The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-03

view of the same object, they have in many
minds the most violent effects, Place before
the eyes of such men post of honor, that
shall be at the same time place oil PToflt ana
they will move heaven and earth to Obtain IT,
The vast number of such places it is, that rem
ders the British Government so tempestuous.
The struggles for them are the true sources OF
all those factions which are perpetually divid-
ing the nation, distractng its councils, huTying
sometimes into fruitless and mischievous wars,
and often compelling submission to dlshon-
orable Deace."
Does not this sound like thorough know
ledge of human nature:i Does IT not almost seem
as ifthe wise old Doctor, had somehow real
lied his own queer wish of being bottled up IN
good madeira, aad, after the lapse ofhfty years,
resuscitated TO see what the country had come
to, and give this graphic sketch, of the work
ing of our system of Presidential elections? |
cannot refrain fen giving another extract from
the same speech.
at will be said we dont'propose TO establish
kings. / know 1t; but there is natural incli-
nation in mankind to kingly government. II
sometimes relieves them from aristocratlc do
mination. They had rather have one tyran-
than five hundred. 1t gives more the appeart
ance OF equality among citizens, and that they
like. | am apprehensiye, therefore, perhaps
too apprehensIve, that the Government of these
States may in future times end in a monarchy.
But the catastrophe think may be long delay
ed, ifin our proposed system we do not SOW
the seeds of contention, faction, and tumult.
IF we do, fear that, though at first we do en-
ploy a number and not single person, the
number will in time be set aside, 1t will only
noursh the fRtus Of king, and king will ulu-
mately be set over us
How is the fact-what says experience af
ter fifty years test of the system: Did they not
sow the seeds of contention, faction, and tu-
multi II, instead Of intending 10 avoid those
evils, as they no doubt honestly did, they had
intended to cast among US the very apple OF
perpetual discord, they could not have better
succeeded by any other device than in that they
unremittingly adopted, in the system of cleo
ing our Presidents. Let US look little into
what the system has already produced in that
way, and it will enable Us the better TO antici-
pate what will ensue from the same cause in
future
The frs serious contest for the Presidency
generated party fued that lasted fifteen or
twenty years, and had well nigh severed the
Union. The second created another that has
lasted twelve years, and promises to last at
least four more. They both were and are felt
in their effects throughout all the ramihcatons
OF society. They poisoned and thoroughly
corrupted the course Of Legislation in both the
Federal and State Governments The in1u-
ence OF each was and is felt down to the cleo
ton ola constable. The first severed the ma
ton, both, in and out of Congress, into two
great parties; the one universally censuTing,
whilst the other, with a zeal equally blind, APP
proved everything the administration did. The
results of the second have been about the same.
What has been done in Congress for the last
fifteen years, but with an exclusive eye TO the
ensuing Presidential elections? During both
those contests, every member of Congress- and
the State Legislatures was and is elected with
a view to that subject alone, without thought
on his qualifications as legislator. The ques-
ton has mingled ITSELF as il did during the DAYS
OF Jefferson and Madison, when even the social |
relations of life, making private individual
friendships and enmities, and extending TO the |
operations of private business; it even gives to |
or takes from mechanic his employment. The |
parties are no longer severed, as in the days of
Jefferson and the elder Adams, by even the |
appearance of great leading principles, which |
gave that contest the outward aspect at least Of
something noble and worthy TO stir freemen /
and republicans. Whatever may be said Of the !
subsequent issues that have been formed since |
the present contest began, il had the rise from |
the merest, the most unworthy, the most de-
grading scramble for office and power. If we |
are not now, in the language of Mr.. Jefferson |
all republicans, all federalists, we have become |
so mixed that the only true distinction is be- |
tween those who are successful and those who I
are unsuccessful in the scramble. Democra-
cy still retains as word, great potency among
US: it is still talisman to evoke great spell |
upon the people. But so little do its princi- |
pies concern those who so long successfully |
evoked and used it, that the chief officers Of
The Government passed through the hands of
distinguished. unreclaimed, unconverted, adj
herring federasts who whilst ruling the ma
ton in the name and by the authority of the
great democratic party, engraited on the Gov
eminent some OF the strongest oftheir own fed
eral principles.
We all recollect, aud for the sake of posterity
it should never be forgotten, the excess to which
parties were carried in old democratic and fede-
raj times. Some Of the brightest and noblest
men of the republic suffered party exacerbations
to carry them far, as to give cause for suspi-
zion that they wanted common regard and aliec-
lion for their country Whilst their native land /
was in death struggle with all powerful
foreign nation, in righteous war ever
was waged, they gave 1t no succoring aid, lent
il no helping hand, nor yielded it even s'the
cheering of a friendly voices" but, as far as in
hem lay, by more than apathetic indissxsnce,
and paralyzed the country in is gal
ant efforts to free itself from the peril m winch
t was placed. Is it now credible that Just when
he country had successfully passed the crisis,
when peace was restored, and when all true
learts were swelling with exultation for their
ecent and brilliant victory of New Or
cans, that distinguished member of that party, n
landing among the first for salient, and whose
memory is honored, whilst unbosoming himself
n a private confidential letter, expressed
trsng regret at the achievement Of that victory
ecause it would render Mr.. Madson's admins
ration popular? Is it credible that the Vandal-
ike sacking of Washington City was hailed
With cheers ana applauding shouts by native
orn citizens Of this country? To such an ex-
ent were the minds of the people of New Eng
md iniamed by party strife during the war, that
remains a questio between them and their
,aders to which the credit is due, that some
istinct overt act was not perpetrated towards a :
everance ofthe Union. Do more than justice
, the present state of feeling among that people
believing that there needs no foreign censure :