepeth life in man,
Might have drunk them all.,
'Then u herefore, wherefore were they made,
- All dyed with rainbow..light—
All fashioned with supromest grace,
Up-springing day and night:
Springing in valleys green and low,
And on the molintitishigti,
And in the silent wilderness, •
Whi-re no man passed] by?
Our outward life t rey:tires them not,
Then wherefore had they birth!
To minister delight in man,
To beautify the earth.
To comfort man—to whisper hope
Whene'ci his faith is dim. •
For %hos° careth for the &Avers,
Will care mach more for him !
• SEEMING'.
All live by seeming.
The be.Tgar begs with it, and the.gay courtier
Gains land and title, 'ratilt and rule. by geemlug
The clergy scorn it not„ and the bold soldier
Will eke with it his.serviee. All admit it, •
All practice it; and he who is
_content -
With showing what.he is, shall hare smolt credi
In church, in camp; or state. So wags the world
• OLD PLAY.
DOUGLAS JERROLD.
Harper's Week;i- contains an excellent ar
ticle on this f•elehrated author and satirist.
presimting' t,t(qg an anecdotes n ot h ere t o f o r e
publi4lM.l. \V 'gi've a few eizrncts: .
At.the Cafe de 11Eurpe there was ‘ a fa
mous dish made or (libett . tail. which Wa
,
70 , 'I err eater minty then ox tail
simri. Albert Smith was reveling on 111,
one day whom Jerrold took a '.Pat
The r.,ttlinand said: •
Art' ‘')!1 n ,t •,urprise4i, •
eatina stiv.h• rt.di , h . s calve~ ' r
4 . Not at.A.11." ,eplied the other; "e.rtremew
often- m..e , t 1"
_One eveninz, at the 'Aiusimtn Cliti., Oputi
Smit,h's ip:tffilustiously " w
strange—wo had no 64 at the M:miti--'s last
iiirtit ! That has hapfrned I Wice I
cannot acA•clunt fn.
" Nor I," replied Jerrold, with a riunsair,
except they ate it up stairs .r"—a - coot inti
mation that Smith,had dined with thti. flan
keTs in the kitchen. - -
It was Smith who 1 - toasted that he and
Latnartine were so intimate that they :night
be said to row in the same boat; .on which
Jerrold retorted— ,
" That may be, but with dfferent skulls r
poining significantly to his head.
An -author, who compared himself to Vic
tor.Hu go, was told that "he meant Victor
No-go, since his works did not sell I"
Jerrold was especially.relentless to authors
who talked of their. own wtitings, "Have
you read. my "Descent in Hell," Jerrold ?"in
quired Heraud, alluding' to an enormously
dull poem he had lately published with tont
title.
" No," said the satiiist, " but I should like
to see it !" •
"MS joke on Alderman Moon ordering some
boys to be whipped at the 'caret , tail' is not
very good, ;but may be cited as an instance
of one.of his failures:
"That's a very convincing. proof 'or the
Moon's influence on -the tied I" quotS Jer
told.
Sometime! , he forgot his manners, as when
he said of a very tail, thin young lady, who
bored him for an hour with an Italian bravura
that "she was linked sweetness' long drawn
nut!"
„ Mrs. Colonel Latter, a bigoted believer in
the limited liability of human happiness, and
the certain damnation of all, except some fif
ty or sixty of ter own peculiar clique, was
endeavoring to knock into Jerrold's limited
Capacity” the Five Points"- of Calvet:time.
When she came to that of Reprobation, she
said it. meant, in a few words, the doctripe
"that every man was born to be dantaed;" on
which the outraged Christianity of the listen
er relieved itself by saying : . "Then. had I
known it, I'd be damned if I would have been
born./ The fair theologian alwa y s considered
Jerrold as decidedly in for a warm berth.
_ .
His criticism on 'Browning was „equally
characteristic. When recovering from a r .vi-.
°lent fit-of sickness. Jerrold had been ordered
to refrain from all reading and writing which
he had obeyed Cc cin&rfully well, although he
found the monotony of a sea side life very
trying to his active mind. One mornini he
had been left by •Mrs. Jerrold alone,while she
had:gone shopping, and during her. aleence
parcel of books from London arrived.—
Among them was Browning's !` Sordello,"
.which he commenced to read. Line . after
line, and page after pige, Was devoured by
the convalescent wit, but not a consecutive
itlea could lie ;et froth that mystic . ',mitre;
tiou. The thought then struck him that be
'hal lost his lessen dur . tig his illnem,and Bra:
he was sa imbeede that 1;6 did not know' it:
A persirnation burst front his I:row,' and be
sat silent and thoughtful. When his wife re
turned, he thing the mysterious volutne ins
her band, crying out, " my dear 1"
After many' attempts to make`any sense' out
of the first page ,or so, sbe.returred-- it, 'say
ing: • .
. Bother the gibberish! I don't tinde'r
st and a word of it !"
"Thank Heaven," cried the delighted. wit
" then I am not an idiot !"
His - winding up a review of Woodvvoith's
poems was equallygnod. "He reminds me,"
said de: add, of the Beadle of Pardassus,tt rut
ing about in a cocked hat ; or i to be more po
etical, of a-mndern Moses, who sits -in .p 6
gah with his back obstinately tur-ned to That
promised land,' the future. He - is - only fit for
those old maid tabbies, the Muses! His Pe
gasu) is a broken-winded Mack, with a gram
matical bridle, and a monosyllabic bit be
tween his teeth!"
