Pioneer And Democrat

From the Oregon Times.

CITIZENS' CIRCULAR.
"In the midst of Counsel there is safety."

Continuation of "American Policy"—
VIEWS OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE REPUBLIC—The Two Great Parties, or Equality and Democracy—Inequality and Whiggery—Candidates—Measures of Interest to OREGON.

The American Revolution was the sole result of a violation of the principle of Man's Equality. The Aristocratic Oligarchy of Great Britain determined to Tax the Colonies without allowing them the Franchise of Representation, which they sought to wrest from them in violation of Magna Charta.
The Colonies resisted. They had fled from the mother countries. They had sought in a wilderness that Equality which was denied them at home. For more than an hundred years they had struggled against poverty, sickness, savage hostilities, and all the privations and dangers incident to the settlement of a new Continent—and when they had succeeded and began to taste the fruits of their labor—had become three million strong in numbers and wealth—the Aristocratic Drones of England turned their blood-sucking mouths towards them and demanded the vital stream.
Like true know-nothings they did not come out openly and say, "you shall give such a share of your wealth and labor for the support of our idleness and ease." Oh no. They were too politic for that. They dare not thus face the light. But they sugar-coated the old man's bitter pill of "privileged orders," that had first caused Emigration, and offered it as "stamp acts" and "tea imposts." Our forefathers saw through the coating and shut their teeth against the pill. They saw at a glance that if they opened the door once—if they admitted under whatever specious pretence that the old Aristocracy could impose taxes upon them from the "Mother Country," and they had no members there to guard their interests, every object for which they had endured so much, and struggled so manfully in the New World, was lost; and they would be no better off than if they had never fled. They could see no reason why they should toil and sweat for the Drones of England—and they took their stand.
They preferred death in war, to life in slavery and vassalage, in peace.
The Result, after seven years of incredible toil, and bravery, and endurance, was the triumph of the principles of Equality, and the erection of a Free Representative Government.
They were careful to prohibit the creation of titled Nobilities, and the building up of Religious Hierarchies.
They made all men equal before the Law, and the Constitution; and in the Worship of God; and decreed that the Confederation should only enlarge in a Republican form.
This was their will to their Descendants, and they invited the oppressed from their old homes and countries to come over and share the inheritance with their own children. They left as a Legacy, thirteen States, a large Territory, and three millions of people.—
After 70 years, the heritage has grown to thirty-one States, seven Territories, and twenty-five million of people.
I have made this careful and truthful review that they may see who were Americans in those days, and what was their American Sentiment, (principles.) And then to trace by their measures, (for works cannot lie, though words often do.) who are now Americans, and what party now truly advocate American principles? We have seen that this Continent was peopled by Refugees from Europe—English, Dutch, Irish, Scotch, French, Spanish, Swiss, and sprinkling of all the nations. The country was tabula rasa, a blank. They had a right to impress it as they pleased. Let us see. They had fled from Political Inequality and religious tyranny, from beggary and degradation, imposed by a Government of "Privileged orders" and "established churches." No man can deny that. Then what do they want to get rid of? Was it not Political Inequality and Religious Domineering? What did they do when they got able in 1776? They founded a Government on the equality of man, and declared the principle of Equal Rights "inalienable" and forbid political religion.
THEY WERE AMERICANS. No one will deny that. And Equality and Religious Freedom were American Principles.
But says the Know-nothing, we admit that they were Americans, and that such was then American sentiment. But times are changed, and such are not now Americans, and such are not American principles.
Down into that den we dive after you, "Sam."
There is not, and there cannot be but two sets of principles amongst civilized, intelligent humanity. One is INEQUALITY, running out into Aristocracies, Monarchies, Despotisms, and Religious Intolerances as now the case in Europe. The other is a Democracy of government of EQUALS, as is the case in America.
There is no middle ground. When you leave Equality, you per se embrace Inequality.
WHICH IS THE PARTY OF INEQUALITY?
Judged by this true Standard, where has the Whig party always been, and where are you now Know nothings? Its Blank Aspect.
