Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-12
POLITICAL


made by WIN. Naylor, ESQ, of Berkeley, late.
" a candidate for Congress from the district Of
which that county forms part The COOL old
doctrines which Washington laid down. and the
faith in which the Fathers Of the Republic. walk
ed, being now reviled IN certain parts OF this
Commonwealth request you to publish il. and
al the same time ask candid tnen to lay aside the
paluy prejudices connected with party names
and reflect upon the facts and reasoning here
presented. CAioC I'm
Loudoin County. ia June 8.
Let Us look back to the origin Of parties in this
country When the Government OF the onited
States was framed, it was new thing unaer tue
sun. There vas nothing mentioned IN history
which resembied it, and IL was the most arau0us
effort Of human genius. The great anu mus
pensable desiJeratum 10 be attained, was W au'
lust the power between the States anu the Oe'
neral Government. that it should preponderate
in neither. If it did, the Government coaia mol
exi.t. There were two parties then, and we
NAV deeu both TO have been equally honest. The
one thought that the preponderance OF power was
mr. would be in favor Of the States against the
General Government, which would result in dis
union: and the other supposed it to be IN favor
al the, General Government, and against the
States. and that this would produce consDlida-
INN. The first was called the Federal, and the
latter the Anti Federal Party. But the latter,
not being pleased with the name, Afterwards as
sumed the more popular and imposing name OF
Republican This was sagacidns and polite; Tor
there is much in mere name ,somet'mes-
which was the case in this instance. The mutu'
al opposition of these two parties, soon became
so warm and active, that even General Washing
ton. who Justly stood so high above all other men,
shared largely in the dislike and oboquy OF those
called Republicans. Ar that time, the enthu-
siasm or madness Of the French Revolution, in
active operation, reached this country, and some
how became identified with the opposition to the
Administration. It required all the wisdom and
firmness Of that great and good man, TO Win
stand il, or maintain the Government against it.
But when he retired from the helm, those VINO
succeeded him not possessing the same weight
frmne.s and wisdom, were soon driven to mad
ness by the redoubled efforts which were then
made to overthrow them-in which many foreign
ers of recent importation were. conspicuous
They we're goaded to the rash, desperate anu
perncious expedient of the Alien aud Sedition
laws. This, together with the direct tax. stamp
tax. &C., completed the triumph Of the opposl,
ton. These measures were from thence consi-
dered as essentially belonging to the doctrine oil
federalism, and to any administration acting I'M
der tha, name. though they had no more to do
with it than Jacobinism had to DO with Repub-
licanism. 1t was put down, as 1t were, by ac-
clamation.
Ii was not necessary to reason any l0neer.--
Public passion usurped the place Of public OPT
uion. The party called Republican, was most
adroi,ly and skilfqly managed for effect
Toasts, sentiments and resolutions OF public DO.
dies, all assuming the popular form, purporting
to be in favor Of Republicanism, were constantly
made and issued to keepup the impression, until
il became hardened into an inveterate prejudice
as i, exists now. But some of thOse who gave
the impulse 10 this rolling ball, did no, perceive
how far they were about to send it, and gladly
would have brought it back to its legitimate
bounds. The pernlcious doctrines called State
Rights, have from that time gone on strengthen
ing themselves from year 10 year, until their bale
ful effects are now beginning to be more fully
disclosed. The advocates for these doctrines say
that the natural tendency of this Government is
to consolidation. Its history up to the present
dav proves exactly and clearly the reverse
The tendency is evidently to the opposite ex-
treme; that is, TO disunion or dissolution Of the
Union, from the resistance of the States. IL this
latter point is established. the whole State Right
theory must fall. This Government must stand
or fall by the strength Of public opinion. 1t
must certainly be BY the operation OF public OPT.
MON, that il ever can become consolidated. 1t
is morally impossible Tor it to become SO, other
wise, nor without the consent not only OF a ma
jority, but Of a vastly preponderatins majority
Now, can it believed, that such majority or any
majority Of the people Of these States would
consent to such Government
A Government by which the minor regulations
suited To the various pursuits, habits and man!
ners Of the people. differing widely in all the
different States, from Maine to Georgia, from
New Jerseyfto Missouri, should be one and the
same, where one law is suitable and necessary
for the Internal Government Of one State, might
be injurious to twenty three others? Surely not.
The people never can be brought to this. On the
opposite side, We see that all the agitatious which
have ever shaken this Government. have pro.
ceeded froo the opposition Of single States, as
sailiny.or threatening to resist the General Co.
vernment.
Witness the State Of Pennsylvania arraying
her troops against the officers Of the United
States. The Hartford Convention: The State
Of Massachusetts, refusing to let her troops march
in the general defence, in time Of war; although