When introduced to a fat little fellow Sher
iff Wire,he cried, " Wirel did you say Why
you are more like the chunk-end of a crow
bar I" •
He once :old a lawyer ho was. happy to
sec six-and-eight pence in any shape io such
had times! And meeting Madame Vestris
in a company during the run of Giovanni in
London, told her, " that it was quite a treat
'to sea her rcilhout her; breec4cs !"
One evening, at. a friend's house, he asked
Mr. Macready if it was true that he had tak
en Drury Lane . Theatre. Upon that actor's
.arawering in the affirmative, and going on to
state that he took it more for the; benefit of
the dramatic art than in „the• 'expectation of,
making any' money himself,and that it would
afford him very great. pleasure to produce
his plays, Jerrold broke out, " Oh, come, Mr.
Macready, none of your d—d grim patronage:
for me, sir!"
Dining at Serjeant Tqlfotd's table one clay
the Zuests were amusing themselves by pro
pounding conundrums—Jerrold gave this:
Why is our worthy host's face like a drug
gist's sign." After several guess Jerrohi
gave his a dation : " Because it is generally
rei 4 , and always lit up after datk"—an illaa
tured allusion to to the Sergent's -glowing
countenance after a few glasses of wine.—
Some of - Jerrold's retorts have, however, a po
etical justice,which secured to them the sym
pathy of the company. Once at the Museum
Club he administered, in the sugared shape
of a pretended apologv,a gentle dose of phys
ic to a most arrogant and conceited member,
who had annoyed many by his supercil7ous
mariners. Jerrold, one day mistaking him
for an acquaintance. to whom he bore cot:hid
eralle resemblance, patted him grispi-temper
', edly on the-itottidel, easing, " Well, my b.%
hOw are pm r' The .lignite rrf tue sprig w,,s
sow:much hurt that he complained to several
of Mr. Jet rotifs unauthorized familia ri v.—
nisi get nag to the " srage" author's ears.
the next tithe tie met the offe ded dignitary,
he apologised in the .following terms: "I
liaTer to ask - your pardon, Mr. Jon, for my
familiarity - the other day. I am somewhat
rein-sighted, and at the moment I mistook
von .f,ir my friend Brown. but a nearer in
spection convinces me that You area devilish
.1-al than he. I sincerely ask dotA your
pa;dOns for my mis.3ll;e:4
A voutig lit;tltor. sotiww!,:it conceitrii. nn
;ncemitit t.f It:ivin : z pei , tiltd,ll one of . tho-r
ht•Pir!«..: ttoryle-crip%, eal!rd
u,oik of hi:
an,: R.-pew 41,11.., " .le r.. 1 .i:
,in, .1. -..t.,•111..• 1.4 a co Th..
.irri , •Lr . ki•-k
11.111 II f.sl " Seh;orn" 1411- mew),
i.tr. he hits k,•ep M7 - 0-P
fence" . : e e l "le TVl l ,oisher4 and
P to'', ih Jerrold, and n•. fir iro.•
S•rit:!,. A •+,,, A 1/.4 1.14 by the Ilr-v. .11er .
liorrisrry, "tlrit rroxt evil of
yn..r!ern• ;me- wa- the surplul poi.tention,'
ague- with y• u. that the real evil
o f our times dors Apring from the surplus
popolitti..ll l ."
Mr. Ll r trvev, atthourrh a very irravo.t-fol and
pious man. was exce-sively proud,. and a
grew admirer of the new poor law,which Jet
told hod the fluityrnittirins lritterll Gpprised.
The faulty in Which Jerrold peculiarly ex
celled was 21 combination of terse thoughtful
ness and, the most brilliant and penchant wit.
Of true humor he had little. Even his puns
have a deeper •significance than the 'mere
word-jingle which first tickles the fancy . of
the listener.. Thuslis definition--- , .' Dogma-
Cam ; dogmatism ? Why, bless you, dogma
tism is puppyisin come to ita full — growth r
has a meaning deep andphilosophical enough
for an essay
ilia definition of religion wag et:pally zond;
" Religion it on insurnnee aninst fire in the
tiext.wOrld—.‘lteteto honemy ie the bet„poli.
4'V. , -.
The exquisite confusion of the tip.v gentle:
• man, who, after .scapin;,r for lutlfan bout at
the.do-Jr, with 116 late)! key, leans back and
exclaims : " By Jove! some scoundrel has
stolen—stolen the keyhole!" is something: in
Jerrold's Vein.
- Said an individual to him one evening in
the gree , ,-room t"I believe you know a very
purl ieular friend,of mine, Mrs. This
rs. ;---being a lady more' remarkable fur
beauty and talents than for some more wo
manly qualities.
" I have met' with an actress of that name,"
said .Jerrold cooly; "but she cannot be the
very mtrtieular friend you allude to."
" Pardois rue. it is the satnti person:" ,
"Pardon me, the lady I speak or is not
very zirtieular.."
$ 4 WE ARE ALL EQUAL UEFORE GOD AND THE CO1(STITUTION"0-Jantes Dechanan.
d ontrost, SusfAantta Count, ititit'a t . Tlarstrati 'Slanting, August 20, 18532.
THE QUAKEHS.,,CORH CRIA
A man had been in the habit of stealing
corn from his neighbor, who was a Quaker.
