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t-2. i ffltCT
I hay sworn upon the Altur b bed, eternal lioitlllty to every tortx of Tyranny over the Mia f Man Thomas Jefferson.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. WEBB
BjLOOMSfcSirjfeG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATUItiAY, MAY 30, 184&
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT,
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DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
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Concluded.
! A similar success lias attended Ihb Ad
ministration iii all ill blanches of the public
Birvica. From the reports submitted to
Congress, it appears that, in the course or
last three years, great vigor and activity
i Lave been imparted to the War Department.
The securities for an efficient and econom
i ical administration of the army have been
increased: The engineer corps has been
tendered much more efficient; the ordnance
' has mado gteat progress; and a reasonable
i expectation is entertained, that the, results
bf the very extensive experiments instituted
to determine the description of cannoii, and
.;. tlie most destructive projectiles, will short-
ii ly enable the department to adopt perma
bent and perfect models for the artillery
A corps of Topographical Engineers has
been organized, composed of experienced
bnd able officers, who havo been actively
onu useiuuy occupied, extensive regions
bf country have, for the first time, been sur
veyed, our Western and Northern frontiers
explored, the country between tlie Missis
aippi and Missouri carefully examined and
elaborately laid down, more than title's bun
'drrd points of latitude and longitude set3
tied, and our knowledge df the vast regiah
hf the Western country greatly enlarged.
Measures, in n high degree advantageous
to our trade in that quarter, have been pur
sued without neglecting any f the im
provements in charge of llio department.
Tito army has been engaged in laborious
and constant service. Not the least of
ibese has been the removal of the Indian
tribes, who had parted with their lands in
the East, and were bound by treaty stipu
lations to remove west of the Mississippi
river, to the number of thirty-sir thousand
souls. It is remarkable that, in this grand
moral spectacle, no one trace, is to be found
of injustice or cruelty; nor, 'exctpt in that
Of the Simiriolea, wht were waging war
with our peoplo when Mr. Van Buren en
tered upon the Government, is there' one act
bf severity that could have bee'n avoided,
br one drop of blood uriUfecessarlly shed.
A proper' consideration for their sildation,
feommisseration fur their misfortunes, and
regard for their character of the country,
iiavc guided in the execution ot the laws
bnd Indian treaties, by which the'lr title lo
heady nineteen million of acres of land has
lecn extinguished. Their removal; as in
iUo case of the Cherokees, while it has o
fened a vast extent of country to the en
erprize and industry of our fellaw-eltizeiis,
placsfl the red men! beydnd the reach of
those influences which were gradually des
troying them'; end establishes tbcm in a
tome where they may become prosperous
and happy. At the same time the most lib
eral encouragement has been given to the
benevolent of every religious sect to spread
among them the light of the Gospel, and to
titablUh schools in every part of their ter
ritory; objects which have been accomplish
ed with the mast beneficial effects. Al
though it is btlieved that these measures
will tend to civilize the Indians on our bor
ders, no precautions have been neglected
to provide for Iho deftnee of this important
and extensiva frontier. Such a system has
been projected, and is being rapidly cartied
inta execution, as will effectually protect
our fellow-citizens in that quarter from all
danger from that source.
From the peculiar circumstances grovri
ing out of the insurrection in Canada, the
difficult and delicate task Was imposed on
the War Department, of preserving the
peace and maintaining the good faith of
the country amidst all tlie ixcitemerit Which
existed on the Northern frontier. Fortil
natcly for the country, the exertions of gov
ernment. Were successful, and our neutial
obligations were maintained inviolate; at a
time, too; vhen the exigencies of the ser
vice required the presence of (lie greater
porlidn of dtir little array in the south, and
oil the western frontier.
Tho' expenditures of this department
during the first year of Mr. Van Buren's
administration, were beyond his control.
Measures had been projected, and were
partly executed; end the obligations incur
red by the department, involving heavy ex
penditures had to be complied with, or the
faith of the government violated; Each suc
ceeding year has however brought with it
a considerable reduction of expenditure.
Notwithstanding the increase of the milits
ry establishment and the heavy expense
attending the execution of the Cherokee
and other Indian treaties, the expenses o
1838 were reduced one million of dollars
those of 1839 nearly four millions, and
a further reduction in 1840 of at least three
millions is confidently anticipated.