It is not American Policy to distinguish between Producers; as by a high protective Tariff, making the farmer and mechanic pay a certain profit to the Factory Man, of Iron and Calico. Because it robs one "of the honest bread he has earned" and compels him to give it to the other; and besides it is a government insurance of the business of the one, not only against breakage, but also for a good profit; and all at the expense of the other. This is unequal legislation. Nor is it American Policy to give the responsibility and patronage of the Government of the U. S. Bank man, that his silk paper promises shall be worth more, or be made more available, than the silken rags of another. Nor is it American policy to make the people of Arkansas pay for the Internal Improvement of the people of Michigan and California. Because it is taking their money by legislation and giving it to benefit others. If the General Government were to assume and pay the debts of all other States. The people of Alabama, who perhaps owe nothing, would have to help pay (by indirect taxation on what they eat, and drink, and wear) the debts of reckless or profligate people of all the other States. This is Inequality. These measures have been sprung, and advocated by Whiggery—but have so far been successfully opposed and beat down by the Democracy—the advocates of perfect Equality.
But again the Hydra of Inequality makes its appearance amongst us. It makes two demands. One is to proscribe Catholics from office and put down their Religion. The other to prohibit Naturalization to Foreigners, (for it amounts to that, you bury nearly every one of them in your canals, ditches, and railroad embankments before they have been here twenty-one years)
These measures are vauntingly claimed to be "American?" and their principals, aiders and abetters assume the cognomen of "true Americans." But the falsity was so apparent upon the face of the pretense, that concealment was resorted to, to prevent dissension and exposure. But they have been dragged to Light, though hidden away in night and darkness, and dungeon-barred by unlawful oaths, abjuring the obligations of Truth and Honor which belong to Social Intercourse, and are engendered in the Fraternal principle, being thus a part of the Equality of Man. They have been dragged before the tribunal of public judgment, and they must stand (however they may flinch) before the tests of analytical examination, the political practicability. Let me ask you a few questions touching your practices of concealment, and their bearing upon the liberties of your fellow citizens.
Do you suppose that this great Government is to be carried on in the Night?
Do you suppose that the people of this Confederacy will submit to have their Interests, their Domestic policy, legislated upon in stolen privacy of an outhouse, and they have no chance to discuss them openly amongst each other, to know whether they are politic and wise, or hurtful and unwise?
Do you suppose that the action of a majority who have heard only one side of a question of interest, could lawfully bind the minority, who have not been heard; and whose side of the question has been fraudulently concealed and kept from the hearing and consideration of the majority? As well you might be expected to submit to the verdict of a Jury who had heard only the side against you.
Do you intend, secretly, to elect your members, and, obtaining a majority, pass laws over the "life, liberties, and pursuits of happiness" of your fellow citizens who have had no voice in choosing or rejecting you?—or knowing what your measures are?
Dare you levy taxes upon men whose Representation you have suppressed? Then would all of the causes exist which brought on the Revolution, and they would promptly bring on another! It was not for such a state of things as this that Washington led the armies of the Revolution, or that Jackson fought the Battle of New Orleans.
Honor scorns concealment—Truth does not dodge Light—Equality seeks not to rob a fellow citizen of his right to choose upon measures or upon men. Justice requires that joint partners in interest shall have an equal chance to decide upon the measures of the concern. How nobly did old General Cass come forward and stand between the piracy of these midnight Algerines and the unheeded minority in Michigan. A fraudulent majority requested him to carry out their secretly obtained will or resign. He promptly told them that he would never prostitute the Conservative character of the United States Senate to the unholy machinations of a cabal whose opinions had not been heard and weighed by the minority, but had been concealed and suppressed.
The rights of a minority are as sacred as are the rights of a majority. And their greatest right is that they shall be heard before a decision is made upon their interests. It is at the ballot box that all Laws are first made. The man elected is but the agent of the people to go on and frame the principles upon which he was elected into statutes and laws. The measures are first agreed on by the people, who are the source of all law.
What did Jefferson say of the Rights of Minorities? "All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable. That the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression." And in speaking of the essential principles of the government he numbers amongst them "the diffusion of information, and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of public reason."
