The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-12
SPEECH Of the Hon. C.P, Van Ness,
delivered at the late Democratic
Convention at Woodstock, Vt.


delivered at the late Democratic
Convention at Woodstock, Vt.
MR. PRESIDENT, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CONVENTION.
1t is a long time since | have had the pleasure
of addressing so numerous an assembage of the
Republicans of this State, and il has not een with
our some sacrifice that have been able to appear
among you at this time After travelling with
the utmost rapidity, returned from the South only
on Friday night last, found my family unwell
was with them but two days, and ch them TO the
care ola kind Providence, and some friendly
nclghhors IN order to come here and to minglc
my feelings with yours upon this dccnsion.
II Is now thrty-siX years since ] commenced
my cyerlonS IN the great cause which has briughl
us together this day, and have, at different times
seen dark days, but, thank God, they have gem
orally been followed by The cheering rays of Il
brigh, sun. And it affords me the highest salts
Faction to recognize many now present of those
who have lubored with me, side by side, and re-
manned faithful, through fair and through foul
weather. through good and through evil report, and
whom have ever remembered with feelings of
the most sincere attachment and gratitude. Others
of the same class Of friends have, indeed, left US,
and gone to their long eternal home, but there are,
doubtless, ,rc~nt, the sons of portion of those,
who are animated by the spirit of their fathers,
and towards whom, MS such, entertain the same
kind and grateful feelings.
My friends, we have great and important con-
test before Tho rrtnTushed and scattered
fragments oiour old eitny with an Accession of
modern prcicndcrs and aposia,cs, have been raj.
lied and united, and threaten us with u new and
farm, al, ntt at I'M moo riIr hup la
on our armour, and prepare to defend 10 the last
extremity, the citadel Of liberty cIfciei by our
fathers, and bcqucathod TO Us with the solemn in
junction to preserve it. unnpaired for our pos
toritv.
The principles which divide the two parties are
,hr same now as formerly. The party supporting
the present Administration Of the General Gov
crnncnl is the same party which elevated Mr. JEFF
f,rson to the Presidency in the year 1900, and
sustained his principles. il the same party
which snppor,ch MIR Madison, and defended the
measures OF his Administration IN 1912, 'i3 and'l4
On the other hand the party which now opposes
the General Administration, i. the same old Fed
rral party which was founded by Alexander Ham
illon, and which upheld and supported the odious
arisocralic measures Of the Administration of
John Adams, during the years 1898 and 1899.
The Republican or Democratic party has not
only preserved its principles unchanged but also
its name. II has never praclircd deception, nor
sought cchcsalment, but has always come before
the country with full and open nyowI Of is prin-
cipes and objects. The opposition PARTY has pass
ed through several changes of name, and has made
various attempts 10 rise upon new and assumed
grounds and preteyts. II was originally called
the Federal party, but it, members afterwards as
sumcd the appeaIon Of Federal Republicans,
then Washington Republicans, next National Re-
pnblicans, then Wings, next Democratic Wings,
and finally JclIcrsonmn Democrats.
1t ought to be particularly observed that the
course pursued by the federal party in this State
in claiming to be the real Jcilcrsonan Democrats,
carries with it two distinct and important admis-
sions. FIRST, il amounts 10 a confession that the
Democratic principles proclaimed anu acted upon
by jefferson are right and consequently, that the
opposite doctrines should be rejected as being
wrong. Secondly, it confirms what we have stead
lily declared, that the two parties are divided upon
the old grounds of Republican and Federal, since
if each Claims IN be the Republican or Democratic
party, and charges the other with being the feder-
al party, both necessarily admit that those are the
two existing parties Considering he subject up
on this ground, the whole dispute between us and
our opponents IL reduced to single question of
fact, and that is, which of the two parties is actual
ly the Democratic, and which the Federal parry.
in short il is mere question of iieRHiy.
have already said that General Hamilton was
the founder of the Federal party, and will now
show YOU what his doctrines were. As menu
Der of the convention to forua constitution Of Gov
ernment for these States, he acted a conspicuous
part aud in speech delivered by him in that
Convention on the 10Th of June 1857, we find the
following passages:-
MY situation is dsasrrrabr, but 1t would be criminal
not to come forward question NJ such magnitude.
have well considered the subject. and convinced that
amendment IT the confederation the purpose Of
good government, ipng state SOusregniics do,
anu shane, Tristm 81 believe the British Gov
crnncnt forms III, bee mode the world produced -
II is said w'us tn be unn(nnblc, burii II Werc
formed IL wOnd maintain itself. All communities divide
themselves into the few and the many The frtare The
rich and UsH born, the other The mass Of The p,ops The
voice Of the people has been said be the yoire If God
hut is II not true in point II fact The psoDle turbH
Tent and changing ry seldom jHfss or determine right
Give theresrc To the first class the rich and well born
distinct and permanent share IN the Government Can
Democratic Assembly who Annually reyolyc in the mass
Of tr people, he supposed steadily 10 PURSUE the public
good Nothing but permanent body check the mpri
drnce Of Democracy. Their turbulent and
disposition requires CHEEKS"
After thus declaring himself against estate sove-
reignty ~ any shape and in favor of giving ga
distinct and permanent share in the Government
to the rich and well born in exclusion Of 1.-THE
mass Of the people, and asserting tina, "thc peo-
pie were turbulent and changing and that they sell
dom Judged or determined right, Gen Hamilton pro
posed to the Convention hi. ,rarglt of a Consii-
tuition. The principal features Of his plan were
that there should be President and Senate for