Democracy go peacefully, but firmly, to work to reconstruct its shattered and demoralized organization upon the basis of its ancient and glorious principles. Instead of opposing the Republicans, let us purify ourselves. Throwing the politician's dishonoring and lying rule of policy aside, let us invincibly plant ourselves upon the patriot's ground of principles. The scheming, shallow, spoils hunting politician has no faith in principle. Ile does not believe in truth; but he believes in cunning, in tricks, in cheating. He makes platforms, not for the purpose of representing great political doctrines, but to deceive and entrap the people. They are nets to catch votes. This dishonoring business has been carried on so long, that now, when a great and terrible cala. mity has fallen upon us, the people are found to be ignorant of the nature of the government under which they are living. Like an unthinking horse, they have rushed into battle, in the service of the destroyers of that gov. ernment. In the generation of our fathers, all the people knew and appreciated the difference between the European and the new American system of government. That was a generation of great and noble ideas-of wise and pure men. The foundations which they laid we have forsaken. We must get back to their principles, to their political intelligence and integrity, or the Republic is lost past recovery. The chief source of demoralization and delusion is here in the North. Here the long reign of Fourrierism, spiritualism, free-lovism, miscegenism, and heaven knows how many other degrading and polluting isms, has taint ed the fountains of knowledge and of morals, until there is no soundness

left in us. The social and religious, as well as the political foundations of society are broken up. Our moral status is chaos. We must regain the creation of our fathers, or die. The great work of political redemption must be achieved by the Democracy. That which built the Republic must save it. But to be able to perform such vast and glorious deeds, the Democracy must come out from the society of the policy-mongers, of the spoilhunters, and of the war demons, and henceforward refuse a vote to any man for office who lends the least countenance to the indecent and bloody vagaries of the party in power. To sup port the war of this party, is to support its principles. Never, after tomorrow, let a Democrat vote for any man who is not clear of such company. In saying this, I know that I touch the heart of the Democracy of Bergen County. Here, I am sure, the seed of truth and patriotism will remain, whatever storms sweep over the bosom of state. However far others may wander off into the war-paths of the Abolition traitors, you will stand fast by the faith of your fathers. You will rely, for ultimate triumph of your disseminating Democratic principles. cause only upon the old methods of

From various sections of the country I hear of plans to form secret patriotic societies, for the purpose of preserving the principles of the Constitution and liberty. I hope, sir, that snch projects will meet with no favor from the Democracy. Neither our principles nor our aims require secrecy. Leave to the Loyal Leaguers an entire monopoly of secrecy and dark ness. Their deeds are evil, and they do well to hide themselves in darkness. We seek only the preservation of the Constitution by constitutional means. No, sir, instead of hiding our principles, or of employing secret agencies to advance them, let us publish them to all the world, as the sun publishes his presence in the heavens, or as the moon publishes her light amid the dim vapors of the night.

This number closes the volume of THE OLD GUARD for 1864. We began the work in the midst of the reign of terror, when every man who ventured to adhere to the principles of Democracy was threatened, not only with incarceration in a bastile, but with summary hanging by the "Loyal League" mobs. We have many times been followed in the streets of this city by a crowd of from one hundred to five hundred of these infuriated fanatics, threatening all manner of vengeance upon us for having simply dared to exercise the right of criticising the acts and measures of public men. Our readers can bear witness that we have never faltered. We have not to look back upon a single hour of cowardice, or of treachery to Democratic principles. We have now conducted the Magazine to the close of its second volume, without having once lowered the standard of principles which was carried by the immortal founders of the government. Our future course will be the same. We shall enter upon the third volume with a zeal in no degree abated, and with a hope that sees no cause for discouragement in the results of the late election. We rather see cause for the greatest encouragement. We believe the hour has now passed when the Democracy can be tempted either to hide or to desert its principles. The hour of the party's regeneration, and, therefore, of its great strength, is approaching. When it has recovered its integrity, it will regain its power. The change of a few hundred votes in New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, and Penusylvania, would have placed these Etates in line, even at the Inte military election. We shall therefore begin the new year with THE OLD GUARD under the inspiration of fresh expectations, and

with the hope of enjoying a still wider field of usefulness.

