The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-08-03
From the Philadelphia Forum.
HISTORY AND CHARhCTERTg-
LLCZ NJ u-.-L -.n--nLa ii

AAsAN 0E AaELOA MANNAiI Nc
Political pariea are much better understood
81 Tho Pfaetisal afoast5a - sifcis pI niUi pioo
than by the professions and cries ofan cleo
pioneering coolest I.ocolocoism is renarka-
be for its.assumpion Of popular designations,
and for lis appeals to the passions and prciu-
does by delusve epithots. BY means of a sin.
gle word DemOcraey--it has been enabled TO
hold, spell bound, large number Of tho unre-
flecting portion ofthe community, who arc in
fluencld more BY nameFhln things Demo.
cracy and loc0iocoism, 10 the discriminating
observer, who knows anything Of the meaning
Of the former word,as applied TO a political par
" in this country, have no affinity whatever.
The democratic party Instituted by Thomas
Jefferson during the administration Of John
Adams had for its cardinal principle, the re-
ducti0n Of executive power Locoiocoism, on
the contrary has always advocated the presor-
Yation and extension Of the prerogativos ofthe
executive. During the administration Of Gen.
eral jackson, the veto for the first time in the
history Of the government, was employed not
as a weapon to defend the constitution, but as
an instrument to enforce the personal views Of
the Executive. The views Of the President
were then paramount TO the action Of the leg
islatiye branch Of The goYernmcnLand tbe'lat-
ter, was taughtto regard itself as subsidiary
instrument TO carry out the intentions Of the
Presidential a word, the oneIman power grew
supreme, and the win oftho presidenub00amo
as oanipotent as the word Of the RussianC Ear.
In imitation Of Gen. Jackson, the Governors Of
Tho, States'of The political partyset up their in-
dVdual wills a. the standard Of law and legs-
aiion and reduced the legislatures to mere reg
stries for the recording Of their odicts. In
this practical and alarming increase Of exeeu.
tive power, locoiocoism IS at utter variance
with the unceasing vigilance manifested by
Mr. jefferson OF the powers lodged in the Pres
dent BY the constitution. Thomas Jefferson
would have regarded the modern use Of the
veto power by the locoioco executive as the
very essence Of despotism.
II would be difficult 70 find any single in
stance in which the iocoloco democracy agrees
with the democracy Of Jefferson and Madison.
In trulh,'no party Of which we have any knowl-
edge ever evinced such a radical difference be-
tween its professions and practice as this same
locoloco party. AT the polls, when votes are
% be gained, no party IS more strenuous in
lis denunciations Of extravaganza and expense
in the finances Of government, and yet, wien
in power, none is more notorious both for It's
nrodiqal waste Of the public funds and for their
corupt'misapplieatiCn.
John y. Calhoun gave The best idea ofthe
locoioco party when no described it uas held
together only By the cohesive power Of public
plnuder." Il would puzzle any one to indi-
cate any other fixed principle for lis course Of
action than this very attractive one, or to ac-
count for the union within its ranks Of SO many
Of the basest damagOgnes and most pFohigate
politicians. The passion foF public plumber,
Tor the aspoils Of Office, give to the movements
Of the locoloco party an energy zealand union
ofaclion that enablesit 70 triumph over the less
disciplined forces Of the friends Of law and or
der whose chiefobiect Of exertion is the secur-
ing Of good governmental is surprising, howev.
er, to see so many respectable citizens stll act.
inc with it after the melancholy experience We
have had FOR the last fourteen years Of its ex-
travagancc and corruption and the blightina
effects Of its destructive policy upon the com
merce and trade OF the country. Il is Hatura
enough that ofice-seekers and spoils hunter
should still find aCousolauon for al tho evil
of locoioeoism IN the bouniias bestowed upos
them for services IN the war waged upon III
credit and trade Of The nation, but that -ohe
well disposed citizens should be deluded t
selEimmola.ion on the Molock affairs Of iocoio
ooism By tho hypocritical cry Of aIlamoeracg
| DsmocraeHF' 70 a.matler Of establishment
al cnlighieuedmen.