The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-08-18
For the C1icd0nian

lie delneated their cb araeter with great
...ur,cv and truth: but apprehend no will find
difficulty in compressinglhis subject into n
ally newspaper, ut all events, in getting through
..L.c,,o e,cction fear too that his articles will
~, ho mad and considered with the attention the
INTACT merits. Tie had better, think, como at
,,co 10 tho point, and tell what Fed cralism and
n.mocrsc, mean, and how tho names have been
heretofore used and to whom they apply, and leave
,be rest of tho subject to DO discussed when we
taye moro lei sure and better disposition TO attend
10 such dry and reconcile inquiries.
lam somewhat acquainted with Federalism and
D.mooracy both uncicnt and modern, having been
voter OF the frs, election Of Jefferson, and taken
come interest in eoii,ics ever since. "Nor,hman"
says truly tina, the Federal principle sought to
,abIish i,selfI in the Executive department.. Tho do
sign of the old Federaists was to strengthen tho
Executive at the expense of the other dePartm ents
of the government and the people. In the time OF
JOHN Adams they endeavorcd 10 render the Presi-
dent Independent Of tho people, and to give him
powers that the Democracy considered inconsistent
with the free exercise Of individual! rights; and the
question between tho two parties then was, wneth-
or the President should be sustained in this attempt!
for it is known to all, that there questions of
foreign policy upon which parties wero then more
divided than at present. Blu, upon these questions
the Federasts were found exclusively upon ono
side and the democrats on the other.
The manner in which the President sought 10
render himself Independent Of the people was this:
First in the exercise Of his appointing power He
and his party assumed the ground that in removals
from, and appointments to Office the Executive was
responsible TO no ono, except s" far MS the Senate
wns concerned in rhtifying such nominations IA
the Constitution required the PRESIDENT TO lay be-
roe Them, under John Adams administration mp
pontments were made, in many instances, with
reference party and Executive Interests exclusive
W. and She Federal officers were permitted TO en-
ploy ,hcir official influence with the people 10 fur
lhcr the designs of tho President. Next tho alien
and sedi'On laws were intended for the same pnr-
pose. The object of them was to shield the Prosi
dent and other officers of tho government from
tho somewhat rude md fiery attacks of their oppo
nons. They bo,o much the same relation TO our
official ilnctionarios, and prosecutions under them
were intended to have nearly tho same effect rs
prosecutions for scnndhlum magnatum under the
English law-that is, TO curb the inquiries Of tho
people into the conduct Of their officers. In n
word the President regarded, by the Demo
cratic party setting himself above the people,
and as employing the power he possnssod to con
time himself and his party in office. This was
John Adams Federalism the federalism Of 1900,
with which tho present administration party ale
now seeking to identify tho Wings.
Well the Democrats made this the point upon
which The election Of Mr.. jefferson turned. l vo-
ted for Mr. Jefferson. When ho came into office no
revolutionzed the department which he pre-
sided. He forbade any Interference in the cleo
lions by the officers Of the Federal Government,
except to cast thei, own votes, and brought the
Executive department into direct responsibility 10
the popular will.
The party, or as "Northman" would say, I sup
pose, the ''prinsipic," that elected MIR. Jefferson
continued in power, and the principles Of his adj
mlnlsrntion, both with regard 70 the particular
points that determined his election, and also with
regard to his policy in general, were practsed up
on by every succeeding administration until The
lection Of J. q. Adams. lie too was n Democrat
and elected by the Democratic party; but com.
ing into office ho accused Of adopting the poll
OF his father in attempting sustain himself and
MS party through the agency Of his official pow er
f'"e""Sc' H1e was charged Win bargaining
WIN Henry Clay, and making other appointments,
WIN that object and with interfering, through the
nS'rumentaty of the Federal officers, with the O..
sc''on' Though, go Ear as I now remember, tho
=, a'er charge only embraced single case-thnt OF
D'"a'or from this State. He was also accused OF
SA"avasani expenditure of the public mouey.
was wherefore. denounced as a FederaIis,, for
h., wore Federal measures or the measures that
Guar ac'eiized the old Federal party. His for.
Ts.;r p'''y was not complained of; nor was the
os'. VI lie system of internal improvements, boil,
u. "'lch mad been introduced before he came to
iesidency, considered anti democratic. in
as "'s opponents in this State declared in favor
~ mem, while they denounced him. All that was
sa'aed as Federal in his policy was his attempts
" Inc means have mentioned, to enlarge the
boundaries of Executive influence,
believed the charges against Mr. Adams, tho
,o a"' now convinced thoy were greatly oxaggerO
'|D' una regarded him as Federalist, and voted a