"The public judgment will correct all false reasonings and opinions, on a full hearing of all parties." [1st and 2d inaugurals.]
"It is due in the first place to the reflective character of our citizens at large who by the weight of public opinion, influence and strengthen the public measures. It is due to the sound discretion with which they select from among themselves those to whom they confide the legislative duties."
Look, if you want to see the finger of God in these principles! Would He permit Jefferson to die on the 4th of July, if his teachings to this people had not corresponded with the truths of Jesus? What was the Declaration of Independence but a renewal of the great command that man should do unto man as he would be done by—in other words, "Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political."
Oh, out-house haunting, night-legislating sons of darkness, secrecy, and office-hunting conspiracy! How little, how insignificant, must your conduct, your principle, your measures, look, even amongst yourselves, when contrasted with the noble sentiments, the open and manly issue presented by the great and noble Evangelists of Human Liberty whose way-marks are laid down so plainly for the guidance of the generations that should come after them.
No honorable man, no just man, no truthful man, no man who wears a calm eye, and a clear brow, will ever envy you the feelings that possess your hearts, when you answer, under oath, (though a false oath it be) any question that your neighbor may chance to ask you touching the measures or men in which you are all jointly interested, and you answer that you "know nothing," when, in truth, and before God, you do know more or less of the whole matter. And I say this, not to wound the feelings of any man, but to warn others from subjecting themselves to the self degradation which every conscientious man must inevitably feel who plunges himself into this whirlpool of deceit and wrong.

THE FOREIGN QUESTION.
In my former Circular, I fully depicted the injustice and wrong and inhumanity of proscribing Catholics from holding office, and the impolicy of stirring up a religious persecution against them. I also showed that the Democratic party originated in the Feeling of Equality and Fraternity which underlies our Republican Institution.
I now propose to investigate the origin of the feeling of Whiggery, and trace its identities in Know-nothingism.
It is yet the uneradicated curse of man's soul that he is selfish. In the enjoyment of peace, liberty, and security, for a few years, or generations, he accumulates property, "his eyes roll in fatness" and he forgets his brother man. Trusting so long to his own exertions, and being successful, he forgets God. He becomes utterly engrossed in self! He wishes to build up a Dynasty of wealth, fashion, ease, and emolument, in his sons' and daughters, and, to do this, they must cease to labor. But unless there be somewhere a condition of serfs and laborers, his broad acres would be valueless; his great factories would rot down, and his bank promises turn to rags. Then it is that to protect and perpetuate these peace grown dynasties of wealth and rank, and family, from the handling and competition of the common people, that resort is had to Legislation—and that is Whiggery.
And thus it is that every measure it has ever originated, or advocated, has been opposed to the principles of the Equality of Man.
The Democracy have never sympathized with these upstart offsprings of Avarice. Christ told them that they had as much chance to get to Heaven as a camel had to go through the eye of a needle—(which is considerably less than no chance at all.)
And I speak for the masses of this Gov. ernment, when I say they have just about the same chance, to get a Legislative bar of distinction, and privilege, placed permanently betwixt them and the people. Their tricks and devices may deceive "for a little season," but they are soon found out, and sent off howling before they can do any harm. The most pernicious Atheism on earth is the disbelief in God's contempt of riches. Men, instead of following the example of Jesus, leaving the morrow to take care of itself, greatly prefer the fortune of Dives, with all its perils. Yes, they forget God! and would not exchange even Ananias and Sapphira for Lazarus and Abraham's bosom. They must toil and fret, wear out their lives, wrong their fellow man by deception, and falsehood, and foul Legislation, to place their children above labor.—forgetting, or never seeing that God had spoken in that matter. He has provided for your dainty offspring, the same as he has for all children, by giving them a good set of muscles; and you, nor yours, though chicken-livered and kid-fingered, are any too good to use them.
If you are: go over to Europe where the state of things you desire exists in full blast. There you can play the lordling and have your serfs, your farmers and mechanics who come in with their hats under their arm, bowing to the ground, and trembling, while his rich lordship, or Right Honorable Sir, or His Godly Reverence, or some upper-ten nabob, speaks to them.