As announced, it will be enlarged to double its present size, for the purpose of making it a first-class literary and family Magazine, as well as the organ of true political principles. Hitherto there has not been a literary maga zine in our country which a Democrat could consistently place in the hands of his family. In the shape of romance, criticism, and poetry, the subtle poison of Abolitionism, and of every other political abomination, has been infused into every channel of private and public thought. Books and magazines, professedly Abolition, have not done the greatest mischief. The poison disguised in literature has been the most fatal. Harper's Magazine and the Atlantic Monthly have done more to taint the fountains of family opinion than all the Abolition newspapers together. We have received a great number of letters from ladies and gentlemen residing in different States, deploring this general infection of American literature, and urging upon us the enlargement of THE OLD GUARD into a literary monthly, for the purpose of supplying this want of couservative and Democratic families. The literary department, henceforth to be introduced, will be as substantial, and thoroughly American in its character as its political doctrines have been from the commencement of the work. At the present moment such a thing as fair and honest criticism can hardly be said to exist in our country. Literature is quite as much belittled and demoralized by the intollerant spirit of faction and clanism, as are the political and social fabrics of society. The rot, which has eaten into everything else, has not allowed literature to escape untouched. The

editor of THE OLD GUARD will aim to be as thorough in unmasking the literary quackery of the hour, as he has been in dissecting and exposing its political heresies. In its literary character, the work will still be THE OLD GUARD; will seek to re-establish taste and

tion, and merit and receive the condemnation of this legislature.

That to the same category belong the system of arbitrary arrests, the infringement of the freedom of the press, the executive suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, the confiscation and seizure of property without judicial process, and the establishment of ini

foundations of intel'ectual purity and justice which have been thrown down and desecrated by intolerant anarchy, and fanatical despotism. Justice is the highest attribute of criticism. Truth the first aim of journalism. These maxims shall not be forgotten in the editorial management of THE OLD GUARD. If the work has, heretofore, won the respect of its patrons, it is confidently believed that hereafter it will gain still more of their esteem. The enlargement will increase the means of usefulness. As we mean to deserve, so we hope to receive, a great increase of patronage. We think there is not a true Democrat in the country who will not feel that there is no way in which he can invest the small sum of two dollars to more advantage to his country, and to greater benefit and satisfaction to himself and family, than to subscribe for THE OLD GUARD.

HON. DANIEL HOLSMAN.

-We give our readers this month an excellent likeness of the Hon. Daniel Holsman, the distinguished champion of peace and of pure Democracy, in the Senate of the State of New Jersey. At the commencement of the legislative session of that State, in Jan., 1863, Senator Holsman introduced a series of peace resolutions. Among these resolutions were the following:

Reso'ved, That the people of New Jersey, their representatives here assembled, and the galiant soldiers who, without compulsion, have rushed to arms under the belief that they were to maintain the Constitution, believe that the time for honorable pacification has arrived, and that every effort ought to be made to effect it, and avert the consequences which must ensue from a continuance of war at the expense of Constitutional freedom.

That the recent proclamation of emancipation, the division of a sovereign State withont the consent of its people and legislature, the appointment of military governors, and the attempt on the part of the executive to control the popular branch of Congress by fraudulent military elections of represen atives, are gross violations of the Constitu

and all attest the evil tendency of civil war.

That in view of the possibility of greater evils in the dark future before us, it is the duty of the Legislature and the Executive of the State to economise and cultivate its credit and resources, maintain and improve its military organization, and to take all necessary and proper means to assert the inte grity, the dignity and sovereignty of the State.

