Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-05-18
From The Baltimore dme,ieau.

PARTY NAMES.--li is curious To note bov,
the old designation OF parties are applied. Tbs terms
"democrat md "federals,," once used in references
TO actual distinctions arc now affixed with little or n
meaning. M mere words TO win popularity or 10 ex-
etc prejudice. l, is very well known that the Fed.
efa party az such ceased TO exist long ago. When
President MoNRoEs a1minisirai ION cane 10 close
all the candidates tot the Presidential chair belong
edto the Democratic party. and zach was supported
by his friends on grounds oi personal nature. Tho
old Federal parry distributed among the seye.
raj divisions, some supporting MrAdams some Join
ing with The friends Of Mr.. Crawford. Others favour
ing Mr. Clay. and many allyng themselves with tho
party which soughtto bring Gen. Jackson into pow-
er, When the contest came afterwards between
Mr. Adams md Gen. Jackson some of the most
distinguished names among the Federalists weto
found on the list OF those who organized and con-
cenirattd the powerful opposition which defeated
the re election oi Mr.. Adams. Ills well knowp that
many OF The prnmn eut men who now sustain rank ~
leaders under the administration OF Mr.. Van Buren,
were Federt'ists We say this wuhout intending re-
proach-but because II IL matter Of fact. The old
Federal parry having become deconp posed, the indi-
yidua members II II had certainly the rig hit to choose
among the Democratic candidates, and to consult
thcr own preferences IN supporting this ono or that.
The stianpcness OF the matter is that the Admins
tration patty with ultra Federals,s among us promi-
ne leaders, should claim 10 be The Democratic psr-
", aud that the Wigs should be called Federal
isis
But reihnps upon second thought, il 10 not 20
surprising after all that the party in power should re-.
sort TO such mrnns of warfafes There is so little id
the principles Of The Wings be disaparoved OF BY
the people aud 40 much thn, would gain geners ss-
sent If the whole subject were fairly presented, that
may iud IN thdse facts some excuse for the in
duslty with which the Adminislfaiion Journals have
recourse to names and erithets intended TO convey
nhf,votablc impressions. II The doctrines of tho
Wings are sound and cannot be i'm I'd, there 10
yet one resource left-ihey can he called Federal.
sts. To every ihing that is advanced, whether In
he way Of proposing good measure or Of defeating
a bad ouc--lbe reply is read,-it IL a Federal
movement. This course SAVES trouble. mud rea
qnres argument.
For ourselves VIC are quite indifftren, about tho
name which the ADMINISTRATION party may choose
10 take To Itself. Their principles and policy show
sunlcrni grounds Of opposiilon, no matter by what
name tho party may be called. We should not OBJ
ect to Mr.. BUCHANAN, for instance, that he had ones
bcena Fedcralis-ilis enough to know that thst
| gentlemen IS M advocate of the Sub Treasury. SO
/ Of The po,y collectively. There is need Of ua-
yelling beyond the records Of the last ten years to
find ample grounds Of objection The question now
At isue does not refer back TO party disiinc lions
which prevailed forty years agobut II stands on its
| own merits. The evils Of the Government policy
are of presebt eAs,enee--they are known and fell,
they have no reference To the old question between
Democratic and Federalists. Such terms are with.
out meaning, and have 10 application 10 the present
state oil tbngs The points in dispute between thu
old democratic and federal parties were settled long
lago.