Eveiv night he would go softly to the dill;
and till his bag witl• ears which the good old
Quaker's toil had placed there. Every morn
ing the old gentleman observed a diminution
of his corn pile. This was very annoying,
and must be stopped—but howl Many an
one would have said, " Take a gun, conceal
yourself',,. wait till he comes, and fire." Others
would have said, " Catch the villain, and
have him sent to jail."
- But the Quaker was not- prepared to enter
into any such measures. He wanted to pun
ish the offender and at the same time bring
about his reformation, if possible. Se he fix
ed a .ort of trip close to the hole through
whi.•h the man would thrust his arm in get
ling the vom.
. The wicked neighbt.r proceeded on his tin
ho!v errand 'at the holir of midnight, with bag
in hand. Unsuspectingly Tie thrust his hand
into the crib to seize an ear,.Nrhen 14)1 he was
totshie to withdraw it I in vain_he tugged
and palled - ,and sweated, and alternately cried
and eurred. His hand was - fast, and "every
effort to' relieve it only madeOt the more se
rote. .After a time the tumult in his breast
.suably subsided, He gave over his use : .
less struggles, and began to look around hid,
MI wasstlenee and repose. Good men tviir
comfortably sle-ping it,their bi•ds, while he
was coihpetled to keep n dreary, disgraceful
watch through the remainder of that long
and tedious night ; his hand in Constant pain
from the pressure of the ctamp which held it.
Ris tired limbs, compelled to - sustain his.wea
ry body, would have fain sunk beneath, him,
and his heary eyes would have closed in
slumber, but no ! there was no rest, no slum
her for him. Titete• he must stand, watcli
the progress of thelnight, and at once desire
and dread the retutn of the morning. Morn
ing came at last, and the Quaker looked out
of his window and found that-he had caught
the man.
What was to be done Some would say,
"Go out. and give him a cowhiding jest as
he stands, and
. then release him: that'll care
hirn.' But no' said the Quaker. Such a
course would have sent the man away embit
tered, and muttering curses of revenge The
good old man hurried on his clothes, and
stared 'to the relief and• punishment of his
plsoner.
• Gisxl`moraing. friend," said be. as It"
can.ein spvakingdiqxnee.'llow does - thee - do f
The pOor culprit made r.o answer, but burst
into tears. '
" 0 fie !" said the Quaker as he proceeded
to release him.
'• I am' sorry thee least gut thy hand fast.
Thee put it in the wrong place, or it would
not have been-so." -
The man looked crest-fallen, and begging
forgiveness; hastily turns' to make his rt treat.
Stay," said his persecutor. for he w.is now
-uch to the offender,who could have received
a blow with a much better grace than the
kind words that were falling from the Qua
ker's lips Slay, friend, thy hag is not
filled. Thee nee on, or eue-would not
have taken so much pain, to get it. Come,
!e• us flit it." And the p , or fellow w as
Obliged tO *land and hold the bag while the
old man filled it, interspersing the exercises
with the pleasantest conversation imaginable,
all of which were like daggers in the heart of
his chagrined and mortified victim.
The bag w as filled and the string tied,and
the sufferer hoped soon to be out of the pres
ence-of his tormentor, but again his vurpose
wasethwarted.
"Stay," said the Quttker, as the man was
about to hurry off, having uttered once more
his apologies and thanks. "Stay,. Ruth has
breakfast ere this; thee - must not think of
going without breakfast ; come, Ruth is call.
I
. •rhi s 4 V a s ,slmfr.t unendurable: This was
" heaping coals" with a vengi ,, Ance. In
..y.au
unotif-d ne.ghbor begged to be excused.
vaiu lie pleaded to be released from whs:
would be iu him teatimes more severe than
stripes and impnsontuent. The Quaker was
ittexuranle, and.he was obliged to yield.-L
Breakfast over, " Now," said the old Quaker,
as he :.elpe.d. the victim to shoulder the bag,.
" If thee needs auy more corn, come in_ fhe
.itlt 'me and thee shall have it."
11 itlt %%hat ,haine and' remorse did that
m.ot tuqi fitm the quiet dwelling. f
he pt-u-. Qui.ker!. Everybody is rea , ry to
;L: Le ne..er again troubled the Qua
kte:'s norn.eritb. I have something still bet
"insis that to tell you. He at unee-re
1-1-- •,1 xTI.I r.-finned. and my informant
he ;,ft -rv.ard-s heard him relate, in an
, xr,-,::.n , e - sti..eting, the substanev of the sto
‘ I relaied, arod he attributed his eon
finder Goci':: bleßsilirr, to th e course
• it:pi - pursued, to arrest him in his
. 1 ,,A award cimr,e.
HOW TO AVOID A BAD HCSBAND.
I. Never marry for wealth. A woman's
life con-i,etit not in the thing she possesseth.
•2. Never marry a fp, or one who struts
ahoit ditutiv-like, in hie silk gloves and ruf
lies, with -jiver cane, and rings on his fingeis.
AcWale I there is.,a trap.
.. s , •
3. Nevei main 'a niggard, close fisted, mean
wietch, who save;; r'eveiy penny or
si it.grudingly. Take Ore lest he stint
Jou to death.' •
• 4.. Never. marry a stranger, or one whose
nharaefer i, out known or tesfeA. Some females
jump light into the fire,.with their eyes wide
open.
