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"I liavo sworn upon the Altar of God, eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the Mind of Man-Thomas Joffinra.
MINTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
. Volume II.
JBIiOOOTSRITRG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PAb SATURDAY, AUGUST 11,' 1838. - Number tf.
TT.mT-,..m. - .---T-r."-!
OFFICE-OP THE DEMOCRAT
Next idon to Roihson's Stage Office
TEEMS: - v
The COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT will be
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Jll) FERTJSEMeNTS Hot exceeding a
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quent nscrtion. ICPA" liberal discount
made to those who advertise by the year.
LETTERS addressed on business, must
be post paid.
Of the Convention of Democratic Young
.; Men; assembled at Harrisburg on the
4th of July, to -the Freemen of I'enn-.sylvania.-
1 .
I'kllow, .Citizen's: '
, In directing your attention to the
v present political '.aspect of the Common
wealth, and the various features by which
it is characterized, we arc av.are of having
undertaken a task of no small magnitude.
Conscious of the importance which much
necessarily attach to the results of the con-.-
lest 'in- vhich the people of Pennsylvania
t are now engaged, important not alone to
' this Commonwealth, hut to the Union at
large we have endeavored to divest our
selves of the passions and prejudices of the
'hour, hi order that' we may present to your
consideration some facto and reflections in
thatspintof calmness; wolnesa and candor,''
which best bccbic-s die-juration of truth.
.'Fuiiy aware that v-s rc addressing-not
merely an enlightened, but also a virtuous
people, wc aro warned against tho indulgence,
of any disposition could sueh have exist
ence, to distort and discolor facts, or to rea
son falsely from admitted piomises.
From the first formation of the present
, government of this country, two leading
, and opposing principles havo been in per
petual collision. The .one prefers institu
tions, which, though republican iu-.-namc,
shall be strongly marked by aristocratical
features, bordering in some traits upon the
essentials of a limited monarchy the other
proclaims equality .of political rights, and,
avowing the sovereignty of the people, is
not afraid that tho people shall be entrusted
. -with the conduct and regulation of their own
concerns. That, would sacrifice the mass
for the aggrandizement of the few ; this,
insists upon "tho greatest good of tho great
est number." It is not necessary, and jt
would be superfluous, to illustrate these po
sitions .by more than a reference to tho his
toric page of the last half century, and wc
appeal to all who have lived and acted
during that period. Tho recollection of
the past, and tho observation of tho pres
ent, will-alike point, to a party, which,
though assuming from time to time various
names, and forming nbw combinations, has
.never for a moment lost sight of the one
grand object of its association if not the
overthrow of,- at least tho effecting of a
sfcrpat change in, the democratic features of
, tour system of government. It made war
upon .tlto administration, and. assailed tne
character of Thomas Jefferson ; it system
atically opposed tho measures of Mr. Madi.
.son it waged an ' incessant warfaro alike
uptjn tho pu blic acts and private life of Gen,
Jackson and .seeking to destroy tho hold
which tho abilities and integrity of Presi
dent Vap Huron havo given him upon the
confidence of his countrvmen, it seeks to
. cripple and paialyzc his administration by an
, UppUSlllUII Ul U1U J11U31 ILlUlilUUa UI1U luuto-
'cnminato character.
Professing Jlo bo .composed of tho adml
. rors and -supporters f the Constitution of the
United States, it contends, as it always has
contended, for so lax-a construction of that
instrument, as must end in the cntiro des
', itruction of tho instrument itself. Doclar-
ing its readiucss ever to bow to the will of
a majority of the people, it has, here and
elsewhere, openly avowod an intention to
defeat that will, by bridging so many can
didates iuto the field as-lo prevent a choice
from being effected, and thus dovolvo the
selection of a President upon Congress,
with tho view to practice the same species
of fraud, by which the elevation of John
Quincy Adams to tho executive chair was
achieved. Though repeatedly defeated,
it has as often returned to the contest, with
a perseVorancc stimulated by the magnitude
of the stake contended for. - At one lime
apparently disorganized, it tlrbps its name',
and, claiming to be compofed of new ma
terials, again presents itself under tho im
posing title of "National Republicans,,' and
this is, in its turn, abandoned for the-seductive
appellation of "Friends of the National
System.1' Basqd on a pretence too gross
to mislead the; public mind, tho assumption
was not followed by tho anticipated success;
and now, regardless of trie political opin
ions, the devoted patriotism, and the dis
interested sacrifices with which the term of
"Whigs" as associated, it has, and with sa-
criligous hand, and a desperate boldness,
characteristic of its leaders, ventured to
usurp the-sdered name of the fathers of our
Revolution. -..