Nor have the interests of the navy been
rieglecied or forgotten; Sensible that it is
equally Indispensable id thb JJrctccliuii o
com-nefce, and the honor of the country
that it constitutes the right arm of tho na
tion in bii oiiensive operations; tnat it is
one main instrument for exacting satisfac
lion for insults and retribution for wrongs
and that under no circumstance's is it likely
to be perverted to the establishment of des
potic power, Mr. Van Buren has equally
given it his fostering care, and sedulous at
tention.
Under his administration, a constant
gradual increase of the materials for the
construction and armament of ship, and
the liriproverrlent of navy yards, lo the a
mdiint of several millions in value, has oc
curred; some of those On the stocks have
been broiight nearer ta completion; ths most
persevering efforts afe making to revive and
invigorate thb discipline bf the navy, and to
remedy, as far as possible, that scarcity of
se-.men, which has become so apparent, by
carrying into effect a system of appren
ticeship which, it is expected, will by do
giees supply every deficiency. All this
has been done without increasing the appro
priations fur the support of the naval str
vice notwithstanding the addition of tlie
Exploring expedition, whose officers and
crews are paid and subsisted from the fiinds
of the navy. On the contrary, s gradual
reduction lias taf.en place since the year
1887, amounting to nearly a rfiillioii of dol
lars, while the accumulation of materials
has increased, and tho number of vessels
in commission, either as receiving ships or
on foreign service, is net diminished. So
effectually is the commerce of tho country
protected in every quarter Where protection
is required; that we have lately seen the
British admiralty, with its five hundred
ships, publicly reproached wiih tho exam
ple df '.he United S ates in this particular.
Let us now contrail the p'le'ttfre just pre
sented, with tlie opposition which the ad
ministration so conducted has encountered;
The identity of the modem whigs and
ancient Federalists is evl'deh't nd undenia
ble. It may be distinctly traced through
all their change of name, and seen th'roitgh
all their disguises. The same want of con
fidence in the honesty and intelligence 0
the people, and in those institutions which
guaranty their equal rights, and the same
disregard to their feelings and their inter
ests, ire always apparent, eiccpt at those
periods were, despairing of success by 0
pen hostility, they attempt deception by an
affected devotion to the democraey as Bid
den is it is short live J. The moment tho
crisis is past, whether it terminate in suc
cess r iu disappointment, the mask so Un
willingly assumed and so impatiently worn,
Is thrown off.
If there tie any Essential differenco be
tween the ancient federalists and modern
whigs it is to be found m the absence of
semo of those traits in the latter, which, at
the commencement of the division of par
tics, contributed in some degree to give
character to the former. At the time tboio
divisiorls originated, and during the whole
peHod in which the federalists maintained
their ascendency, their course was marked
by a degrco of decornm Which gavb a cer
tain respectability to tho principles they a-
vowed. So long as a majority of the ped
pie supported the pretentions) tliey treated
them with apparent respect, while under
mining their rights by intiduous legislation,
in conformity td their avowed principles;
but the moment the tendency of their meas
tires was discovered and denounced by Mr.
Jefferson, and they felt themselves sinking
from their power, their deportment under
went so sudden and so thorough a change
as to bring Uut, in strong relief, their doubts
of the capacity of the peoplo for self-gov
ernment;
The federal administration began its war
against popular rights by enacting laws cal
culated and intended to repress and punish
the free exercise of the privilege of speech
and the just complaints of the people
measures which were followed up by stand
ing tirmies to overawe them in the exercise
of their suffrages. These, and other man
ifcstatlons of their designs, roused the ped
pie to defence : they rose In their irtesista
ble ihight, -and tile edifice of federal pbwer
fell prostrate before them.
From this period, systematic political
contests have been carried on between tho
two great parties of the country, the mark
td characteristics in each and all having
been, confidence in the honesty and intellt
gence of the people, and their capacity or
self government on the one side, and did
trust on the othci; a desire for an extension
of the elective franchiso to every free citi
zen of the country, 011 the one side, and for
its abridgement, by propcity qualifications
and other restrictions; on the other; a strug
gle for popular equality ou the ono side
and for peculiar and monopolizing rights
corporate and private on the sther. In
short a eantestion for popular sovereignty
on the one side, anil for n government con
trolled by favored interests and privileged
classes bn the other. These contests have
all been brought to the pells of election
tnd by almost a necessary consequence
hare met an entire unifoimity of decision
there the prevalence of thb popular over
the aristocratic principle.