-s... Never marry a mope or drone, one who
drawly and - draggles through life, one foot
a fter anot her, and lets things take their ow•n
course.
6.. • Neier marry a man who treats his
mother or sister unkindly or indlffcrently.
SuCii if eatment is a sure indication of mean
man.
7. Never on any account marry a gambler,
r profane person, une who in the least speaks
lightly of Gud: Such a man can never make
a good husband.
8. Never marry a sloven, a man who is
negligent of his .dresr, and is filthy in his
inkllits. The external appearance is a index
totihe heart. •
O. Shim the rake as a snake, a viper a
very demon.
10. Never marry a man who is adiated to
the use of ardent spirits. Depend upon it,
you ate better off alonei than you would be
were you tied to a man whose breath is pol
luted, whose vitals are being gnawed out by
alcohol.
h the choke of a wife tale the obedient
daughter of a good mother.
ADDRESS
OP TIM
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTE.
To TIIS CITIZENS or PENNSTLAANIA :-tt
has been usual for the State Committee, rep
resenting the_Democratic party of Pennsylva
nia, to address the people of the .State pend
ing important elections. In conformity with
this usage, which may be regarded as settled
and salutary, we submit the following ad
dress :
The Democratic State Convention, upon
the second day, of March last., and at its re
assembling in June,made nominations fort the
offices of Governor, Canal Commissioner, and
Judges of ibe_Sunreme Court.
For Governor,.Gen. •Parker, of Lycoming,
wasmamed, after a spirited contest, and his
nomination wag, then unanimously and right
fully confirmed. Be has been long well
known throughout the State; has filled a
number of responsible and important positions
in the State government, a nd has established
a .public character which strongly recom
mends him to the popular confidence.- 'We
4 oneeive it to be a-material qualification for
;hi- high' office, that the incumbent shall be
well acquainted with the pradtical workings
of the government—with the course and
:ehar , eter of legislation—the details of busi
ness in the several executive departments—
and with the public men of the Common
wealth, who-have filled or inay fill, the vari
ous positions created by the Constitution and
dads. The contrast in this respect, between
our candidate and the candidates . of the op
position, is too strongly marked to escape
general notice, and it is but necessary to al
lude to it to show the vantage ground held.
by our . party in the present canvass. It-mar
be asserted that the Convention have named
the tight man for the right place," and that
their nomination deserves popular endorse
ment if regard is had 1 / 2 1co qualifications and
expeticrice.
It is agreeable to add that our candidate
has a solid and reputable character in private
life, and that his estimable qualities have en
deared him to a - large circle of friends who
can enter upon.his support with feelings of
enthosi•ism as well as with convictions - of du
tr. We do not desire to draw too strongly
the contrast that it is possible to draw, be
tween our candidate and - his leading oppo- -
tient. Judge - Wilmot has bad a career as a
public man which - has given hint notoriety
without inspiring confidence. Imperfectly
acqUainted with the. practical action of the
State government; without experience either
in the legislative or executive departments;
with but a limited knowledge of public men
and State affairs beyond his immediate local
ity—he is presented upon a comparatively
remote national issue, as the candidate of a
bitter sectional party which received a mer
ited defeat at the recent Presidential election.
It is not. believed that his career in Congress
exhibited any high cap4csity to- promote the
interests of the people ofEennsylvania, and it
is certain that his recent„.courze in the office
he now holds, has been calculated to lower
the judicial character by connecting it with
extreme and violent partisan dispute. .
Nimrod Strickland. of Chester county, was
named by the Convention for Canal Commis
sioner. Ile needs no recommendation at our
hands, for his integrity '
firmness and capaci
tv are not disputed and are widely recogniied
It will be a pleasure to those who belong to
Our party, and for all who desire to consult
fitness and merit in bestowing their suffrages,
to give him their cordial support..
By reason of the declination, by Chief Jus
tice Lewis, of the re-nomination tendered him
by the Convention, and the calling of Judge
Black to :he post of Attorney General in the
National Administration, the Convention, up
on its re-assembling in - June, -found the duty
devolved upon it of naming two candidates
for the Supreme 13eneh. Wm. Strong, of
Berks county, a distinguished member of
the bar, and formerly a Memher of Con
oregs„ and James Thompson, of Erie, also a
Former Member of- Congress, once a Presi
dent Judge of the - Comma' Pleas, an ex-
Member -of the Legislature, and 'a profound
and successful lawyer,
were selected by. the
Convention. Their locations are suitable,
giving both the East and the Weit a repro
a:lit:mon upon the ticket, and their learning
and integrity well qualify them to discharge
the arduous and responsible duties of the
highe4 judicial position titular. our Constitu
tion.
Such is the ti_ket fo.m.ul by the delegates
representing the Democratic ring, and sup
port of it is cot fid. ntly asked in view of
the character of the nominations. But con
fidence and support is also invited upon the
general grounds of policy and principle upon
which our party stand. Ours is no new, un
tried, vindictive, sectional, or suspicious or
ization. It has been tried ; it is bUld and
open in conduct ' • it is magnanimous, patri
otic and national. Founded more than half
a century ago by the author of the Declara
tion of lndependence.it has had a distinguish
ed history, has ordinarily given diroction to
the administration of public affairs,aud plant
ing itself early, and throughout its whole
career, upon a strict construction of the Con-''
stitution, and a sparing use of the powersof
government, has preserved our American
systein from degeneracy and failure.