Made tip of men differing in their views
on questions of public policy, and agree
ing only in' the single .object of pulling
down tho Democratic party from the ascen
dancy to which art approving people have
advanced it,'-we behold theso self-styled
Whigs" associated in Pennsylvania, with
another 'party if parly it may be called
a monstrous creation owing its biilh to
frenzied fear and wide 'sproad'-alarm, and
its continued existence to falsehood and de
lusion, and which, acknowledging no other
tie than opposition to tho masonic fraternity,''
and, professedly, aiming at no other end
than the destruction of tho lodge, has al
ready" beep turned, aside from its path by
the adroitness, and to 'gratify the ambition,
of its lcadors,: and is-'now'raaae 't6 'cherish-
what it affects to abhor the votary of free
masonry. I" '".
Ilusicd in the selection of an "available'
candidate for the Presidency of tlio United
States, this party, at the command of its
new allies, has forgotten its distinctive fea
ture, and is now preparing to support and,
if that were possible, to elect to1 tho highest
oflicQ in-'these'States, not only an adhering
member of thc.ludgo,. but one who a short
time since, in tho lauguago of scorn aud in
dignation, rebuked an'ti-misonry for its pre
sumption in addressing him on the subject
of his masonic connection.
Theseare but a few of tho enormities
and inconsistencies of which theso associa
ted parties have been guilty, briefly, and
imperfectly told. We do not recapitulate
them bceauso they arc unknown to you,
but because it is wholesome, at a limo like
this, to recur, frequently, to tho opinions
and actions of our antagonists that wc may
know how to estimate them, and bo the- bet
ter enabled to anticipate and counteract their
designs. ,
Such arc tho parties now arrayed against
each oilier. On the ono hand, De.nociacy,
tho parent of free representative Govern
ment, with all its purity of purpose and
soundness of doctrine on the other, Fed
eralism, with all-its political errors and its
ancient predilection for a; strong central
government, closely resembling monarchy;
allied with anti-masonry, avowing no prin
ciple of action but one based oil proscrip
tion anil persecution; : V
Irrespective of the merits of tho two can
didates who havo ticen presented to your
choice, no good citizens, who loves his
country and reveioe her democratic insti
tutions, can, for a moment, hesitate on which
side to array himself, Relying dn tho cor
rectness of.tho doliucation wo have given
of these parlies, and confident that tho truth
of tho picture will be, at once, acknowl
edged by those who havo been attentive and
impartial observes of men and moasures
for tho last fow years, wo might hero de
sist from our task, and pointing to tho doc
trine and practice of Thomas Jefferson, and
his distinguished democratic successors, rest
content that a large majority 6f tho people
of tho Keystone Stale, emulous of the ex
ample of their sires, and burning with tho
desire to rescue their beloved Common
wealth from tile disgraceful thraldom which
accident, andt tho lato unfortunate division
in our own ranks,, lias for a little time sub
jected her to, will eagerly deposito their
votes in favor of tho democratic candidate
for Pennsylvania's executive chair DAVID
RITTENIIOUSE PORTER.
But. 6ustom, as well as propriety, de
mands that somo notice should be taken of
the respective merits and claims of the rival
candidates for your favor. " '
In drawing a parallel bcltyecn' David R.
Porter and Joseph Rltncr, vris shall confine
ourselves to the,-contemplation of'their
public characters and' public acts, and will
deviate from lhi3 course, only, so " far as
may bo necessary to vindicate the fair fame
of our candidate against tho malignant as;
persie'nS' arid "thrive refuted slanders"
which have been co' lavishly poured forth.
We do not decline to "cram your ears a-
gainst tho stomach of your sense" with a
comparison between the private lives of tho
two competitors, because wc fear the result
of such a contrast, but becauso we believe
that such an enquiry, conducted as it must
necessarily bo, under tho influence of in
flamed party feelings, . always ends in the
adoption of falsehood and tho' wide spread
circulation ot calumnious error. Expcn
ence too, teaches that'howevcr, for a time,
such a course may detract ftom the" strength
and overcloud the pro'spects of tho denoun
ced candidate, there apists in the public
bosom an innate love of truth which even
tually causes a reaction, and tho .evil which
was intended. to bo viSiled Upton the' asper
sed, more frequently falls "upon the heads
of the traduccrs. We have all sccri pub
lic nen absolutely persecuted into the af
fections of the people; and, though dear to
them before, calumny and detraction' long
persisted in, has throned them iiv their
"hearts coreayc in their heart or hearts,"
from whence' all tho exertions of their ene
mies have' been powerless to pluck them.
