The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-06-09
From the Baltimore American.
TIE FOURTH OF MAY.

Two years have this day elapsed since
the great Baltimore Convention Of 1870
That memorable gathering was prelude
to a political revolution which, promising
much, has thus far accomplished but little.
But then the question is, has the revolution
ceased Has il reached a conclusion IN
which nothing has been concluded, or hae
it been only checked in It's progress BY IN
toward circumstances, which, while modify
ing lis action, have delayed its course
We have always believed that the great
movement Of ls40 meant somethag.-
There was unques,lonabiy diversity oil
views, aud of objects entertained and pur
sued by the VARIOUS breaches OF the Wing
party on that occasion but there was also
a common ground on which they all stood.
There wore principles involved, deep and
comprehensive enough TO ABSORB multi
tude Of individual and sectional discrepan
cies-and ve are strong in the conviction
tina, these principles will ye, come forth out
Vi ,Ie aanfision of things and stand by their
own might the more securely al last from
the very difficulties that have encompassed
them, and over which they will have lri.
umphed.
The accession of General Jackson 10 the
chief magIs,racy, marked an epoch 10 the
career OF the republic quite as distinctly as
| did that OF Thomas Jefferson. 1t indicated
anoiber step, aud very decided one, 10 the
progress Of the democratic princip le-lf IN.
deed the phrase is applicable to the new
developments Of that period and Of he in
tervai since. The democracy Of Jefferson,
which continued 10 the ascendancy through
the administrations OF Madison, Monroe aud
John Quincy Adams, aud which was so
completely established, that no opposing
! party renamed organized to oppose it, be.
came no longer the legitimate democracy
under jackson. A word has sprung up 10
denote this new democracy, which We may
mention without implying reproach, since
j, has now grown SO generally in use as to
F be sure of place among the party desig
nations Of the times whose history hereafter
shall record them. LocofOcotSm, then, may
designate the ultra development Of demo
. cracy.
The democracy Of Jefferson, whatever
, may have been the theoretical ideas Of tha
speculative man on some points, was prnc
/ lically united with respect for law and or
, der. lie was himself the last man to per
NIT the efficiency Of government 10 lose any
q thing 10 the administration Of its powers. -
p The constitutional question Of greater o
less power to the General Government la,
nothing to do with the strict enforcement
Of powers recognized as constitutional
r held.
n The ascendancy Of General Jackson in
. troduced many new ideas and notions @
i, democratical government. The power Q
temporary majoritIes was magnified, whilt
! the authority Of the Constitution, as the per
! rnanent record Of the peoples Will, sunk il
!, importance: There may be an absolute
democracy and constitutional democracy
Just as there may be an absolute and con
s,Iiuiional monarchy-the supremacy Q
4 law ruling ty Fixed aud known principle
. on the one hand in both, and on the other
the performances Of human wiIl---pcrsona
# in the one case and aggregate in the other
i, 10 say that there 10 more freedom 10 al
: absolute democracy Than 10 orc regulated
6 by constitutional laws, is to peryeft term
. most miserabIy. The people of this repub
/. lie, spurning the restraints which an exter
A nal power sought to be put upon their free
: dom, did, in their own calm discretion, pu
restraints upon themselves by ordaiuing
Constitution whereby they were to regu
a late the future exercise Of their own sove
reIgnty. The superior which they recog
nized vas not human naster--bu, IN,
=, divine attributes Of justice and right Il
) which the human heart bows in reverence
nor feels servility in acknowledging ,hzi
sway.
But we are siraying from the point il
, hand. What did the political revolution il
1910 meant II meant, if we understand
4 il, the reaction Of the intelligence and lh'
patriotism Of the people in behalf of consti
}, tutional freedom, which had become en-
dangered by the man worship Of Gen. Jack
d sons administration, and the party disc
!. pine and perverslon Of government power
and patronage under his successor. Dema
. gogues had risen like locusts th.oughou, the