Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-08-10
THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE

Vice never paid deeper homage
to virtue, nor did hypocrisy ever con-
trast more strongly with sincerity, than
in the political declarations and muta-
tions Of the wings for few years past
an involuntary, but Aattering tri-
butte to the great principle of democ-
racy. How long is it since internal
improvement by the general govern
ment was the war cry Of the opposition
Yet, who hears that anti-dcmocratic
doctrine now, except from the lips OF
some straggler from the whig ranks,
who would fain preserve his consisten-
cy, though at the expense Of being left
behind by his party!
How long since a tariff Of protection
contained the true essence Of all gov
eminent with Mr.. Clay and his follow
crs? Who, that heard the eloquent,
but sophistical speeches Of that gentle
man, upon that subject, ten years ago,
could have imagined that in so short a
time his voice would be hushed az
death? Yet he is not dcad--he still re-
joices in the vigor of his intellect. The
subject itselfis incxhaustible. He is
still surrounded by his admirers, ready
and eager to trumpet forth his fame,
whether it be won in the halls of legis.
lation, or earned at the diplomatic bu-
reau. Why, we ask, do we hear no
more his "silvcry-tongucd eloquence"
dilating upon the glories of the tar
if'9
Because, the omnipotent voice Of the
people has said that his doctrines arc
unsound that he himself is false me
teor, that dazzles only to lead to dis
tructrion. Behold what a tribute thai
mans silence is to the democratic prin
ciplel
When, at the called session of Con
grcss, and at the subsequent regular
session, national bank was the grand
panacea to all the ills, political, CON
merciaI and moral, with which this re.
public was afflicted in the opinion Of
Mr., Clay and his co adjutors, could
any thing short OF prophecy have fore
told. that scarcely a murmur of that
storm would be heard at the session Of
1880! Had a United States Bank
become unnecessary in the short space
of one year? Had all cogent, and to
the wings irresistible arguments for the
creation ofsuch an institution "vanish
ed into thin all in the brief interval
between two sessions of Congress? No
thing of the kind-Mr. Clay was and
is as firm believer in the expediency
of United States Bank as ever-bu
he found it was getting to be an unpop
ular theme. lie knew that the grea
State of New York had established {
banking system which was grad.
ually but surely roofing out all pre-
tencc for the establishment of Uni
ted States Bank. And he well knew
that by opposing the interests of thu
new order of things in New York, hi
YVES rapidly alternating his warmes
friends. Not being able to stem thu
current of this anti-monopoly system
he wisely dropped his oars and floating
along with it. 1t will be found that th'
echoes Of the cry for National Banl
will grow fainter and fainter, till it i
lost in the din of some new whig hob
BY. All who read the history Of wing
ism will be astonished to find that
party could so easily drop a measure
which it solemnly affirmed to be neces
sary to the welfare Of the country ant
the preservation of its liberties, ant
could with equal zeal turn to some 9th
er topic, and declare that the peac,
and welfare of the country depended
alone upon that. And why, be it as
ked, did Mr.. Clay raise has voice St
loudly against the Demon Of Abolition
when he had so often condemned slave
nv in many well turned period upoI
the beauty Of liberty and free govern
ment! Even the mad-headed Joh'
Quincy Adams, ever obstinate whethe
right or wrong, permitted himselfto b.
wire worked by this arch-mover of wing
ism. Before Mr.. Clay made his anti
abolition speech, Mr.. Adams had mad
somc notifications Of this abolition
doctrines. While he was in the &C
of declaring this new confession 0
fifth. Mr.. Calhoun prophetically sai'
1--WE shall soon have Mr.. Clay with u
on the abolition qucstion-no man bu
he could have turned that inaexibl
Old man one jot or little from hi
course The event proved Mr.. Cal
boun right-his keen penetration for