I he Presidential election, at the period
to which we hare referred, proved that the
aristocratic principle was not to be conclu
ded by tlit fair and distinct decision of the
people, without a struggle behind the polls
of election, tv reverse their vote; and to
galh, bv indirection, or fraud, bribery, or
force, what it had failed to secure in the a-
pen field or popular discussion. Hence the
fearful and trying conlrovesy for the Presi
dency between Mr. jefferson and Mr. Burr,
in the House of Representatives in 1801.
The intention ef the people us expressed
by the popular vote, was not a matter of
doubt or question, but when it was found
that power was dearer than principle ta one
of tho candidates upon the Democratic tick
et, the rule, " divide and conquer" beearrie
that for thd aellon of the Federal party, in
their effort to overthrow the election and
make that man President ef Republic,
whom, from a mistaken confidence, the
people had intended to make Vice Presi
dent.
The limits of an address will not permit
and enumeration of the instances, since tho
memorable one above named, in which the
aristocratic party has attempted to defeat
the popular will by Waited effort. Suffi
cient for our present purpose it will be to
refer to passages in the history of the elec
tion of the people, in the patriotic Stales of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, of tcceht
date, and pst but partially developed to the
astonished view of our yeung country;
They sufficiently show that the principle
which gave sise to the contest between Jef
ferson and Burr yet exists, is still in active
exercise, and is onb of the strong depen
dencies for success of the modern Whig
parly.
We are not alarmists. The cause of tho
Democracy has nothing to gain from repre
sentations of imaginary benefits to be deri
ved from tho action of Government, or to
lose from (similar representations of suffer
ings, equally imaginary, to flow from the
same source. I he people are, in eliect,the
Government bfolir countryl they are its
sovereign, and their will is its law. When
we appeal to them; we do so under a deep
conviction of these truths, and an equally
deep cdniciotlsrfess that we appeal td ra
tional, intelligent, patriotic men; possessing
judgment to discriminate between truth and
falsehood; firmness to pursue the course of
principle, unswayed by prejudice, or pass
ion, or interest, and integrity to defend and
preserve those constitutional rights upon
Which their lasting prosperity so safely re
pdsesi To that people we now appeal, and,
standing among them, desirous to submit
our acts to their calm reflection and judg
ment, we entreat them to look welt to their
rights and interests; to guard the elective
franchise, as the sheet-nuchor of their liber
ties; to protect themselves from imposition
and falsehood, arid, as necessary to thl
creat object, from hasty and undue excite
ments, artificially stimulated, and attempted
to bb supported by the power of mbncy,not
the force of trlith' We also entreat them
1
to look to the conduct bf thnr representa
tive servants, and see whether, til the dis
chaige of their high duties, insidious ap
preaches may not be gradually making, if
not upon the freedom of popular eleotidns
at least tipon their efficiency as the first con
stitutional step, under our systems, State
and National, in carrying into execution the
popular will.
The course of the Opposition in Con
eress calls lor the most serious, considera
tion of the people. Charged as that body
is with the guardianship of the great interest
of the country, the public havo a right to
expect that those who compose it will de
vote themselves with undivided attention
and unremitted zeal to tho execution of thai
hich and responsible trust. In what man
tier this just expectation has been fulfilled,
will he seen In the histdry of the present
and the three prereeding sessions. Its
proper deliberations have been perpetually
disturbed by discussions having no relation
to the subject matters of legislation before
It, producing interminable delays in the
transaction of the public business, and em
barrassing and postponing ardluary and in
dispensable measures, essential to tlie com
mon defence and general welfarMnd clear
N demanded by the expressed wishes of
the people, Nor are these the worst fea
(Urea In this picture of degenerate legfcla
tiotii Controversies at a personal cnaract
er have more than once usnrped the place
of calm reasoning and fair debate, marked
In tlio'if progress by angry recrimination,
and some timos terminating in acts ef vio-
ence: thus converting i Hall, which should
be dedicated to the sacred purposes of legis
lation; ta the protection of the rights of the
people and the preservation of the publio
honor, into a theatto for the exhibition of
vindictive passions.
