Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-10-20
LETTER FROM THE HON. T. w. GILMER.

LETTER FROM THE HON. T. w. GILMER
From the Charlottesville VA Jefer,onAn Republican.
AUeUsT ls43.
DEAR little candid spirit in which your Inquiries
are submitted induces reply hem much in
compliance with desire that should yindcae myself
as 10 furnish you with brief outline of some important
incidents connected with the origin progress of political
parties IN the United States. My opinions
are OF too LITTLE consequence afford much either
TO partial iflends relentless opponents desire other
undication of my humble agency in public affairs than
VIII be perceived by every unpreudccd mind by reference
70 certain cardinal principles which have endeavoured
follow as my guides under all circumstances. These have
not been willing TO abandon for the advancement of any
party or any man, not even my In their application
or on minor points OF expedency have been ALWAYS
ready TO concede and concate for the purpose Of hao
NOUS and efficient cooperation with whom believed
10 De united by devotion to some great principle. AS
men IN office, or when candidates for Office have long
since learned that OF all guides they most aacous
as their mere promotion is object the least worthy par
~ combination.
The general forms of our government ike our ponn
lnuon, came originally from Europe The events which
preceded and followed the American revolution have
not yet entirely eradica,ed those mistaken ideas Of the
ooec duties ana powers OF government which have al
ways prevailed IN Europe and which greater or
extent, have had their influence United States The
fatal error OF mankind, hich history and expe
tience have failed TO correctly in acrbng omnipotence
to governments IN usurpng only the rights duties of
the people, but also the authority and iniabity of God
he system OF governing del srafia, without the will
OF the governed maintained under the preext appre-
hended anarchy while history proves that desposm under
It's various FORMS has BEEN must be- the nearest oad TO
anarchy The true Of this disposition constantly 10
augment the powers OF government and multiply the oh
Jeets OF their application is disust Of capacity of
men IN the aggregate 10 themselves. In CO.
NeTnnens tins dsIrust the part those who claim
govern has been readily acquesced in and hence the
legitimate powers Of government have been seldom applied
10 strengthen the popular for segovernment
There were many IN the convention which framed our
Constitution who from dstrust Of the people ATTEMPTED TO
make the federal government form well substanc
monarchy without the hereditary feature. This design
being defeated the government sooner organzed
under the Constitution than the struggle renewed ard
strong government attempted 10 be established by con-
srucon IL was urged that powers which had heen ex.
pTeSsy negatved by the convention be implied and
exercised necessary and proper Notwithstanding the
experimentation that all powers granted were reserv
ed TO the States the people. The federal and epub
lean parties OF that day. and SINCE when they divided
On their respective principles have differed
OF powers and discretion be assumed by III, several de-
partments under the Constitution. The federal party
whose leader had advocated the British model in conyen-
uon manifested its peculiar of government not
only by It's measures OF policy but in Its sypa
hies with the crowned heads OF Europe who combined
mantain the principle OF royal Legitimacy rganst revou-
uonay France. For after the adoption of the
Constitution by the States, public opinion unsettled in
reference TO the numerous foreign and domestic questions
which
The old federal and republican parties finally Joined
sue before the country the memorable contest between
John Adams and Thomas jefferson. These parties were
not ihen known "a the Jefferson the Adams party but
distinguished by their opposite views of government,
and they recognized these only the exponents Of
their respective principles These principles eompre.
henslve, embracing both sides the whole circle of gov
eminent all its departments and involving the general
ton OF limiting the agency Of the people BY extending the
powers of government They had reference not only TO
the measures OF that day. but those Of every age inyo
ing the question whether the people shall govern or he
governed The advocates Of much government relied
lhsn on some OF the eXpedionts which they urge now
The alien and sedon acts &c. only applications of
the federal principle objects different from those to which
the same principle has been since applied and would be
appied egain' The principle Of a natiouu bank in
issue in the contest OF 1900 II earnestly demonstrated
against in the celebrated report OF 1892 written by Mr.
Madison as belonging To that Of powers the exercise of
which by the federal government maintained would
prove dangerous to the people and the States Ii was ot
tempted then as Is sustain this particular
the authority Of Gen. Washington. have never bs,n
able TO contemplate General Washington as party man
Ills fame rises above party the eagle above the mist
WINE the authority OF should be recognized in
republic Us precudng inquiry into its souudnes have
never believed that the Jupgemeut Of Gen Washington ar
OF Mt Madison approved the principle involved in charter
ing national bank IL Is now known that at Gen Wash.
ingtonS request Mr. Madison prepared veto u the frs,
bank bill. That bill ultimately signed more IN defer
once 10 the solcude OF Hamilton and others than from his
own convictions, by the father Of his country Mr. Hsm
ton had previously without authority the system
OF receiving convertible paper instead specie under the
actofl7s9 responsibility ofincaouabe weight when we re-
fleet on the consequences which have since been e both
by our government and individuals The financial condi.
ton OF the country m l76l IN embarrassment
rom inc den OF the revolution, a. was IN 1876 from the
ueot az INC last war Mr. Madison only wrote veto
Of the st bank n tho request Of Gen Washington and do
nounced the principle which 1t involved in his report Of
~ which was regarded the declaration OF rights by the
republican party IN Mr. Jcesons election and ever since
but he Subsequently, President vetoed bank bill Ia
signed another, - true had been done IN 1891 wine
the public mind inundated by the embarrassed coudi
uo OF 'ne country and the government impaired i panic
alike 10 the and tho brave In both instances a.
happens symptom OF disease mistaken for remedy
There can be no mistake the general PRINCIPLES
which characterised the federal and republican pates on
iheir hrsi formation, 20 the signal results which fol
lowed the memorable republican triumph Of 1900 Not
~hstanding the which our were
~ frequently cNPosedby our foreign and domestic relations
hy he sesfessions Of France sind England maritime
rgh by the embargo, the war the loss Of our
and the accumulation OF large public debt noyhstand
ing the violent death spasms with which the federal party
continued to struggle against the government during these
periods three successive republican Presidents were elect
ed and tho country enjoyed comparative political repose
until near the termination Of Mr. Monrocs administration
The federal party resisted all attempts realisation or dc
fence, and finally resisted the war with Engsnd The,