, 1840-10-31

the election, which, in some cases have beer
detected, leading US irresistibly to the conclu-
sion, that an extensive system Of fraud has
been thus practIsed upon the elective rights
of the people-their wholesale dealing in the
most unfounded and wanton charges against
the Administration; such as attributing to il
the design Of establishing a standing army
of supporting Government by direct taxation
of reducing the wages Of labor, and Of sub
verting the principles Of our holy religion
charges as base and false as the motives In
which alone they had their origin. If they
rave believed them they deserve our pity
if they nave not, they are worthy, only, ol
our contempt. Add to these, the free use Of
money furnished, probably, by British fund
mongers in London, and British Wings in
Massachusetts.
1t is also undeniable that we have been
indulging an overweening confidence in our
supposed strength and that, this has led to a
neglect of the proper means to disseminate
information, stay the flood Of Federal false
hood, and procure the attendance Of voters
at the polls. |, was a neglect which it would
be criminal to repeat-an error that must be
repaired. The Importance of the approach
ing contest is beyond estimation. It's conse-
q~uences may reach throughout all time, al
fecting. for good or i'll, the destinies of our
beloved country. For the question is not.
whether this man, or that man shall occupy
the Presidential chair, for the next four years,
but, whether the whole policy of the Govern
ment shall be changed, and the old and obi
Gus system of Federal measures. under n
Epnrrp onl an,o ovouraI Ealarolist Cor De-
sident. surrounded by Federal advisers, shall
he revived. and fastened upon the country
for an indefinite period. This is the question.
Are we prepared to meet ii? A glance at
some Of the distinctive features Of the two
great political parties. will, perhaps. aid us 10
meet it more Understandings.
In the first place, then, the Democratic
party have faith in the intelligence of the
people, and in their capability of self govern.
ment, while the leaders of the Federal party
openly ridicule. and sheer at the idea of their
intelligence and capacity, and have frequent
Iy expressed their preference for a Govern.
mcnt. founded, not in the will of the people.
but in the chances of birth, and on property.
Again-The Democratic party hold that
all power is derived from the people-that
u 'oNClliiiItul Is sliICtiN al IN q
Government-that officers are The agent. OF
the people. and. consequently. bound to clcy
their instructions. This right Of the people
TO instruct, and corresponding obligation Of
the representative to obey, the Federalists
have always denied and opposed.
The Democratic party regards all men,
politically, as equal. and sustains the grea,
doctrine OF equal rights. while our opponents
are the friends and advocates Of monopolies
and exclusive privileges.
The Democratic party are in favor Of SIM
p!icIty and economy IN the Government. and
Of raising no more funds from the people than
are wanting for the ordinary expenses Of the
Government. Our opponents, on the contra
have always been in favor of high taxes.
collected through a tariti-have almost inva.
riably voted for extravagant appropriations
and manifestly regard a public debt with
great favor.
The Federalists are the advocates of 4
splendid scheme of internal improvements,
by the General Government, and at the close
of the younger Adams administration, had
works surveyed, and laid out, the officially
estimated cost Of which was about one hun
dred millions Of dollars. To this system the
Democratic party has always been opposed
as unconstitutional, and inexpedient-as tax
ing one portion of the community for the
benefit OF another-producing the most dis
and corrupt scrambling in congress
for local appropriations-and tending TO load
down and Cypress the country with a nation
al debt.
The Federalists are also the advocates Of
a high tariff-a system that taxes the poor
man in the purchase of the necessaries and
comforts of life, to enable corporations, that
are now dividing from ten to twenty per cent
annually, TO make still greater dividends. A
system to make "the rich man richer, and
he poor man poorer" TO this the Demo-
;rats are utterly opposed.
The Federal party are in favor Of estab-
ishing another great National Bank-another
monopoly for the aristocracy of wealth.
mother "place of profitable investment" for
he English nobility-another naughty and
lomineering corporation to set the laws at
and to trample upon the liberties
# the people-another great political ma
thine to subsidize the public press, and "to
luy up voters like cattle in the MARKET