That as in the heat of passion excited by civil war, it is impossible to approach the discussion of measures of peace with that calmness which is requisite, an armistice of six months should be established between the contending States.

That in the third month after the armistice has been agreed to, one delegate should be elected in each Congressional District ofeach State, which delegates should, on the second Monday of the ensuing month, assemble in the city of Lexington, Ky., to discuss such measures of amicable settlement as may be presented.

Had these resolutions been acted upon by the North generally at that time, there is little doubt that the Union, and millions, both of life and treasure might have been saved. Although the Senate of New Jersey was at that time overwhelmingly Democratic, only three Senators had the courage or the Democratic fidelity to stand by the resolutions of Senator Holsman. These three were Stily, of Atlantic Co., Swazey, of Warren Co., and Garwood, of Burlington Co. All honor to their names! Senator Holsman's table was loaded with petitions, numerously signed, from every county in the State, urging the Legislature to adopt the resolutions; but to no purpose, The majority doggedly, and even stupidly, insisted on misrepresenting the Democracy of New Jersey by rejecting the resolutions. Senator Holsman has had the satisfaction of seeing the spirit and programme of his resolutions entirely endorsed by the late National Convention at Chicago. At the time they were drawn they correctly represented the position of the Democracy of New Jersey, and indeed of the true Democracy of the whole country. Sen

ator Holsman enjoys a high reputation as a man of ability and honor, and is deservedly regarded as a representative man of the Democracy of his State.

-The Republican editors record, with delighted gusto, the account of Sherman's army marching off in glee, with a double quick, after the plundering, the evacuation, and the burning of Atlanta. Before Marcellus took the city of Syracuse, he sat down and wept like a child at the thought of the blood he might have to shed; but Marcellus was a great and wise hero, and delighted not in the misery and blood of his fellow-men.

-The Republicans are talking of having some sort of statuary designed, and put up in Washington as a proper emblem of Lincoln's administration. What could it be? They have already made a negro of the statue upon the dome of the capitol. Does not that satisfy them? Agathocles, of Sicily, ordered his image to be made, with the head, arms, and body of brass, but the legs of clay, to represent that he felt that his imperial power rested upon unsubstantial grounds. The brass and the clay are good enough emblems of the impudence and frailly of the Abolition dynasty; but the best image for them would be one with the head and body of charcoal, and the legs of lucifer matches, with the brimstone ends resting upon a pedestal of sand-paper, to signify that the whole thing is liable to explode and be consumed at any moment.

-FREEBOOTER.-The mason of Lowell, Massachusetts, who made a successful flank movement on Gen. Butler's person by a free use of his boot.

-Rumor announces that one of our New York poctasters, who has afflicted the public with two volumes already, is engaged on a poem to be entitled The Rising Sun." "The Setting Dog-Star" would better suit the author's genius.

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have been written in the United States yesterday.

-A humane editor is painfully amazed that Gen. Sheridan could not be restrained by the tender entreaties of helpless women, to spare their homes in the Shenandoah valley. Who ever heard of a butcher being restrained by the bleating of a lamb? This war has made butchers of men that were not so before. It has made fiends of many who before were human. This is one of the punishments which God inflicts upon us for having embarked in so stupendous a crime. He suffers our characters to be moulded and fitted to the bloody and brutal part we choose to play.

-A young man in Fairfield, Conn., has been arrested, and is to be tried on the charge of attempting to "hug, kiss and tickle" a woman. Under the old laws of Connecticut such an act was severely punished, especially if done by a man to his own wife on Sunday. Though, strange to say, the same law did not forbid his kissing another man's wife.

-A malicious Yankee editor says, he "wants to live to see Ben. Butler in the operation of biting the file." Would it not be better to see him bite the dust?

-A cotemporary says: "Had any other nomination been made at Chicago, the Democratic party would have lost everything, just as they have now." No; we should not have lost honor, by sacrificing principle. The party went into the campaign on policy, instead of principle, and it has come out where it deserved to. The readers of THE OLD GUARD could have no doubt of the result. We follow this banner of policy no further. There is the old Democratic banner of principle-let all honest Democrats rally under

that.

