Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-11-19
POLITICS..
From The -NashriHe bninn.
GOV. POIk'S SPEECI,
Delirtred at the Public Dinner goen 10 htm W me D'

DsErfred at the Public Dinner gicen 10 hm w me De
7uocratie members Of the Legislature ana inc c"a-eAs
at the .Nashratc Inn, on the 23d 'nst
rAftcr the sentiment proposed by The coh'n't'ee o
ARRANGEMENTS in honor of the Governor, he was "ud
called for and rose and addressed the company IN SUD-
stance rs follows:
will not, Mr. President and gentlemen, attempt 'oi
DISGUISE the qualification which II affords me 10 n't"
this festive board so many of my friends, many Of thr
from distant sections of the State, with whom nave
abored for so many years TO sustain the common ile
publican principles which we profess CANNOT m'sap
prehend the object ofuur present assembling no'
know, SO much TO do honor to any man AS to renew
to each other the mutual pledges of political FAITH
aud To review the wonderful political events winch
have transpired within the last two years
frequent recurrence TO first principles and auhen'
tic facts often aids in coming to correct conclusions
OH any pending political question. There are in tins
country but two political palies based principle.
There never have been and probably never will be-
Factions or divisions upon local subjects, or those oil
minor Importance, may have existed. Tie questions
Of principle upon which the parties have diV!ed may
have changed IN the progress o the government, o"'
The essential elements constituting the political DOC
trncs Of each remain the same.
The two first parties which organized had fleir
origin in the formation o! tie Government i'scii.-
There were those who acted patriotic and conspico
Gus part in council and in the field in Revolution
airy struggle whose object was separation from The bf
fish Monarchy, and not the establishment OF popular
liberty When the separation was effected anu ln1e
pendence was firmly established, they desired to build
IN strong Government at home, taking the DrltIsi
Constitution as their model ana at Tie heaa OIL WHEEL
doubtless some nf their principal men hoped 10 ne
placed Their efforts proved unsuccessful IN Tue 1oh
rention The present Constitution comforting lew
specified and wclldeiincd powers upon the Govern,
nent Of the Union, and leaving the States IN ini'
possession nf their respective sntes, was adopt
ed. By this Constitution the people were The &C
knowlrdged sovereign All titles oi hereditary rank
and nobility were abolished, and 4 perfect eqna-
ny Of political rights established. The Fede-
raj party which took root in the country shortly
after the Government was put into operation, was
composed Of the advocates of strong Government
who had failed to attain their object IN Conven-
ton and were still ardently attached to the British
Cors ul o, aad forms. They had 10 confidence IN The
virtue and opacity of the people 10 govern themselves
They had still less confidence in the success Of the eS-
pertinent whc! we about 10 make. This want
Of confidence and their admiration Of the British inrm
of Government, strikingy presented by Mr. Jecr-
son in his Anas, published with his other writings
In conversation held at the table Of that i!iusirous
patriot, in the Spring Of 1871, III which John Adams
aud Ale xandr Hamilton took part, he states, that al
ter the cloth was removed the conversation led to The
British CONSTITUTIONS Of which Mr.. Adams observed
"Pnrge Mat Constitution Of its corruption, and gre to
its popular branch equality Of representation, ana u
,Daid be the most perfect Constitution dttised w
HE tca If man" Hamilton paused and said: "Purgs
il Of its corrupon and gre to It's popular branch fG"ait
IN If representations and c0uid become an impracf'ca
bic goeernmcat; IL stands at present. arM all IT'S snp.
posed d.fscts ii IS The most perfect government '7hich
existed.
Mr. Jefferson held contrary opinions lie held at
every period of his life, that man was competent e ms
own self. government; rs he expressed III ms own
classic style, in the last letter he ever addressed 70 The
public, he held that the maSs OF mankind had not been
born with saddles their backs favored e;v boot
and spurrcd ready Tide them rs'iimateiy Ls The
g. race of God
The leading distinction Of principle which separated
the Frderasts and Republicans or that day, was thai
the former having failed to establish strong govern
me mt such as they desired, sought by constructions not
warranted by the Constitution 10 enlarge the powers
and sphere Of action Of the Federal Government, max
ing thereby approximate their tavo5e form whist
the latter adhered 10 strict construction oi that m
srument leaving the States and the people in the full
enjoyment and exercise Of all their reserved rights.
Most Of the men Of wealth at that period took sides
with tie Federal party, and doubessiy desired by the
policy thcy advocated 10 substitute ior titles d! no5ii
~ and rank, which had been abolished, artificial dis
tinc,ons in society, based on property or wealth.
| shall not upon this occasion trace these parties
through the long aud arduons conflict which ensncd.
With the exception Of two administrations Of single
term EACH at the head of which was placed The father
and the son of the Adams family, the Republican po-
Icy prevailed ihe country prospercd, and We grew
from, small pe ope TO be great and mighty nation.
AT the present day there still many disciples
Of the school of Adams and Hamilton; there are still
many lati,udnarian constructonists oil the powers
OF The Federal Government VINO are feuel1iSlS VI
principle, though but few avow the name. he dit
ference between the Federal party in 1900 and at tue
present day, consists in this, that AT the former Pc
Rod they manly and bold in The avowal Of their
sentiments ard opinions whereas, at the present, they
STRUGGLE 10 maintain The nscendcncy Of the prn-
cipcs under piraiical colours. They have put the
auise and livery OF popular party name by calling
themselves Hhigs, and by disrepuiabc conccalneni
Of their real principles, they have deceived thousands
Of honest men, who were Republicans in principle,
S
into power.
From long acquaintance in public life with many Of
their principal leaders, have not, for many years,
doubted the goal at which! they aimed
In taking rapid review of the by which they
recently succeeded to the Administration, and the
suits Of their policy, far it has been dc,clopcd
cannot enter upon full discussion Of many Of lie TO-
pics involved
The las, two years have been full Of great political
events Means rcsorted 10, and political excite
mcnt p-aduced in the last Presidential election, Iicl
la; NJ parallel iii history. Candidates we're PEE
scented who made public declaration OF their frlac
pies The policy of the leading men o! their party was
that they should stand mute. They were no, permit.
ted 10 answer interrogatoties respectfully propounded
upon important public subjects. The people were called
upon To extend To them generous confidence, and
give them their support. The party who supported
them declared no Common principles ny winch iheH
candidates would BE- governed if elected In diber-
ent States they held and advocated the most op-
paste aai conflicting opinions upon the most i'm
porlant public subjects. In different States they de
cared their candidates would, if elected, support
or oppose the measure. Where National
Bank was supposed TO be popular, they declared
to the people that they were III favor Of Bank,
and where il was unpopular they declared they were
opposeh TO it, In the Northern States their candidate
for the Presidency represented by nehers Of Con-
gress and others entertaining opinions not hostile al
least to the Abolitonsts and thus enabled to COM
mand the support Of that wicked and verse than iana
teal faction who level deadly blow at The integrity
Of The Union, whilst in the sIavehoding States he
was represented as being opposed to The Abolition
lists and favorable TO Southern interests. And in like
manner he was represented as holding different aud
conflicting opinions upon the same subject, 10 suit the
popular opinion OF the particular section in which par
iculas opinion ascrbed TO him. Numerous ramph-
lets and anonymous newspaper essays entitled biogra'
miles we're printed, 10 suit the views Of each section,
and intended for circulation in different ATTITUDES. He
was moi nrrnittc. Lmself 10 speak. His opinions or