Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-08-26

ts.tEi, anu IL fFa as tflen Sdid Oh ", mat II
savored strongly OF aristocracy, and
had ar awful squirting at monarchy"
Accordingly when it went into opera
ton, these politicians exerted all THAR
ability to check and limit its powers,
aecordingto the letter of the instrument,
and hence arose the republican party
Anotherset ofp 'liicians, who appre-
hended more dauserof the dissolution,
than of the consolidation Of the Union,
and who had exerted themselves in the
Convention 20 increase the grants Of
power to the general government, were
in favor. Of more liberal construction
IF the new Constitution, and hence orr
ginated the federal party. These par
ties must in the nature of fittings have di-
vidsd theAmerican public for some years,
even if no adventurous circumstances
had occurred to keep them alive. But
the unparalleled revolution in France
soon served to create new causes OF dis
cord, and to divide the parties in their
opinions of the erscrnci policy, as we'll as
iatsi1sct aim a'strat,ol of our govern-
ment The Republicans conceiving ja.t-
| ~, that there was an invincible hostility
between the principles of ourso nnent
and those of the old absolute menarchies
of Europe, thought ii our duty to'side
with the newgovernments in preference
to the old. The Federalists, On the con
trary, were particularly shocked BY the
horrors Of the French revolution, and
experimenting more danger to our insti-
tutions from the anarchy of the new sys-
ten. than from the despotism of the old,
became friends of the anti-revolutionary
icause. The overthrow OF Napoleon,
and the triumph Of the dreadful alliance
which now tyrannizes over Europe, soon
put an end to their scheme Of cur foreign
policy. On the other hand, the success
full aud happy operation of our new con-
stitution in practice, combined with the
opposition Of Massachusetts to the war &,
by convincing the republican party, that
the centrifugal tendency ofthe members
of our confeteracy was greater than the
centripedal; and that it was the interest
Of all the states that the will of the majo-
rity should be obeyed, has diminished the
intense jealousy, which the republicans
at first felt of the powers of the general
government, and led them to embrace
such opinions, as experience proved to
be wise and salutarv. Since the extinc-
ion of the causes which produced and
kept alivstho parties, the parties them
selves have been gradually dying away,
and the american people with the ex-
cepiion Of few factious individually
have bee me what Mr. Jefferson said
they should be, ''all federalists and all
repu blicans.'
Such however, are the divsrsities of
human opinion on the multiplied rela-1
tons OF civilized sotisty under compli-
Gated governp ent, that it is perhaps in
possible for a pleasing uniformity to
prevail for any length Of time. There
will be some who approve and some
condemn every scheme of policy. Hence
has risen what now exists in this country,
and what is probably destined to exist
as long as our government endures an
administration party. and Opposition
party--the ms andOuts, who will occa-
siona!ly supplant each other, as the par
tv administering the government hap
pensto be Wis s. virtuou., or weak aud
corrupt.
Under MIR. Madison's administration,
the Federalists lost Underground Of oppo-
sition to the government, and under his
successor, in proportion as the last dy-
ing echoes of federalism have ceased to
!wverherate, the murhiurs of an anti-ad-
ministration party have become audible.
No attentive and candid observer of
political events can deny this fact, al
though the compisinauts have not, un-
iii very recently. acknowledged them
selves a party. Not TIVE We months
since. the existence OF an opposition or
Radicalparty, wagirg war in disguise"
on the administration, was positively de-
MED b. their own prints; but during the
last session Of Congress, the skeleton
assumed at Washington its 6esh form &
complexion.
Political parties are either req! or
personal. Real when entertaining dif-
ferent principles On the form of govern
ment, or different opinions of the best
mode of administering it:--and personal,
when arising from devotion TO . parti-
cular individual, or family, or combina.
ton Of men. The present oppositioa
party is composed in part of the one,
and in mart of the other. So far as il is