The usefulness of organized parties is some
times denied, and often doubted. But in view
of historical Acts it. cannot well be questioned
that they are incident to free governments,—
and arise of necessity under their operation.
An inquiry, hoseeer, into the nature of polit 7
ical parties and the causes which produce
them, can scarcely be expected to constitute
the subject of a fugitive address. It will be
sufficient for present purposes to assert the
necessity of our party to check the evil and
dangerous influences to .which our political
system is liable, and against which it is itn
possible that written constitutions can guard.
Doubtless our constitutions exhibit the wis
door of those who framed them, and amend
ments to _which they have been .subjected
have rendered them more complete and per
fect than they were at first.. But a constitu
tion can only be an outline for the actiod of
government,. (besides providing, for its estab-•
lishment) and by construction it may be made
to mean almost anytbingthe political author
ities for the time being may choose.. Ft is a
chart given to direct the vessel of stite,which
can have little effect upon the voyage unlesi
those in command choose to faithfully inter
pret and observe its counsel. A party organ
ization, therefore, founded upon rigbt.pnnci
pies of constitutional construction and power
ful and constantly influencing. official
.may be regarded as necessary.. It is; io short,
' i abeolutely required to give a dust and con
.iristent direction to the government, both in
cases dependent upon construction of the .
constitution and in cases where theconstitn
lion is silent. Besides, the instabil ity of po- .
litical action in republics is a reproach to
which they have been often • subjected, and is
the objection to them which has bad greatest
weight with profound and independent think
ers in the old World and the new: But this
instability which arises principally from hb
viOnal ambition, , the selfiShnesiof classes, and
-fluctuations of opinion,'is to a great extent
checked and prevente by the predominance
of a party founded upon, clear and- sound
pribciples of public policy, and acting, con
stantly with refereretice to them,
Now, the Democratic party is simply , the
representritive of aLschoel_of opinion, audits
creed is given it by those who founded and
have subsequently supported it. The great
men who have spoken and anted for it, and
whole names will remain stamped priminent
ly up on the history of the country, -have
been men of strong, clear and sound' views of
our system of government, and of_ the rules
upon which its administration should proceed
Our party is the product of their efforts ; the
instrument for accomplishing - the ends they
proposed, and it remains a monument of their
sagacity, foresight, and patriotism.
They held that. over-action in government
was a great evil—the steel difficult to be
guarded against, and therefore the most
dangerous—and that
. both within and with
out the Constitution powerful guards against
it were required. Proverbial language con
veys the idea in declaring that the world is
governed too much," and that " that govern
is best which governs least;" and philosoph
ical reasoning attains the same result in con
cluding, that government, being the creature
of neee:sity,is limited by the necessities which
create it, and is , not to be extended beyond
them. The Democratic party has therefore
held, and holdA that Constitutions shall re
ceive a strict construction ;- that government
shall exercise -no, powers not clearly delegated
to it,aad that in cases Of doubt as to the poli
ey ef a I arti( ular measurr; he conclusion shall
be against it. In short, that public power
shall not be exerted except where a- clear
warrant and manifest utility authorize and
just'fy it.
The powerful (and we think salutary) op
eration of this doctrine appears throughout
the history of the National and State govern
ments, and the occasional departure from it
nand as beacons to warn, and not as exam
pica to follow.
To illustrate our remarks, we will refer
briefly to a number of measures of public
policy I.eretofore proposed to the general or
State government, and upon which divisions
of opinion have existed among public men
and parties. They will afford data for judg
ing the value of the Democratic doctrine on
the subject of Government powers and policy
of which we have spoken.
First—A bank created by the General
Government, owned, in part by it, and inten
ded for the regulation of the currency, and
to afford facilities to commerce and business.
This measure was resisted, and all recent at
tempts to establish such an institution have
been put down on the very grounds above
stated.
Second—lnternal. Improvements to be con
structed at the charge of the national treas
ury, to facilitate internal trade,_and assist in
developing the material resources of particu
lar sections. No clear authority for outlays
of this description appearing, and the mani
fest dangers to which they lead being appa
rent, theiaction of our Federal Government
on this.subjecf has been rightfully and wise
ly arrested.
Third—Excessive duties upon imports, to.
extent df prohibition upon their importation
or to the production of revenue beyond the
legitimate wants of the government. The
federal power of imposing duties being for
the expressed object of Government support'
and the liquidation of public indebtedness,its
exercise for an entirely different object would
seem unwarranted, and would be Unjust to
interests or individuals against, whom a dis
crimination is thus. produced. Therefore it
is against much misconception and the oppo- ;
slion of powerful interests,. the doctrine: of
limited and reasonable duties has been stern- ,
ly opposed, and, upon. the whole;succeactlit
upheld.
Fourth—The disuibntion of money's from
the national treasury among the States, be-•
lieved to be equolly unwarranted with the
preceding measures, and inevitably tending
to the production of speculation and extrava
g ince in the States, has also been resisted,
a:4 except upon a single occasion, prevented.
Fifth—A bankrupt act., dissolving the re
lations of debtor and creditor in a manner
and to an extent unauthorized by the Consti
tution, disastrous to private - rights, injurious
to morals, and to the encouragement, mainly,
of one of the least meritorious classes of society
—the speculator and the spendthrift. With
hot haste under , the lush of public opinion,
the very authors of such as act in 1842 were
coerced itttb its repeal. .
