New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-06

Joshua Seney,
*William Smith,
Mich'l. Jenifer Stone. Total, IS members
North Carolina and Rhode Island did not adopt
the Constitution until after the first session OF
Congress OF course 30 members constituted
quorum of the members first elected (59) twill
be seen that only that number appeared on the ls'
April, eighteen members having been in waiting
from the 5th March until that time, and having
adjourned from day to day, until quorum was
finally formed Circulars had been addressed to
the absentees, bo,k of the Senate and House, by
the members in attendance, with the earnest re-
quest that they will be SO o5liging as TO attend
as soon as possible" No members appeared from
the State of New York until the 9Th and 9th OF
April, when Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Benson took
their seats. This appears strange to Us at tins
dav, inasmuch as this session of Congress was
held at New York
We have already stated that Frederick A. Muh-
enberg of Pennsy lvanla was elected Speaker OF the
House on the 1st of April. No particulars OF the
balloling are given in the journal, but II will be
observed that the Members present from lennsyi-
vania and the Southern States formed majority
Mr.. Muhenberg subsequently acted with tue Dem
ocratic party. He continued a Member ol the
House until 1897 and was twice elected Speaker,
viz: in 1889 and 1893. Jonathan Trumbul OF
Connecticut was chosen Speaker by the Federal
lists in l79l
1t is known, perhaps, to most readers that the
formation and adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton divided the Country into two great parties,
who took the names of FederalistS and 1ntt-FeG-
eralists "Seme union of the States, says a
distinguished writer, 'was admitted by ali to be
Indispensable; but in what manner it should be
eflected-what powers should be given and what
powers reserved; how these should be modified,
checked and balanced, were points on which honest
men might zealously contend. Some men were
disposed 10 guard State rights and avoid the es-
tablishment of powers which might gradually ab-
sorb them and result in consolidation. Others
foresaw the necessity of ves1ing powers adequate
to the preservation of peace among the States, to
enabling all of them to act one in relation to
! foreign governments, and 10 secure coercve
power for all national purposes over the citizens
of the several States. Those citizens, therefore,
who were in favor of tie Constitution or con-
federation, or were earnestly desirous OF entering
into this new union were called Federalists, and
their opponents were denominated 'Anti-F federal
ISIS. Some time afterwards, (in 1889 when
Genet, the French Minister, arrived in TINS coun-
try, Democratic Societies were formed here by
those VINO were friendly to making common cause
with France, and os.ensibly for the purpose OF
preserving civil liberty. Gradually the term Dem
ocra,ic was applied to the party opposed to the
Federal Administration; but MIR. Jefferson denom-
mated his political friends, consisting OF that party
Republicans, which name they assumed and re-
| tained until the final dissolution OF the edersi
party. At the present time, Democratic seems
TO be more favori,e term among politicians.
The Federal party, commencing with J" ashins'
tons Administration, carried on the government
OF the Union for twelve years. 1t encountered
from the hrst moment of It's existeace powerful
opposition, which gradually strengthened until the
latter acquired the ascendency. (" At the begin
BeDJamn est was elected. but resigned.
William s. Giles elected in place OF MI Bland, de
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