The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-06
JEFFERsONIAN DEMOCRACY.


The National Intelligencer, of Monday, after
quoting passage from one of Mr. Jefferson
messages TO Congress, remarks Such was
the language, such the sentiments, and such the
doctrine of the great head, in his day, of The
political church IN ichich noe were brought
up"
Now, who would have dreamed that the
strenuous advocate of all the high handed mea-
sures proposed by the ultra Wing leaders-Na-
tional Bank, Protective Tariff, unlimited Inter
nal Improvement, unconditional Distribution,
and a two hundred million Government stock for
the relief Of the States-was brought up in the
political church of which Mr.. Jefferson was the
head? That veracious chronicler Joseph Mil
Ter, relates story ola poor fellow, hump backed,
bandy-legged, and crooked in every way-who
on alightlng from stage-coach, replied TO an ac-
qualntance who asked him where he came from.
q came straight from London.n "Bv the
lord Harry" remarked -s,ander, " but the
poor gentleman has been terribly Warped by the
way" The editor Of the Intelligencer NAV
have been brought up in MIR. Jefferson's church.
but we doubt whether he has seen the inside of
II Tor some time, CT can repeat a word of the
Catechi- m. He belongs to the church only in
the sense which Mr.. Jefferson intended, when
he said, in his inaugural" We are all Demo
Gratis, we are all Federalists"
If there is no difference between the political
tenets now advocated by the National Intelli-
gencer and those preached by Mr.. Jefferson,
then there never was any difference in point of
principle between Federalists and ID, mocrats ;
and it is vulgar error, that one party was
more distinguished than another by desire TO
adhere vigorously TO the Constitution. II is all
a mistake to suppose that Thomas J, fTerson and
Alexander Hamilton belonged TO different
schools of politics, or took different views of
the Constitution.
remarked, the other day that Mr. Jef1erson's
authority had been appealed to in support of all
sorts of political measures and doctrines, and
we stated reason for il 10 his speculative turn
of mind, and frank and communicative DISPOSE
ton. Yet, is eli the world mistaken in suppos-
ing that Nh. Jefferson had, TO say the least. a
decided leaning in favor Of State rights, rather
than Of the powers Of the General Governu emit
and that he had, at the same time, decided
leaning in avor of the rights and interests of
the masses, rather than of The wealthy and IA
vored orders?
Even IN the passage which the INTEL gencer
selects from message of Mr.. Jefferson, in or
der 10 show, indirectly, that if that distinguish
ed man were now alive, he would probably be
selected by the ultra Wing party as their candi-
date for the Presidency, there is sufficient evil
dence Of his vigiant regard to the Constitution.
We quote il, with the comments Of the Inrelli-
f gencer:
"Of the extent Of the field Of legislation which in
ves the sbors of the Representatives of the People
we cannot, in short give to readers conception
more in accordance with than by quoting the
Language Of President addressed the two
Houses in his fourth annual message 'Whether,' sale
he the great int rests Of agriculture, manufacture
commerce, or navigation can, wthin the pale of you
constitutional poosrs, be aided in any of their relations
whether laws provided in all cases where the,
are wanting; whether those provided exactl,
what they should be whether any abuses take place
in their administration, that of the public re
venues; whether the organization of the public
agents, or Of the public force, is perfect in all it
parts in fine, whether any thing be done to ad
vance the general good, questions within thu
limits of your functions which will necessarily occup,
your attention. Such was the language, such tn.
scntim, nts and such the doctrine Of the great head
in bis day, of the political church in (which
we were brought up. Such, with some modi-