Sixth—Appropriations of public money or
lands, to objects of doubtful constitutionality
or utility connected with which, may be
mentioned the allowance of claims, iusuffi
ently established or unjust... The Democratic
principle strikes as decisively at all projects
for assailing the treasury, for an individual;
a (dais, or a section, in the absence of clear
right' to justify the demand, as it. does at oth
er unwarranted or doubtful measures.
Seventh—The exercise of jurisdiction by
the General Government over.slavery in the
territories, to the e7clusion of local decision
therein. Legislation by Congress upon slav
ery beyond the express 'requirement as to re
turn of fugitive, is to be doubted, and if re
gard is had to high judicial decision,express
ly denied, as a valid exercise of power. And
its inxpediency is yet more plainly tnanifest,in
view of theeidsn,gerous disputes which such
action invariably produces. Most clearly,
therefore, is it to be deprecated and opposed,
upon the general doctrine of non-action by
government in doubtful cases.
Eighth—Theestablishment of corporations
either.excessive as to number or vested with
inordinate powers or privileges; and especial-,
ly for pursuits or business within the reach of
individual means and skill. Under 'which
head is to be particularly noted the eliirter
ing of banks beyond the business, wants of
the community, locating them peints with
out adequate,commerce or exchange to afford
legitisnate occupation, and failing to iinposie
upon theta iuch guards against abuse and
.
fraud as are d!rnand‘A by .esperieuco. - The
recent resolution on this subject by our State.
Convention, but indiCates the well consider
ed position of our psrty and its policy for
tLe,filfure... - ' • '
Ninth—The, authorizing of municipal sub
scriptions to' railroads and other corporate
bodies to the encouragement of speculation,
corruption and the
,accumffiation of public
debts. The proposition now before the people
for the amendment of the Constitution, to
prevent this in future, is but in affirmance of
the principle, we have been considering ; for
the - decision of p divided Court in favbr legis
lative power to'.authori4 such subscriptions
has not, removed all doubts, andlas• left the
powerful bbje6tions, ,to the - System, — upon
grounds of expediency, untouched - and irr6-
sistable. - -
Tenth—The sale or surrender by GOvern- -
meta; in whole or, in . part,
.of • any constitu
tional powers confided to it by the people.
The attempt to do this in, the late net for the
sale of the Main Line . of the public works ; an
attempt which was denounced by the State
Convention, and has since been pronounced
unconstitutional by the'. Supreme Court, may
be cited' under this head, and deserved that
reprobation which it has generally received-.
Eleventh----Sualptuary I a ws,byw hick dress
food, drink,equiPage, or other_. like concerti'
of use habit or fashion,' is coerced. The in
terference of law in such- cases would" seem
to be unuseful, and is of doubtful authority ::
Twelfth—Final ly;measures..direeted against
a Class
.or sect, and intended, to degrade them
or limit their
. civil privileges. It is.affirmed
that neither religious belief nor 'birth place
will furnish ground for ostracism or a venial
Of common right.
Such are some of the leading . measures
upon which political: - divisions' have . taken
place, and on their. careful examination it
will be seen, that they can all be resolved in
to the general question whistElr . the powers
and action of government shall:be extensive
or limited. And if we should pursue the
subject further, tliis view of the fundament it
ground of difTerdme between public men and_
parties would but be confirmed and strength
_
'ened.
We are left then to choose 'sides in the
struggle between power and liberty—between
a government that meddles and one that ab
stains, between political 'New Englandism
and the Virginia doctrines of 1798. Neutral
ity is not possible, for almost every public
question that arises compels us to choose We
tween coptending parties, and the schools of
opinion which they respectively represent.
It has been - fashionable for apostates from
our party to claim that they retained their
principles unchanged, and even Opposing
parties occasionally advanced pretensions to
the the faith and doctrines of Jefferson. How
unfounded such pretensions are, whether ad-.
vanced by apostate or party, will - appear from
considering the measures of public policy
they propose and support.. - If we find them
favoring new projects of doubtfhl right or eg
pediency, contending for extensive jurisdic
tion for government, and scoffing at constitu
tional scruples as" abstractions" we may be
sure they are no disCiples of the. ' philanthro
pist, philosopher r and statesman who founded
our party,-and who wrote to Edward, Living
ston as late as 1824, to endorse the sentiment
that "if we have a doubt relative to any
power, we ought - not to exercise it.' Much,
more may we deny their discipleship, if we
find their measures connected with intol
erance in religion, proscription of adopted
'citizens, or aggressions upon territorial or
ate rights, which is mailifeslty a true "de•
-
scription , at, this moment, of the parties op
posed to us. -
The (so called) Republican party makes
high pretensions and challenges their exami
nation—but there can- be little difflueltv in
determining their-character and value, and•
assigning the party which holds them its true
positionbefore the publiie Especially will it
be a work of ease, to explxle its pretensions
to sound opinioesas held by fortner Republi
can Presidents, and to bring it within the
condemni'ion which they direc'ed against the
heritical movements of, the tittei 'in which
they lived.