Thus it was with Thomas Jcfl'ersori, James
Madison, Andrew Jackson and Simon Sny
der, and so it has been and will be with,
Ills eminent man who now fills the Execu
tive .chair of tho Union. Thus may it ever
be, until men and parties discover, that true
policy, as well as a reuse of propriety and
honorable feeling, forbid the attempt to vil
ify tho private character of a private citi
zens merely because ho is nominated for
office by a portion of his fellows. Enter
taining theso views, and therefore, in this
particular ".declining to follow in tho foot
steps of our adversaries, wo say to them
"go on however fertile may bo your in
vention, and how numerous soever tho,
falsehoods you may fling abroad, the dem
ocratic party stands ready to disprove
them." -
Of. Joseph Ititnor, the present incumbent,
it may bo tr'uly said that nature never fash
ioned bin for that which accidental fortune
has made him. Without calling into ques
tion his domestic habits, of which we know
nothing or impeaching tho existence of
tho privato virtues which his friends may
claim for him it may be fearlessly assert
ed that ho possesses not one statesmanlike
quality, '
Adhering to his own opinions in -cases
whero his passions arc aroused or iiis inte
rest involved, with a tenacity wl.ich no rea
soning, however cogent, ,can relax, in most
other instances ho yields himself, blindly,
to tho guidance of others, content that the
dignity of his office should bo made the ,
stalking horso for their ambition, and thai
his power and patronagd as Executive- Ma-,
gistrato, and his potent voico us a constitu
ent part of-tho law making power, should
bo made subservient to the aggrandizement
of somo favorite used to promoto vicious
and injurious legislation, or to defeat the
wholesome action of tho legislative will.
Without the knowlcdgo to guido, or wis-
dom to dccido.aright, which so eminently
distinguished the late President of tho Uni
ted States, ho. lias used the veto power more
frequently than it was ever beforo brought
into operation in this State; and, in conse
quence, his opposition fo tho regular action
of the two houses has been marked by gross
inconsistencies and contradictions. '
Devoured by an inordinate and morbid
desire to bo re-elected, he has not hesitated
to stoop to the practice of childish trickcrv
and miserable chicanery for the purpose of
cfiecling his object and calculating' larcely
on the" credulity of tho people and their sup
posed ignorance of passing overits,- ho seizes
on any opinion or practice that may be pop
ular or about to become so, and making it
the subject of a message or a proclama
lion," with hypocritical zeal, urges it upon
the public attention; when it is well known
that, in one instance', he was privately, and
hi3 friends publicly,' opposed to his own re
commendation, and in another, that what he
enjoins with scrrrtuoh appnrent earnestness,
had already been resolved on by the corpo?
rations to which his " proclamation" is
addressed. '-' ' "
, Though "(jfilcf Magistrate' of tho "'key
Stono ofthe federal arch," he has dared to
calculate the value of the Union ; and find
ing it, m his estimation, less worthy of
preservation than the antimasonic faction,
now " tottering to its fall," he has endeav
ored to stay its declining fortunes by calling
to its aid the imported fanatacism and mad
ness that seeks tho immediate and uncondi
tional emancipation of the slaves on tho
soil, or prcsents'the alternative of an entire
dcYlruction of the confederacy. In order
to seduce to his suppoit, these who would
not hesitalo to involve us in civil and servile
war, and to outrage all the best feelings of
our nature, in' 'the insane attempt to carry
out their visionary schemes, he presumed
to denounce an acknowledgment of the
constitutional right of the Southern States,
to'regulate and'modify their-domostic insti
tution as " a base bowing of the fence to
the dark spirit of slavery." Lamenting,
as we all do, the existence of Ibis' great evil
among Us, we'hayctoadd to our regrets
the fact that the unadvised and fatal .meas
ures of the immediate abplitionist, so. far
fiom ameliorating the condition of the dave
havo imposed on the master, almost the nc
cessily of adding to the weight of his chains
and increasing the number of his fetters.
It is this melancholy reflection in connec
tion witu a lorcsigiu 01 tlio consequences
which must, inevitably, follow the strength
ened action of the abolitionists, which has
checked the augmentation of their numbefs
and prevented the further extension of tlieir
dogmas, and' when the anticipations enter
tained in l!B3G, that' they would consti
tute a powerful sect in Pennsylvania 13 dis
appointed, the Governor is struggling to
retrace his false step, and with what place
ho may, recede from the difficulty into
which he had plunged himself. '
But, " out of his own mouth do wo con
demn him."1. The messagp from which wc
quote his sentiments, 'must be regarded as
conclusive on this point, and until in the
same solemn manner" ho retracts what he
has tliu3 put forth as oxpressivo of his de
liberate opinion, Joseph Ritnor must ' be
viewed as the friend and supporter of a
scheme fraught with disaster and ruin.
