fell within its seductive grasp, and it was finally throttled and strangled by the "eternal "grasp of a single hand! The history of that day is written as with a pencil of fire, and will remain as fadeless as the stars. It need not be re-written or repeated here. But let those who are accustomed to scoff at Democratic measures and to revile Democratic leaders, contemplate the history of that period and receive instruction.

Where would have been the financial reforms, the Independent Treasury and the Revenue Tariff of 1846, each the result of a hard-fought contest, hand to hand and steel to steel, with the opponents of Democracy! Each measure was denounced by their orators and presses as ruinous to the best interests of labor and of the whole country. The supporters of these measures were placed high in the pillory of their indignant disapprobation, and the dark thunder-clouds of their wrath were relieved and lighted up only by the flames of Democratic effigies. Where would have been that bright and beautiful star, which "with twinkling lustre, glimmers through the night" upon our southern border, if the Democratic party had not, in 1844, sung in earnest that stirring campaign song, "James K. Polk and Annexation," and reduced its sentiments to practice? Who would have coined for us the virgin gold of California, have furnished our seamen a Pacific harbor, and have made a great commercial town as an entrepot for the commerce of the Eastern and Western World, had not a Democratic Administration chastised the lawless insolence of Mexico, and literally planted the stars and stripes on the ancient halls of the Montezumas.

And last, though not least, amid the terrible sectional conflict we have experienced, where would have been preserved that great right, the Magna Charta of freemen, the principle of self-government or popular sovereignty, had it not been rescued from the dark current of discord which burst upon us, and asserted in theory and maintained in practice by the Democracy through good and through evil report ?-a principle which throbbed with the embarkation of the Pilgrims, which was formally embodied on board that bark freighted with the best hopes of humanity, the Mayflower-which nerved the arms and buoyed up the hearts of the Adams and Eves of this Republic at the Rock of Plymouth-which resisted tyranny and oppres

sion in an uninvited tea-party in Boston harbor-which cried from the ground at Lexington in the spirit of butchered liberty -which fought at Bunker Hill and conquered at Saratoga and Yorktown. It is the spirit in which the essence of our institutions was founded-it proclaimed man to be free and equal, and these of right to be free and independent States in the Declaration of American Independence. It left this priceless inheritance-not the divine right of kings, but the divine right of men -to the people of the States of the Union in forming a common compact. This great principle, which every patriotic heart must cherish, has become the dividing line between Democracy and its antagonism. Its application to Territorial organization has saved the Confederacy from results which no friend to his country can calmly contemplate. Its assertion as a cardinal feature in the Democratic creed has carried us through the late great contest in triumph, and secured us a wise administration of public affairs for the term of four years.

But the triumphs of Democracy are not yet completed. The party is yet destined to enjoy a victory upon the question. of self-government, as final, as complete, and as lasting as those they now enjoy over the defunct remains of the United States Bank. They have other acquisitions to achieve by the opinions of mankind-other prejudices to subdue-other races to assimilate and absorb-other domains to fertilize-other States to add to the constellation of hope.

Many years since, as an humble agent of the Democratic cause, in a conspicuous station, I had the honor of proposing what I believed to be the true Democratic principles upon the subject of the acquisition and government of territory. The principles asserted were:

"That true policy requires the government of the United States to strengthen its political and commercial relations upon this continent by the annexation of such contiguous territory as may conduce to that end, and can be justly obtained; and that neither in such acquisition nor in the Territorial organization thereof can any conditions be constitutionally imposed, or institutions be provided for, or established, inconsistent with the rights of the people thereof, to form a free sovereign State, with the powers and privileges of the original members of the Confederacy.

"That, in organizing a Territorial government for Territories be

longing to the United States, the principles of self-government upon which our federative system rests will be best promoted, the true spirit and meaning of the Constitution be observed, and the Confederacy strengthened, by leaving all questions concerning the domestic policy therein to the Legislatures chosen by the people thereof."