The resistance made about 1820, toMe
admission of Missouri into the -Union, was
,similar to the- recent Conduct of those who
•misdescribe themeelves as Republicans. In
both cases the proposition was-that Congress
should prohibit slavery in territories (or cause
it-to be prohibited) prior to the admission as
States. The argument against this was sta
ted by . Mr. Madison, in the Walsh letters;uri
der all the high sanctions which his abilities
and• his positicn es leading author.-of the
Constitution could confer upon. it. 'Andeie
is as well established as any historical fact
can be, that Mr. Jefferson was oppetsed to the
Missouri agitation throughout, and to the
prohibitions of slavery by Congressional co
ercion as then proposed.- Hie celebrated
letter to John Holmes, dated 22d April, 1820,
furnishes conclusive proof of this, and confir
mation of this fact will be found in other
parts of his published correspondence. In his
letter to John Adams of Dec_ ember 10th. 1819,
he says, that, "from- the battle of Bunker
Hill to the treaty of Paris, we never had so
ominous a question; it even damps the joy
with which I hear of your high health and
welcomes to me the want of it. I thank God,
I shall' not live to witness its issuse," • In a
letter to the same, April 22d, 1821, lie says
—" What does the Holy Alliance in and out
of Congress intend to do 'with us on the Mir:-
souri question! And this,' by the way, is
but the name of the ease: it is only the
John Doe or Richard Roe of the ejectment.;
The real question, as seen in the States of
flicted with this unfortunate population, is.
are our slaves to be presented wish freedom
and a dagger." He says to Mr. -
Monroie_
Mateli . 3d, 18x0—"-the Missouri question is
the most Tiottentioua one which ever yet
threatened our Union.. In the gloomiest
moments of the Revolutionary war, I never
had any apprehe:nsion equal- to that which I
felt from this'eource." To Mr.'Short, April
lath, 18204 e writes. -'t I had
laid down as myselflaw to never to write,
talk, or even think of politiCS; to know noth
ing of public'atTeirs; nod bad theiefore ceased
tc t read newspapers; yet tbe' Missouri ques
tion aroused and filled me with alarm. The
old schism of Federal and Republican - threat-
efied nothing.' NortuAe it existed in every
State,,and' united:thou together by' the frit=
Lenity of party:: But the:coincidence of in
marked prmeirile; moral ;and. political,: with', a
weokraphleat conceived; 1 feared
ould never . more be obliietateef from: the
wind that it would be ; - rentling on every
iloinint 44, SumfrirliZ._;
occasion, 'and -ree.eivi.g
would kindle such mutual, - And
as to - render the septiratioullieferable:iii;:
nal discord."' HO says to Joseph b ell,
Sanuary . 31st, 1321—‘ Hew many, .61 1 ;40.
youthfcshelliarvani College. now has leuirif.A
ing the
.lesson'Of AiitWissatiri•ism;
not; but, a gentleman lateii.from Prineetnp.q
told me to 'saw al* of students ntiltat . l4oo l l,
and that . ' more than - 14r Yirgt
These will return 4,onie no , doubc,_(*PlY
pressed with the Sacred prineipkikr 'the friolt,l l,
Alliance of Restrictionist!" And Gets.:'
Breckenridge he writes, February
The line .of 'division- lately Inarked_nui'be;" - -
tween ditTereut poirtiods of our confederacy Is
such RS' Will not soon, I fear;bis'iiblitenttndj,
and we are 'now trusting to thine who !aid'
-
againit U 3 in position and principie; to fspli:y
ion to - their=ownfOrm thiminds and nit
. 0i54
. 11;
of our youth. 4 If, Ssjuis heeniestiniitte
send three . hundred, thonsiitia'dellariii4oe
to the northern seminaries tor
. the - initrtf n ition
of our .sons, then we must have five - hn
of our sons imbibing' opinions and principles
s ' -
in discord-with those , of their -own - conty -
This canker is eating on the :vitals - of ottrisx--.
istence, and, if
. not arrested at once,- Will be .
beyond reinedy." In a letter to Mr. Madi.
son, in reference to the Missouri qtiestion,
declared. that Rufus King (a" distinguish ed
,
federalist) was "ieady , to risk the 'lllnon ; f or •
any . chance of restoring his \party to power;'`.
and wiggling himself to the head of it.",-
another occasion, he deplored, the qneition to
"aUa mere party trick," that. the leaders of
federalism defeated in thnir, schemesob..-
taming *' 4 * !have changed- their"
tact . and thrown out another barrel to the
whale. Thee are takiog advantage of :the'"
virtuous feeling of the-peeple to effect O divut.o.
6 '
ion of parties y a g,,ograp iivat li ne,e.rpec 71 L
that this will ensure them, upon local
pies the 'majority they could %Mr' obtain on
principles of federalism." And, finally, his'
letter to Gen. La. Fayette, dated 'Welt:ix:her •
4th, 1823, contains hisjudgmentof the 'whole
movement;-expressed with his 'masa' direct
nos and vigor. .. lle says: - "'The Hartford
ConFention,' the Vicitory, of Orleans, and the
Peace of Ghent, prostrated the name of fed
eralism. Its votaries' abandoned it through
shame and mortitiCatsoi,AND Now CAW:. I'IIESI-'
SELVES REPCBLICANEL 1 But the name , alcme is
changed, the principles are the -sante." * .* w._
"0 n - the eclipse of federalism with us, thtiuglt'
not its extinction, its leaders -got up . the Mis
souri qUestion, under the, false front lessen- ,
ing tle meainre of slavery, BUT WITH THE
REAL VIEW. OF PRODUCING 'A GEO- '.