-In this city, last week, Mr. T. Potter married Miss Elizabeth Clay. Clay in the hands of the Potter.

-A Philadelphia publisher, who has become rich publishing trash, and who never published a really good book in his life, says, "The only criterion of the intrinsic worth of a book is its success." Never, since the world began, was that remark true. Intrin.

sic value is as ofteu a bar to popular success as otherwise. Milton only received ten pounds for Paradise Lost, while Hoyle, after having sold one entire edition of his little book on chess, sold the copyright for two thousand guineas. But our Philadelphia publisher would rather have been the author of Hoyle on Chess than of Paradise Lost. He is a vender of nonsense and wind, rather than a publisher and patron of literature.

The papers announce that Mr. Vallandigham has returned to the law. It is natural he should do so, for the law is full of returns.

-The English editors are inclined to think that our generals are better skilled in specchmaking than in military science. The great majority of them, it strikes us, are poor sticks at either. The speech-making generals, especially, are of no kind of importance in a military way. Great generals have not often been speech-makers. Who could imagine a Napoleon, or a Charles the Twelfth of Sweden, making harangues to their soldiers ¿ It takes such fellows as General John Cochraue, or General Dick Busteed, or General Dan Sickles, or General Francis Meagher, to speechify in the presence of an army. Henry IV. of France, was a model of brevity in front of soldiers. At the battle of Ivvy he impressively said:

men.

Behold the enemy, let us charge."

It is amusing to imagine Mr. Lincoln, if he were in the saddle, attempting to imitate this speech:

"Soldiers, I am Lincoln; you are my varlets; I have conscripted you; there are the slave-holders; let us charge, upon their spoons, and upon their women and children, and free the negroes!"

-A religious journal complains of the levity of Beecher in the pulpit. But levity is the least of Beecher's sins in the pulpit. His coarseness, his impudence, and downright brutality are greater sins than levity. There is the sting of malice even in his levity, which betrays the moral dross of the man's heart. The great English preacher, Rowland Hill,

had levity, but it was always mellowed by humanity and sweetness of heart. Once, in a charity sermon at Wapping, he began: "I come to preach to sinners-to great sinners; yea, to Wapping sinners." Everybody knew Rowland Hill to be a man of excellent heart, and of the greatest propriety of life. His levity, therefore, was the less censured by people of piety and manners; but no such consideration redeems the profanity and buffoonery of Beecher. He is a stain, not only on the pulpit, but on human nature.

-Speculation is abroad as to what Stanton will do when stripped of the robes of office. We have no idea what the wretched man will do; but, for his benefit, we will quote the words of the great Turk, Haleb Al Nagra ; who, when he was asked what was the most excellent thing in a man, replied, "Sense." But if he has none, what is the next best? "Honesty," replied Haleb. And if he has not that? "The council of his friends." And if he has none? "Taciturnity," said Haleb. And when he has none of these things, what then? "A sudden death as soon as possible." If Stanton finds wisdom in the last words of the great Turkish doctor, his afflicted country will have reason to rejoice.

-A preacher of more imagination than judgment, and of more passion than religion, says: "We have lived to see the fame of a rail-splitter lifted to the skies." If you live a little longer you will see it buried in the dust. Nothing so baseless as your rail-splitter's fame can remain long in the skies. It came from beneath, and character, like water, will find its level.

-A respectable lady sends us the folle -ing translation of a French verse, which she found in an old Paris newspaper, without the name of the author:

Love holds dominion o'er my breast,
And all my senses doth enslave;

He is the foe of tranquil rest,

Nor quits us 'till we'ere in the grave;
He is a foe,

He is a fire;

The source of woe,

Or soft desire.

Ah! would my goddess smile, I then might show

That bliss was love, not love of bliss thǝ foe.