Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1843-08-05

ten with graphic pen, and full of scorch'
ing truths Trenton Journal and Agri-
cultural Reporter.
HISTORY AND CHARACTERISTICS
OF LOCOFOCOISM.
Political parties are much better un.
derstood by the practical operation OF
their principles than by the professions
and cries Of an electioneering CONTEST
Locofocoism is remarkable for its assump.
ton OF popular designations, and for its
appeals 10 the passions and prejudices by
deIusive epithets. By means of sim
lyle word-Demo racy--it has been ena-
bIed to hold, spell bound, large number
of The unrehecting portion of the com
munity, who are Influenced more by
names than things. Democracy and To-.
cofocoism, TO the discriminating observer,
who knows am thing of the meaning Of
the former at'd, as applied 10 poliical
party in thls country, fave no affinity
whatever. The democratic party lnsii-
tuled by Thomas Jefferson during the ad
minis,ration of John Adams, had for its
cardinal principle, the reduction OF ex-
cculive power. Locofocoism, on the
contrary, has always advocated the pre- :
servation and extension of the preroga-
tives Of the executive, During The ad
ministra,ion Of General Jackson, the We
Ito, for the first time in the history Of the
government. was employed not as weap
on to defend the constitution, but as an
20 I, bn tia
of the ltX cutive. The views OF Inc
President were then paramount 10 the
action OF the legislative branch OF the
government, and the latter was taught TO
regard itself as subsidiary instrument
to carry out the intentions OF the Presi-
dent. In a word, the one man power
grew supreme, and the will orthe Presi-
dent became as omnipotent as the word of
Of the Russian Car. In imitation of
Gen. jackson, thamG government Of the
States, Of the samepolitical party, set upI
their individual wills as the standard OF
law and legislation, and reduced the leg
isIatures to mere registrles for the re-
cording Of their edics. In this practi-I
cal and alarming increase Of executive
power, locofoism is at utter variance
with the unceasng vigilance NANTES.
ted by Mr.. Jefferson Of the spowers Iodg-
ed in the President by the constitutions
Thomas Jefferson would have regarded
the modern use Of the veto power by the
locofoco executives as the very essence
of despotism.
Ii would be difficult TO find any single
instance in which the locofoco democra-
cy agrees with the democracy of Jefferson
and Madison. In truth, no party Of
which we have any knowledge ever
evincod such a radical difference between
its professions and practice as this same
locoioco party. AT the polls, when votes
are 10 be gained, no party is more siren
uous in its denuncations of extravaganza
and expense in The finances of govern.
ment, and yet, when in power, none is
more notorious both for its prodigal waste
Iof the public funds for their corrupt mis-
application.
John c. Calhoun gave the best idea
of the ocofoco party when he described
il 'as held together only by the cohesive
power Of public plunder. II would puz- {
zle any one TO indicate any other fixed
principle for its course Of action than
this very attractive one, or to account
for the union within its ranks Of so many I
of the basest demagogues and most pro-
figate politicians. The passion for pub
lie plumber, for the spols OF office, gave J
10 the movements of the locofoco party /
an energy, zeul and union of action that
enables il to irumh over the less disc- q
plined forces Of the friends Of law and or '
der, whose chief object of exertion is the d
securing Of good government. 1t is SUI G
Prlsng, however, TO see so many respec-
table citizens sill acting with it, after
The melancholy experience we have had a
for the last fourteen years Of its extrava-l i
gance and corruption and The blighting
effects of its destructive policy upon the a
commerce and trade, OF the country
1t is natural enough that ofiice-seekers S
and spoils hunters should still find con- b
ISOLATION for all the evil Of locofocoism in
the bounties bestowed upon them fer e
services in the war waged upon the cred. d
it and trade OF the nation, but that sober
we'll disposed citizens should be deluded h
% self-immolation on the Moloch affairs
If locolocoism by the hypocritical cry of tc
Democracy! Democracy is matter of "
to all enlightened men. h,