Yes, we will gladly exchange for just such men as you are now denouncing and seeking to drive back to the shores of persecution and wrong, from whence they have fled with a far better knowledge (and the will to execute it) of the true principles of this God-created Government of Equal Rights than you, intuitive Whig, or Know-nothing, dare have.
It is for this very reason that the influx of foreigners from Europe, is so necessary for the salvation of this Republic. The growth of Families is the formation of Aristocracies; and this produces the state of things in Europe. The oppression of the Old World drive the lovers of liberty and haters of tyranny over to this country, and the aristocratic tendency is kept down! No wonder Foreigners, when they land upon our shores, join the ranks of the Democracy. Whigs may wonder, and say, "It is strange the ignorant creatures do not come to us."
Know-nothings may descry and traduce and say "the foreigners are unfit for citizenship under twenty-one years." (which would be insufficient, for Time itself can never make whigs of them, though it may of their descendants.) But, sir, it is false. They know what they fled for! and what they came here for! and they see where it exists, and they rush upon the broad Democratic Platform of Political Equality and Toleration as to the Ark of safety from a drowning world!
The "Know-nothings," (a sickly production of this soil who has rather run out, and needs transplanting,) tells us that "foreigners do not understand the genius of our Government." Ah, sir, it is you that do not understand it. It is Political Equality and Religious Freedom—and it is you, sir, that do neither understand nor practice it: but every measure of your midnight cabals is at war with it. Your feelings are European, and, lastly, your tactics prove it—for they, too, are European! You borrow them from the Inquisition, the Jesuit, and the Council of Ten. You seek to usurp the liberties of your fellow men by forcing upon them your concealed measures and your ambushed candidates. The character of American Citizens is stabbed by their enemies in the dark. You lodge your complaints in the Lion's jaw of the King, and you try them by the knout of the Russian, and the bowstring of the Turk.
You delude and deceive the ignorant and unsuspecting by false menaces of danger to the institution of the country they love, and then keep them from the enlightenment of free citizens by swearing them to keep your accursed secrets. Yes, tried by your pretensions, you may appear to be patriots; but tried by your measures, you are a band of Catalines!
Whiggery claims birthrights privileges by law—monopolies, aristocracies—the INEQUALITY of MAN—all of which have their origin in avarice and selfishness—the lowest and most earthly of all man's attributes.
Democracy forbids all Political Inequality—arrest the grasping and oppressive hand of monopolist, and lordling, and "secure to honest labor the bread it has earned"—leaves error of opinion unchained, but keeps reason free to combat it"—Legislates "for the greatest good to the greatest number"—diffuses education by common school system—prevents the people of one portion of the Union from drawing upon the labor and industry of another to pay their debts, or to build up local improvements for their benefit and wealth—extends the boundaries of the Republic and ensures the Political Freedom of the new acquisitions; deciding that our citizens, wherever they are, on American domain, are competent, and shall have the right to Legislate for themselves—and continues the invitation of the Fathers of the Republic, to the oppressed and downtrodden of our Mother Continent: to come, and bask in the beams of that sun of Freedom towards whose radiant Light their yearning eyes have ever been turned. Come and let your wounds and wrongs be healed. Democracy is the good Samaritan who will pour in oil and wine; whilst the "Priest and the Levite" (the persecuting religionist and the foreigner-bating Know-nothing) pass by on the other side. Our Continent is great and our Confederation, under the Banner of the Stars, and wings of the Eagle, can procure and protect soil enough for her own and the children of her adoption, for a thousand years to come, (which poor fearful Know-nothing, is quite far enough to be looking ahead.)
Democracy Distributes the Lands; that every man may become his own employer; and not be dependent upon some purse-proud lordling for service and daily bread, and who is almost the robber of his vote!
And lastly, but not less firmly, Democracy maintains neutrality amongst men in the worship of God. Believing that if God can bear with man, and uses no force, but leaves him free to serve him or not, or to serve in what manner he pleases. No mere man has a right to interfere and say, "though God leaves you free, I say you shall serve him; and you shall serve him too, as Deacon Primface, and preacher Shave-temple direct."
