Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-10-29
The CoaIation of the Whigs
and Native Americans.

There are two things in the recent Un.
ion effected BY the wings, with the Ma.
tivsS of the city and county Of Philadel-
phia, which must at once strike the eye
OF even The most superficial observer;
first, the progressive character OF the
old federal principle of restricting the
exercise of the right Of suffrage in this
county, secondly, the additional
evidence thus afforded OF the identity
OfthS present wbig, and the old federal
party
AS early as theCOnVentiOn which form.
ed the Constitution Of the United States,
Alexander Hamilton, the great leader OF
the federal parry, laborsd 10 place uu-
msrOus restrictions upon tho right Of
suffrage. lie Spenly aVowed the Prin-
ciplo thai the great mass were, aud ever
would be, too ignOran, and turbulent for
self-government; and, in his speech upon
that occasion, h9 uttered that sentiment
which will live whilst the records Of the
Constitution endure, that, in order to
insure permanOncy and success, you
must "givs the rich and WELL BORN
permanent interest in the government" :"
The constitution was framed, however,
urOn more democratic rinciPles; but
federalism did not abandon its doctrines,
The administration of the elder Adams,
in less than ten years after the COnven.
ton, revived the sentiment Of Hamilton,
but embodied it in another form, viz: the
Alien aw, which conferred upon the
PreSident the extraordinary power of ex-
pelling suspicious persons from the COun-
try-and, upon refusal to do so, TO cast
him int1 prison. Suspicion Of foreign
ere, and foreign influence, was thus made
tho prstex,--and tho pretsxt merely
FOR carrying out the cd federal princt'
pie Of weakening the democratic strength,
snd consolidating the power OF The coun-
try 10 the hands OF the few, by restrict
ing the right of suffrage. Public opinion
effected ths repeal Of that law; but that
repeal did not overthrow the principle
Of federalism, nor destroy the efforts Of
lis advocates. For a season, we had no
public demonstration; yet the design
sIumbered only in the bosom Of its friends.
The Hartford Convention, which was as'
sOmbIed in the midst of a wal with the
miphtest nation Of The earth, and whose
sessions were held in secret, put forth
sundry amendments which, in the Opin-
ions of its members should be made TO
the constitution and the sixth of these,
as given BY the Secretary, Mr.. Dwight,
in the published proceedings o! that body
was, that no citizen other than native
born, should be eligible 10 any Office Of
honor, trust or profit under The govern
ment. This was bold and open avow'
al Of principls-and the people, meeting
il face to face, hurled it back with seorn
upon its authors.
Still federalism, though defeated, was
not destroyed. The leaders still cherish
cd their designs; but they changed the
mode Of attack. From that time they
began to take counsel, Is to the means Ol
success, and early lOPted the sugg s.
ton Of John @. Adams, in his dOggerel
verse upon Mr.. Jefferson, that
"lf we canRst alter things
By Cd we'll change their names, sir"
Consequently we have no more open
and ayowed declarations of this principle
slor the public eye.' Ye. it is fOuRd
continually manifestiDs itself in the his,
tory Of the country, aRd the progress OI
parties. ltis found in the proposition
brought forward 10 the U. 8. Senate, Il
cut of the foreigners irem the benefit o
the prescription laws-a proposition
which Mr.. Clay sustained with hiN speech
and his vote. II is 10 be seen in th'
origin Of Native Americanism, and th'
fornation of Native American Socie
tiSs.' These, il is said, have beer got
ten up without regard TO party politics
and that members Of the democratic par
" have participated il their proceedings
The srst Of these declarations may,
the superficial observer appear true;-
and il is from the lack Of that calm iDve
iigatiOn which detects iis faIsily at OnC'
that hundreds Of honest men, less eau
tious than the old rat, have failed 10 Pc