Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-06-28
LOCOFOCO PRlNCIPLES-WH THEY
ARE &C.

'
LOCOFOCO PRlNCIPLES-W THEY
ARE, &c.
The time has been, when party and party names
were nothing, in the estimation of reasonable and
patriotic men-prtncipleS were every thing 1t is
worth while to consider whether in these days this
rule is not too generally reversed; for if it be SO,
it is easily demonstrabe that stability in the policy
of the Government and of course in all the pur-
suits of the people, so far as the Government affects
these pursuitsis utterly out of the question. That
it has been mainly reversed, and been followed, too,
by the most amentable consequences, zee entertain
no doubt The predomnance OF Locofocoism in
1928 was achieved by the force of a party name
and through popular prejudice accompanied, it is
true by the loudest professions of good principles,
but without the possession Of them. The result
was, that nearly every one of those protested prln
ciples was abandoned, and now hardly shred of
them remains as distinctive of the party Mt present
the long settled policy of the Government in
nearly every essential point overthrown--and
the business Of the country felt shock upon shock
until every thing was thrown into disorder. This
is history, as it already reads, and will read hereaf-
ter But let US recur to principles. In the earlier
days of the Locofoco party in Vermont the leaders
in the main protested to be for proecticn-a sound
national currency-a single Presidential tern-res-
friction of Executive power-and economy in the
Government: this was Democracy then, and all,
aye all, are excellent Whig principles now, as they
were then but where are their leaders no,o? We
answer-they have utterly abandoned nearly all Of
these principles, and contending, with the same
hypocritical shout of Democracy, for men who are
opposed to those identical principles! Humiliating
as must be the fact it is So Let us show what are
noc the procssed principles Of the Locofoco party,
as we will do from the declarations of their late Ma
tional Convention. Let every reader compare this
declaration of principles with the plain, pithy, and
unmistakable resolution of the Wing Convention,
under the editorial head
l. That Federal Government of limited powers,
derived solely from Constitution, and the OF power
shown eren ought to be strictly construed by all the depart
and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers
PLEASE remember that our wisest statesmen lin
GLIDING MI. Jefierson) have doubted the constitu-
tional power of annexing foreign territory to the
Unon-many utterly deny it-certanly there is no
express grant of power to warrant it; yet the men
who adopted the above article, as well as their can
ulUdtc LOT ~ tilc iIuutuidlc
ton o. Texas
That Constitution does confer authority al,
Federal Government directly or ndirec 10 assume e uoo
Of the several States contracted for local internal improvements
expedient.
1--WE know of only one Wing in the Union wht
goes for assumption; that is VIM. Cost Johnson
whom locofoco press has just claimed (unustly
we presume,) as convert to the Polk party. These
locofocos nevertheless go for the assumption Of tht
debts Of Ieras without scruple!
g. That Justice and policy forbid Federal
ment foster branch of industry the dment of unoh
cherish the interests of portion to the injury of
other ion of countrythat every citizen
every section OF the country has right to demand and nss
upon an ECU MY OF rights ana privilege ana TO ana am
foreign aggression.
Here is every whit which the great locofoct
leaders deign to reveal on the great question o
Protection; and what does it mean? Are they TO
Tariff?-they do not say! We infer that they
are not, however, until human Legislators exemp
ted from the possibility of erring, and system o
protection is arranged which comes fully up L
the mark of divine perfectbity. What protection
property from domestic violence that doubles
means the South against negro Instructions, Blu
does it mean Rhode Island against Dorr rebellions
--"or foreign oppression'-that clearly means a
gainst foreign armies and navies, but does it mea
any thing than that? We put it to the free
men of Vermont, to the wool-growers whom tn
locofoco leaders strive to cheat into the support
Polk and his multiplying allies-do you think tina
this convention is in favor of protection, and ye
dare not avow IL !? Will you trust men who hav
not the honesty or the courage to tell you tchat the
will do on this subject? Read the noble Wing dec
laration-"a Tariff for Revenue to defray the nee
essary expenses of the government, and discrimin
uting ioih SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TIL
PROTECTION OF THE DOMESTIC LABOl
OF THE COUNTRY;" read the declaration c
Henry Cay-"an adequate revenue, with FAB
PROTECTION TO AMERICAN INDUSTRY;
compare these with the mystical language of tn
Locofoco convention, and decide for yourself whor
it is safest to trustl
d. That is the duty Of every branch of tina
enforce aud practice the most aconomy in conducting
public Affairs and that ought 10 he raised hs
required to deay the necessary expenses
Certainly: yet these Locofocos once raised
surplus of forty millions, and contirived to spen
thirty millions year when fair economy could hav
got along with twenty-five millions.J