The Northern galaxy, and Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-17
DEMOCRACY OF FORMER DAYS.


rlcy claiming Gen. jackson as the great
apostle of democracy scarcely less so Than
the founder Of the party, Thomas Jeller-
son, himself. Many of these bright youths
and learned PundIts viii insist and main
tain that General Jackson was the regu'
larry nominated democratic candidate for
the Presidency in 1924, and was defeated
by Z " coalition" of few democrats,
headed by Dir. Clay, and the JeGeralists,
headed by Mr.. Adams!
When we meet with such men we have
a rich treat. We scarcely know which
affords US most amusement, their self-con-
ceit and confidence in their own opinions.
or their gross ignorance and cgregious
blenders IN politIca! history. They have
SO long played the part of pythia IN pot
house politics,ihat they really believe their
own falsehoods, and remind rs Of the
keepers of sacred relies in Spain ard Italy,
such as piece Of the true cross pairing
Of ST. Pc,er'5 tee. nail, &c. who relate
and believe The most marvellous miracles
that have ever been peTitrmed thereby.
1t will probably be of no avail for us to
attempt 10 set these wiscGcres right but
we cannot refrain from telling them that
so far from Cen. jackson being the dem.
ocratic candidate in 1924, he was brought
forward to defeat that candidate who was
William H. Crawford. Gen. Jackson's
strongest opposition came from the leaders
aud leading journals Of the then democrat
ic party. Mr. Ritchic and the Richmond
Enquirer speaking for the Richmond Jun
tO,denounced Gen. jackson in .he strong.
est terms, and declared that his election
would be " a CURE TO THE COUN-
TRY )" as every one knows it has proved
to be. Mr.. Crosweli and the Albany Ar,
gus, speaking for Mr.. Van Buren, and the
Albany Regency, emulaiod Riches de-
nunciations, and declared that Mr.. jack
son had not a single feeling in common
with the republican, party" ard that he
stood " at an unreasonable distance from
the Presidential chair" The New York
Advocate, then the organ Of the party in
that city, followed SUIT in this general de-
nGnciation.as did that immortal democrat
ic paper. the N. Il. Patriot. Gen. Jack
son was by all these papers pronounced
unfit for the Presidency, and presumptu-
Gus in permitting his name to be brought
forward. Richie grew eloquent in ex-
pressing his Indignation at his presump-
tion,and his contempt for the qualifications
Of tie man.
~ Pennsylvania and New England
Gen. jackson was brought forward and
sustained by the FEDERALISTS, with
the view of breaking down by means of
the personal popularity which his military
eclat gave him, the democratic party, and
the democratic candidate. Finding him
popular with the people, and fearing he
would prove a trump card in the hands Of
the federalsts. the democrats in many
places reluctantly tool: him up. i but hav-
ing taken him up they eBdeavoFed to out
hurrah the federalists, and thereby claim
hun as their own. Some of the democrats.
however, refused to swallow the bitter pIl,
and were Immediately denounced as 81 fed
eralis,s F." by those who now followed the
lead of such excellent old democrats as
James Buchanan, &c. This denuncia-
ton has descended from father TO scn,and
IS kept up at the present day by the
noble sons of federal sires.
The truth is, that Mr.. Crawford, Mr..
Clay and Mr.. Calhoun, were all members
Of the democratic rarty. Toward Mr..
Adams the federaIis.s were peculiarly hos
tile. on account of his having left them
and gone over to Mr.. Jefferson. Gen.
Jackson had conciliated this class by his
letter to Mr. Monroe, in 1916, advising
him to destroy the monster party" by
federalsts as well as democrats
as members of his cabinet. This advice
led the federalIsts TO believe, and they
were assured, that if elected President,
Gen. Jackson would call them into his
cabinet and give them share of the Offices
of the country. He kept his word with
them, il is true. but every one who came
into his church Immediately turned round
and denounced all who did not, as federal
lists applying their own name to others as
a stigma Of disgrace!
Up 10 that time Mr.. Clay had been for
many wears one of the leaders and master
spirits Of the democratic party he could
not and would not, however, 60 over 10
Jackson and the federalists, as did Mr..
Calhoun and Mr. Van Buren,. He aban-
doned no principle he ever advocated, he
changed not his course-he has never
changed; and ye; his old associates who
did change, poured out their phials of
wrath upon him in the most unsParing
manner. He stood side by side with the
favorite candidate of the democratic par
ty, VIM. II. Crawford, in his opposition to
jackson, and side by side with Richie.
Van Buren,, Croswell, Tammany Hall,
Isaac Hill, and the whole democratic par
ty he maintained his position-he st9qa