The brief leview whicK we hava given
of the conduct of the Opposition in Can
gress, is in perfect accordance with the
course of the Federal party dur'ng our sec
ond war of indepencence. They propose
no measures, though professing an earnest
desire ta relieve the eouutry from prevailing,
erubarassments. They havo steadily resis
ted every effort of the Administration to
carry into execution tha plan which it has
proposed for sepuatisg tho fiscal opera-;
ttons of the Government from incorporated
institutious, and which has a ditecllendeq
cy to restrain that dangerous banking power
which by their agency, and tinder the influ
ence of their counsels, bad grown upal-'
most io an equality, with tho Government,
itself Thus Havo the constituted authori?
ties of the land been left powerless as to the
borttrol of the money bf the people; ami '
the punishment of defaulters, who have vi-
oldted the trusts confided to tlieir hands.,.
They havfe charged tho Democratic parly;
with wasteful extravagance, beitute tils'
expenditures tinder this, and thep pi seeding
Administrations, hare been necessarily in-'
creased by a removal of the Indians from
within our settled borders, a measure alike
wise, and csscnial to the safety of our citi-'
zens, anU distinguished by the most pater,
nal clemency to tho unfortunate savage.
They have founded a similar accusation up
011 the exertions df the Government (0 ar-
test the bltrnings, Iho tbmahawkj, bnd thV
scalping knife, which havfe covered Florida
with blood and desolation. T'iey hao au-,i
peradded (0 all this, attempts to b'bslrtlct tho
regular course of legislation, by technical
gy which parliamentary forms would per
mit, and the most fertile ingenuity could in
vent. By this course of cUnducltthey havo
b impaired the high dignity and bearing wf
the great representative body of tlie people
as to excite the most serious apprehension
in the bosom of every lover of order, and
of every friend of his country, as to it
moral consequences, and its tendency (0 leal
sni the confidence dr the world in our frei
ir.stitiitiiinn.
It was li hive been expectea thai, im
nominating .1 candidate for die Presidency,
the Wiig party would select sonib individu-'
al whose political principle; 30 far as they
havo been disclosed in Ilia public acts anej
declarations, are in accordauco vrilh their,
own. This expectation has bean fulfilLd;
in the nomination of General William Hen
ry Harrison by the Ilarrisburg Convention.
He may be justly' regarded as a true expo
nent of the political doctrines of tho parly
Which have put him forward as their leader
and representative. Before the contest be
tween Thomas Jefferson and the elder Ad
ams in 1708, he had been already in public,
life; and upon the separation of parties on
the leading political questions .ot that day,
tie became a supporter bf the latter. Froai
that time io the pre&ent, nothing has appear
ed in his public acts evincing any change of
opinion on his part in respect cither to tho
questions referred to, or to others which
bavo grown out of subsequent divisions up-.
on measures involving great principles of
government and policy. Indeed, those
who now take upon themselves to speak
for him authoritatively, end to be tho ex
pounds of his principles, have publicly
declared that on all tho exciting questions
which formerly agitated, and still agitato
the public mind, his opinions remain "un
changed."
We may,' therefore, justly appeal te his
former course and opinions ts the criterion
by which he is now to be judged. Ha
stands confessed as a supporter of the most
obnoxious Federalist measures tho alien!
and sedition laws', and th'o standing army
of the elder Adamsjthe high' toned doctrine
of the younger, and the adiuinis (rations of
bolht From both he reteircd confidenco
and favor, and from both public office. If
other proof of his Federalism be necessary,
it will be found in the position he now oc
cupies as the sole candidate of the modern!
Whig paity fur thb highest office 1.1 the gift
of the people , , . , ,
Relying, as wc do, for tho success of our
cause, upon the great principles of constitu
tional right and popular liberty, wo uo not
feel called onto make a direct issue witk'
the supporters of Geo. Harrison, on tko
question of his claims to the title of a Hero
vo cannot, iiowever, eui remcmuor wo
expressed apprehensions of the party that
upport him, uttered by their great leader a
few years since, that the elevation of a Mil
itary' Chieftain to the Presidency would bo
of mora fatal tendency thaa 'war, pasty