In illustration of somo of tho features of
the governor's public charactcr,-and tho
course of his administration, wo will detain
you for a short time whilo 'wo pass in re
view somo of his public acts'. Within tho
narrow limits ,'neccssarily assigned to this
address, it would be, of course, impossible
to enter upon a detailed history of the man
nei in which ho has discharged his trust,
or to point out all the reprohensiblb acts of
which ho has been guilty. A few must suf
fice, but these aro of such a character, as to
prove Mr. Rilner utterly unfit to occupy
tho high placo to which accident has ele
vated him. '
Among the most reprehensible of these,
inasmuch as it evinced a total disregard of
the opinions and wishes of his constituents
may bo mentioned his, sanction of the re
charter of the J3ank of t the United States.
Owing to the dispute on the subject of tho
Gubernatorial candidates which divided the
democracy in 1835, thaopposition succeed
ed in electing a majority of the members, of
tho IIouso of Representatives.".' Taking ad
vantage of this accidental circumstance, and
aware that the power thus acquired wquld
not be prol6nged boyond the then session,
tho Governor and his Wends in the legis
lature, conceived the iniquitous design of
reviving, for tho period of thirty years, an ,
institution which the public voice had onco
and again, condemned. ' . Without a single
petition from iny quarter, or a request cm
inaling from any number of citizens, a bill
was. introduced into thdlbW'er house, under
a title calculated to mislead, by a' committee
to whom the subject, did not belong ; and
lest the people in the cxeicisc 1 of their1 con
stitutional right, might remonstrate against
tho perpetration of thi3 fraud, and thus im
pede, if not ajrogethci defeat the design 'of
tho conspirators, the bill wfl3 hurried thro'
tho' necessary forms with the most indecent
haste, and received the signature of the Go
vernor, when, without the slightest previ
ous intimation, the community of Pennsyl-
ania wero astounded , by the intelligence
that an odious institution was recalled frona
tho grave to wliich the popular voice had
consigned it, with increased energies and
augmented power. - '.,',
We will notCnla'rgoon this painful topic.
All the facts attendant on .'the nefarious
transaction aro so deeply impressed upon
your memories as to render it unnecessary.
We may, however, be. permitted' to add,
that so gr.oss was this infraction of popular
rights, and so darjgerou,s' to popular ascen
dency, that the' Convention which' lately
sat to propose srnendm'ents to the'Constitii
tion, by a vote comprising the assent of me.n
of all parties, recommended the adoption of
a constitutional clause prohibitory in fu
ture, of a course of Legislation necessarily
tending to corrupt and demoralise, by hold
ing out ah cxample'of successful fraud as a
temptation to abuse, tho power, temporarily
delegated to our political agents. , -, '','
If no '"other 'objtction could be urged
against Governor Ritner, his participation
in, and approval of, this moat disgraceful
prostitution of power, it ought, 'of itself, to
be sufficient to prevent his re-election:',., So
far as Joseph Ritner and his advisers aro
concerned, the question' i3 nc4 one depend
ing upon the utility or inutility of the Bank
of tho United States as a fiscal agent, or the
benefits it confers, oi the dangers it' entails
on the community. ' It ought to' 'be suffi
cient, in tho estimation of a virtuous people
that the act which recalled it to existence
was concocted in fraud, and consumated in,
iniquity.' " ' ' ,.'
' This is 'an instance of hie readiness to
'lend himself and his constitutional preroga
tive, to the promotion of vicious and injudi
cious legislation. t .1
Permit lis now to furnish an exaraplo of
his willingness to sacrifice ihe public good
and to contemn an expression of the legis
lative will in a case whero tho supposed
rilercst of a favorite demanded, it at his
hands. " r
It will bo recollected that in December,
1837, tho legislature passed a bill lpaking
partial provision for the further prosecution
of our system of internal improvements.
Among tho several appropriations, was ono
o the Gettysburg rail road, to pay off exr
isling debts,, accompanied by a direction to
suspend further work on that road after thb
first of January then next. This proviso
was inserted becauso of tho strong doubts
cntortained by the legislature, of the utility
of tho proposed road, and, iii viow of the
embarrassed sta(o of our finances and ,the
heavy load of debt under which', ihe slate
is groaning, from tho desiro to, avoid unner
cessary' expenditure. But the' chief favor
ite and principal director ol tue Uovornor
was deeply interested in tuc uettysuurg
rail road, and it was not liis pleasure that
the work upon it should bo delayed. Will
itbo believed, that to gratify tho wishes of