Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-19
No. 3.---EOLl'ME NNNNH.

which deferred the Federal party, that memorable
occasion, from treating the election OF President as II 1t
had never happened, and maintaining themselves III
power BY direct '.surpaon. They knew the physical
power OF the States against Them they feared that
new convention would but extend the practical Intu
ence OF the Democratic principle and after manifest
ing their contempt far all that is popular III govern
ihent they c0ntcntcd themselves with recognizing
the Judiciary and filing with their creatures, in the
VAN hope that the life tenure Of the judges and their
aStuteness at construction would form eilrctua
check 10 the Democratic influences which were every
where taking possession Of the executive and egisla
tive powers of the States well as the Union. Among
the last official acts of the elder Adams the ap
poinment Of numerous judicial officers 10 occupy siiua
lions which Federalism had created for them the last
| moments of lis power
The Republican party took possession of the rcins Of
power in le0l. The Alien and sed.ton Laws
repealed; the newly raised army d,sbanded, the
taxes and excuses aboshrd; the new judiciary
system overthrow, notwithstanding the Federal
doctrine resolutey maintained, that the life tenure Of
The Judges rendered IL mrolahle; every thing put
the most SIMPLE and economical footing; the national
debt was gradually paid of, aud the National Bank was
Su red To pass out tcXiSeuce the end of It's cag
tered tern Notwithstanding the efforts oil the Federal.
isis TO it.
War of 1912 and lis Consequences.
Bui Tor the war Of l-l2 our country mig ht have
Joyrd long period Of quiet and prosperity under the
mild dominion Of that principle in government which
contents Itsclfw the least possible abrd.mcn OF hu
man liberty, aud the least possible cxaction from the
earnings tthc citizen.
War is a formidable enemy to Democracy. To make
II efficient it must be carried with strong hand
It accusoms the minds Of men to Tie sacrifice of mL
vidual liberty and 10 the exercise Of arbitrary power
II tends TO make think that all government, to b..
efficient, must resemble that Of army. II corrnpts
the morals tmrn and renders them comparatively in.
different to all human rights whether OF l.c liberty
property. That which they see diy and remorSeessy
destroyed in the movements, subsistence and operations
OF armies, they cease TO regard sacred or valuable
War also brings witt; IL taxation and public debt, draw
ing heavily upon the fruits of present industry and
gagng the soil and the sinewa OF the citizen for
indefinite period 10 the creditors Of the government
And the burdens of The people are much enhanced By
the protgacy attendant on expenditures connected
with state of war, which, III the Generalization OF
passing scenes II difficult 10 restrain and impossible
| 10 prevent
The war Of l-l2 had It's natural effect govern.
mcnt and people brought wlth II TAXATION, immense
expenditures decentralization and an increased natona!
debt By lis disasters and The difficulties with which II
prosecuted, il led many honest minds 10 think that
government, administered upon Democratic prnci-
pies, not strong enough for national defence The
minds Of many who had fought the Republican battles
Of IDS $780, vrercd round more or less TO the notions
OF the Federal party, and they began TO think neces
sarv to increase The powers and strengthen the hands
Of the General Government
| In this bias Of mems minds, n National Bank, the
most effective engine Of Federal or anti democratic
nhuencc; re-esiabished To create demand Tor
the surplus moneys brought INTO the treasury by unu
sua and unreasonable cXactons upon the labor oi the
people a right claimed 10 make roads, and dg ca
nails throughout the Union. The conslmmation Of THIS
Grand scheme 10 enlarge the powers of the General
Government, and accomplish the ends AIMED at hy the
Federal party under the elder Adams, was checked by
the veto of President Monroe; but nevertheless,
st!l perSeverngy pursued by It's comtrlvcs and advo.
Gates.
The Election and the Administration OF the
younger Adams.
! The coalition Of -2l-o, which made the younger
/ Adams President, and avowedly relied on the power
and patronage Of the government TO sustain IT. had the
of this grand scheme among the most cherish
| cd Of It's ultimate objects.
The incidents Of that election and the atitudnarian
doctrines avowcd BY the Administration which grew
ont of IT, reused the Democracy of the land to another
decisive effort 10 "brlng back the government TO Its
Republican tack The Patriarch of the party, ~ his
retirement could not forget the principles OF his YOUTH
or refrain from expressing 10 the friends with whom
he correspondent his horror and apprehension from the
dcrcneracy Of the times. After the PRONUNCIATION OF
the Younger Adams first message in December le2l,
Mr. Jefferson wrote TO Mr. Giles in the following
strain, viz:
81 see as You do and with the deepest affection, the
rapid strides with which the Federal branch of our Go
vernment is advancing towards the consolidation in it
self of all powers, foreign and domestic; and that too
by constructions, which, legitimate leave no limits 10
their powers Take together the decisions OF The ft
deral Court the doctrines Of the President, and the
demonstrations Of the constitutional compact, acted
on BY the Legislature Of the Federal branch, and ~
but too evident that the three ruling branches oil tini
department in combination to strip their colleagues,
the State authorities Of the powers reserved by them,
and to exercise themselves all functions, ofeign ana
domestic.
As late as January 9TH, -26 in another letter he
said 81 fear with you all the evils which the present
lowering aspect Of political horizon 5" omin"Sy
ooriends Thai at some future day, which hoped 10
be very distant the free principles OF our government
minht change, with change Of circumstances was to
be cxpectcd But certainly did not expect that they
would not outiyc the generation which established
them And what still less expected was, that my ia
vore western country was to be made The instrument
Of change | had and tondly cherished the IN
tcrrss Of that country relying on IT as barrier against
the dcgcncracy of public opinion from our original aud
free principles But the bat Of local interests, artnlly
prepared for their palatcs, Alr Ctlys system OF inter
nal improvcmcnts) has dccoyed them from their kln-
bred attachments, 10 alliances alien 10 them
Triumph of Democracy and election of General
| Jackson.
These were the feelings Of old Democrats who had
lived through long lives in the pure faith unswervrd
BY temporary incidents and Inseduccd By the g,terng
objects of unstable ambition. hitting with the junior
Democracy under the banner of the Hero Of New Or
leans, second victory was achieved alter desperate
pncouu,rr over the combined forces of federalism,
with all its means of influence, as decisive as the
tfrst-Thc consequences were also the same. As the
alien and scdton laws, the army, the taxes ana Inc
bank with all The devices Of an ancient Federalism,
fell before the triumphant Democracy, headed by Jet
fcrson and Madison tn" system OF Internal Improve
mcnts bv the General Government-ihe Bank-and
other devices of modern Fcdcralisn fell before their
new leader Andrew Jackson That the modern Fedc
raj party we're not al rendered rs powcrss rs was
the ancient in the time of Mr. Jefferson and still dared
to contest the ascendancy with the Democracy, ar.
ju,abe to the more extensive of influence ii had
acquired through the Bank of the United States the
increase of ovesgrOwn wealth, and the msdreccd
legislation of The several states The Democratic pm
chile looks to the rights and interest Of the indiriG2df
| num- as the only basis of just government. II
repudatcs all laws which give TO particular men or com
panies Of men, rights and privileges, which cannot
be enjoyedby Others who members Of the same com
munity.
OF this character all rnpnoP"es, w'ch IN tne,r
operations discourage private enterprise, hnG 'ndy'
duals into state Of Interested dependence, aud Gle.
vate one man above his neghbor by the Iarta!ty q
Law Among the most mischicyons ana extensive
| a T. TlIell down the Di The