Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-02-28
PARTIES AT WASHINGTON.

Washington Correspondent thus writes
10 the editor Of the Baltimore Patriot,
"f desire you to inform me, n YOU know
what has become OF 'the democratic party.
the national republican par,y,'-or ',he
an'i-mssonic psrty,' and f you are in . pro-
per mood. you may tell me whether General
jackson 10 u Jackson man. or . Webster man,
and whether Henry Clay 10 for himself or
some other person. I am altogeth Q siran.
ger In this city, but in my reading Of the
newspapers, ! had been Informed that Nr.
Clay vas at the head Of the Tariff party, that
nr Calhoun was at the head Of the Free
Trade party. and that Mr. Webster and Gen.
Jackson were st swords points Nov, . have
been in the city but few weeks, and yet,
guess my surprise. see Mr. Clay and Mr.
Calhoun voting together, John Holmes and
is.ae Hill IN company,-snd Mr.. Gruntly
calling Mr.. Webster clever fellow for aid
ing him and the Administration to pass the
Revenue act. TO cut down the nulli6ep.
heard also that one Col. Benton end Mr..
forsy'h were great opponents of high Ia.
riff. and friends Of . reduction Of the duties.
aod now every day see them obs,ruc,ing
Mr.. Clay IN his efforts to reduce the tariff
All these things are strange things to me,
snd do not understand them Politics here
seem TO be SO intermingled that can end no
one thinking rs do.
Sir. we must all be coiIared and marked
over again, before we begin to make another
President. No man here knows ,sho Is ,shs
Mr. Webster stands high st Court. The
Kitchen Cabinet are frightened by his cross
visage even within the portals Of .Sancfupt,
the Mansion House Of the Old Lion Poor
Blair 10 awfuliy alarmed in this crisis, but the
old President should be taxi n from his charge
and put into better company Kendall 10 mo-,
now to be seen till after dark, though he
must ind the democratic party in al This Ia.
oyr'n,h, and whatsoever, among us, does find
u, will most likely become the next Pres.
dent OF the United States"
The political affairs of our country are now
IN such state Of trsgico-farcical confusion,
mat u % difficult matter To tell whether the
chaos Is to be viewed with feelings of regret
and apprehension. or of laughter and ridicue
Every thing ~ At "sixes and sevens." The
late contest for the Presidency terminated in
such . complete rout of the Opposition. thu,
the CONTESTANTS are huddled and mingled to.
gether, pell nell, and every shot that is fred
Is 10 likely to hit friend 40 . foe Doubts
have been long expressed whether the Pre-.
s'dent himself Isa Jackson man; and il 10 now
ser'ouaIy asked whether Mr.. Clay is "for
h'mseh or some other person" The latter
might answer this question. by saying that he
was Tor the country. Heretofore we have al
ways thought that the will Of the country was
expressed through the voice Of the majority;
but now II seems that the minority have
right TO govern. provided that they will in.
s'ss upon their claims with certain degree Of
peItinacity and violence
Political doctrines seem to be in the same
unsettled and unintelligibl state as political
men and measures The nuili6ers contend
that their doctrine is identical with tina, con.
tanned IN the Virginia resolutions of 90. The
other advocates OF State Rights in the south
deny this, yet are unable to agree in their
own interpretations Of what are called the old
republican doctrines. Some ssser, and other.
deny' that State has the right to secede
from the Union; but those IN the South. who
deny the right, affirm ths, there are no con.
s"tusional means Of preventing its exercise.
An overwhelming msjori,y seem TO be in
favor OF q moderate yet competent protection
OF domestic industry. but no one can tell
what would be . moderate protection IL
4" generally conceded that the revenue oueb,
TO be reduced. hut no satisfactory plan can
De devised to effect reduction
sBahimsre Gazette.