Oh, but says some owl-sighted Know-nothing, who got his wisdom in the dark, "Parties are breaking up, and we are going to form a new Dispensation." So you may think. But the Whig party has always been a party of Fragments. Like the Asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, there is space enough for a Planet, but it is filled with circling Opacities, containing too many principles of repulsion ever to combine—and as new ones are yearly being discovered in the prototype, it is but reasonable to infer that Know-nothingism is but a mere Fragment or two of the old bursted planet of Whiggery.
I would say to the Know-nothing who expects to see, or hopes to see, the Democratic party broken up, that he has not studied its composition. It is a Unit in its Nature. It is the concentration of the representatives of the feeling of Equality. It is the Constitution born in the human heart. It may sometimes be outnumbered, but it is self-existent, and the very men whom factions call away, will return to it the moment they discover the Inequality with which they have become associated.
I have full confidence in the God of Liberty. The masses, the farmers and mechanics, the men of toil and labor, of hard hands and sinewy arms; settled as they are all over this great country, will never suffer themselves to become the underlings, and dependents of little town and city nabobs and aristocrats who want all the offices—who want their money earned for them by the people, and secured and sent to them, by the Legislature. Who never go into the country to see the farmer, unless it be as a candidate, or to beg some Inequality. Farmers! did you get up Know-nothingism? No. You let it alone though. It was got up amongst "stove-pipe" hats and patent black, leather shoes. And there, honest men of Oregon, let it die.
I have carefully delineated the features of Whiggery, and of its Blank Aspect, Know-nothingism. I have given a Test by which you may ever judge them. If the measure which they propose would operate unequally, upon the citizens of different Occupations, or Localities it is Whiggery. Let it come in what name you call it—be what it may, if it succeeds, it will be claimed as a Whig Measure, and Whig Administration.
You see Whigs and Know-nothings can vote together, but Democrats cannot unite with either, unless it be by deception, or in the night, [when foes are sometimes mis-taken for friends.] But the Light will disclose them. Do the Democrats who have been drawn into this Coon shamble, see their Situation, and will they leave it, and rally around the Principles of Equality bequeathed to us by our Fathers and written in their hearts' best blood? They are doing so all over the Union.
Every measure of the Democratic party can be traced to the principle of Equality: and now let me say that if parties are to break up, in God's name let Whiggery and Know-nothingism break up, root and branch, and come over to the great party of Equality, whose ceaseless vigilance and untiring labors in the cause of Equal Rights, have thus far preserved our American Liberties from becoming European Vassalage.
The decisive moment, as to Oregon, is at hand. I do not depreciate agitation. It is the tempest, which rousing up old Ocean, purifies the water that otherwise stagnate. It matters little whether man has been with the tempest or the wave. But Ocean must not be driven from its bed, and the hour for the storm to begin to lull is near. We must all of us, whether wrigglers or whales, "return to our property." Yes; we have schemed, planned, argued,—We must VOTE. Reality is taking the place of winds and bubbles.
Measures are to be decided upon and the men selected, as agents, to carry them into execution.
The Interests of Domestic Legislation, should not be lost sight of, in the excitement of the one more National. Choose wisely—choose knowingly. It is saddening to a true lover of his country and of his fellow men, that there should be found any man, so lost to a sense of Justice, to his neighbor, that he would accept suffrage under such circumstances as would compel him to impose Taxation without Representation!!
Farmers and Mechanics, you are the great jury! You are the decisive Majority! The little "Know-nothing holes" of Oregon can furnish you plenty of candidates, but they cannot over rule your vote. You are honest. You desire, and God knows it, the best interest of your country. It is to you that I write. It is to assist you as you gather around your evening firesides, seeking in meditation and thought, how you shall best preserve and perpetuate our hallowed Liberties, that I have taken up and traced out, analytically, not only such measures as are generally known, but also those which are attempted to be palmed off upon you, hidden. I have been careful to plant every position which I have taken, firmly in the base of Constitution. The reasons why are all given. What I have written does not depend upon my assertion, therefore no man's mere negation can knock it down. It is logic and sustains itself. It is addressed to your reason, not to passion or to prejudice, and you will read and consider.

G. W. LAWSON.