GRAPHIC.AL DIVISION - OF PARTIES, '
WHICIE MIGHT ENSURE THEM. TILE' -
NEXT PRESIDENT. The people of - the'
North went blindfold iota thesnare, followed;
their leaders for awhile. with' a' - zeal truly
moral andlaudible, until they Became •sensi-*
lite That they were injuring, instead a faiding
the real interests of the slaves, TLIAT THEY ilAD'' -
BEEN USED NIERELy AS -rears FOll EiEPTIDN'-;,
EESING PURPOSEF AND THAT TRICK Or 1--,
HYPOCRISY- then fell as quickly as it badi- ' ,I
been got up." . - , - ' -- -!,
This is an admirable description of the Res' ' l ,
publican party of the present day---of the
cau.es'which led to it, and of theobjectof ,
its founders. The pictiire is drain :by the'
hand of a master, and represents the-feature - -
of the subject with fidelity and executes& Re
publicanisni being but a zeproductioe_ of-
Miiiouri agitation, bears:, precisely -tlie sates= -
descripticn, and is . obnoxious tO:preciselY
the same censure. And it ,is tO Ix o'f;
marked that likeits.predeeessor---it invoke*
the legislation oeCongress in , a case of rink':
inexpediency and doubtful power; ;ant hence
fa% within. the condenniation of tbe firiertd___
principle as to limited action by Ociverrimetit;•_',
which has been a topic of this addren. :. ''.- - i
But a view of modern Republicanism - *obi& \
be Incomplete without some particular-nOticet i
of the features of its career. Withotit tracing
its early movements . in the Organization of% ~
Abolition societies, the - Circulation of--itte#-: ,
h ti hit& ri it - a 'tat' o.hp:
diary matter t ro g - a
,s„. gt o , .
petitions to:Congress, clamorous opposition:
.to the annexation of Texas, and to ihstroaeic
eution of the Mexican War nd the: acquisi
tion of territory to vrhiti4id . ; it will iiii;.'
/ le
sufficient to-, notice soirew at the ' , mil*:
rr_rviso wbkh preceded, and - the Kansas dis T
pine which accompanied, the organikitiotier
the Republican pa rty in' its present fortitt' l *{'"-':
- The Willirot . ' Proviso was` citreiediiiCent' - ;
gress in 1848, as . an airtindlitenktollie *if
hill, and was (briefly described) a proposition
to prohibit slavery in Mexican tertiter3r-to bef
acquired. -: It 'created 2centerniorn which aim.
continued some four.years. The national haii .
rnouy Was disturbed and the public buSinesi
impeded by it, until it became necessary- forr,
patriotic men, in Congress and out , of it,itki - --,
unite their utmost efforts to :restore Otivi
and secure such legislation as was abso.utely, .
necesSary for the territory in question .- - The: :
Compromise Measures were rtherefore pas:led' -',`
in 1850, and eventually iiceijed the general
..„
approval of the people! liffacti t iulB32,botli:,
the great parties' of the - countryendoise&
4em ist their platforms, and their ivisdoni
and propriety are not now it:subject of genet.:
al dispute. - --, . ' ' '''-- -• '
- The territory we acoui*cl from Waldo -14, ,
the treaty of petioa r -the treaty , of Gauditlontle-
Hidalgo—was colikprised of nearly, the whole:
now included in the State of California ' and ._
Territories of Utah, and New Mexico and:ihe
Proviso, if it had been adopted, would tlier - 4 ,
Torefbeen tapplicable , solely to them: But 414
Proviso was never adopted Or' 41)11 . 4 b y ,
Congress to either. =California - was adatittea'_
into the Union as a State with the' C4rititti'.
lion she, forthed for, perself - without any
,de-..'•
vision b y' Congress , on the subject slavers'
within her limits. That waSadjustedhyher -
:self - in her Constitution, and by her own'act
therefore she entered :the Viiion as a -free:'".
State:.' In the ' acts for the organization of
Utah and ..Ve* Mextee - as Terrs.torres,lhere
were no provisions prohibiting or-anthorizings
slavery, but it was Dxpr94l7,prOvided:,tbat
they should eventually _conic into - tl4:l4tion.
with or without'slavery, ae - tho-,pe4pleof - , eacl4-
should decide, in forming C,oristiintkOriAirei, -
Paratory to admission.:'", Seven yours liarti
elapsed since t. l4 4 4. lo 6 ;brial . iiatf' , lKoopfl* . i -'
an no coMptaint›4 - beard . aritiOt, the*Jt' o,v ,
has tilaieryb*tiotabligted In,el . therarrit,o; - ,-.
rY. .IsTo,o l ii4kkCl 276 .w 4 : tbo:•ittn, yfjl4iqr,.
Previso: lilt* wh olly tinriecessary tii_4o, - 4.
elusion askiety;and.thif the tOtittetttrotii
-1§413 to 1850 :to-secure its tplietrpetit k :/Ati.k.
tbibg of arrant fellYi'attlireltaa r ptrealAnZt:'';
There stand's, O 6
p 'OO .io, t!ittgei - tiiiiii.
perverted or denied,-"„anVOtey _e;bib L it; ilia
.Proviso agitation in itittrue obura-tXot
adopted, it: iaseen t'llaf, been uuncettmairt.'
MEE
-7: i - i . . - ::'. - .!,,i:...1.t.f 3 :
'iT,',..:,;:-..t::„,;11cf:::