It is with no ordinary emotions of pride and gratification that I see sentiments thus enunciated upon a subject then so imperfectly understood, after a discussion so elaborate and a consideration so mature, approved in theory and adopted in practice by the entire Democratic party of the Union. I had an early and abiding faith that such would be the result, and had I at any moment been inclined to retreat, like Fernando Cortez I would have committed all means of escape to destruction. The great principle of popular sovereignty upon which the Democratic party is completely and thoroughly united, will "stand the test of talent and of time." The thunder of the opposition may roar, the winds may howl and the storms beat, but it will withstand them all, for it is founded upon the spirit of the written Constitution, and rests in the inherent rights of

man.

Democracy is not a creation of yesterday or to-day, nor its party a temporary combination to attain power. The principles form the party and not the party the principles, for the principles are eternal. It is the natural and uniform foe of inequality, injustice, oppression, or privilege. It engrafts no schemes nor designs-no idle dreams of social reform, no moon-stricken conceits upon its broad and benevolent charter. It admits no Utopian ideas of this earthly, matter-of-fact world; it seeks to uphold society by the self-sustaining power of its own moral influences, and believes that man should govern himself and not his neighbor. It reposes for its security upon popular intelligence and not upon bolts and bars and the defence of physical agencies. It wins by its justice and seeks not to terrify by its power. Its conquests are bloodless, for they are won by the omnipotence of opinion and not by the sword.

The destinies of this great and happy land are committed to the guidance of the Democracy, and that designation is intended to include all true friends of the Constitution, regardless of former differences. They are charged with a duty alike inter

esting and responsible. By a firm and judicious exercise of the trust confided to them, the world, which has so long groaned under the iron exactions of tyranny, may yet pay back to liberty and humanity, with interest, its long accumulated debt. With the principles of Thomas Jefferson for our guiding star, and the spirit of Andrew Jackson at the helm, the ship of state shall weather every storm and be moored in the haven of peace. The ensign of this Republic shall be seen, "its arms and trophies streaming in their original lustre-not a stripe erased or polluted-not a star obscured, but every where spread all over in characters of living light, blazing on all its ample folds as they float over the sea and over the land in every wind under the whole heavens, that sentiment dear to every American heart— 'Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.""

REMARKS

MADE ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF A TESTIMONIAL

TO W. B. GILBERT, ESQ., AT SYRACUSE, N. Y., April 29, 1857.

[The employees on the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad presented to W. B. Gilbert, Esq., on his retiring from the superintendency of the road, a magnificent gold watch and chain, appropriately inscribed, for his own use, accompanied by a fine gold watch, chain and pin, as a present to Mrs. Gilbert, and a handsome cameo set, pin, earrings &c., for his daughter. The presentation took place at the Syracuse House, in the presence of a large number of the friends of Mr. Gilbert. Among the invited guests were Hon. Erastus Corning, President of the N. Y. Central Railroad Co., Geo. Peabody, Esq., the London banker, Mr. Lamson of London, several members of the Board of Directors, and a large party of ladies and gentlemen.

Mr. Schemerhorn, President of the Road, announced the object of the gathering, and introduced Hon. Mr. Dickinson, one of the Directors, who made the presentation in behalf of the donors, with the following remarks, to which Mr. Gilbert appropriately responded. - Syracuse Courier.]

MR. SUPERINTENDENT-Those who have been engaged in constructing and operating the Syracuse and Binghamton Railroad, under your general superintendence, having learned that the official relations which have so long existed between you and them were about to be dissolved, that you might enter upon a new and more extended field of labor and usefulness, have determined to signalize their high appreciation of your personal and official character, and evince their friendship for yourself and family, by offering for your and their acceptance some appropriate testimonial, and have devolved upon me the pleasing duty of a formal presentation,

About five years since, Syracuse and Binghamton were separated by a tedious two days' journey. Under your guidance,