The Arkansas banner., 1844-05-22
THE SPEECH.


 visiting vonr division of the State. it formed no part of my purpose to discuss political questions. and would have been much grati- fed if the duty of addressing you had fallen upon others more competent. But owing to the manner in which you have been pleased to call upon me. iu connection with the number and responsibility of those who made it, do not feel at liberty to decline a compliance with your request; for every citizen Is, in some sort q sentinel upon the watchtower of liberty, and when a call Is made upon him, by any portion of his coun- trymen to serve them, or to perform any duty touching great questions of public poli- ey, in which all portions of the country are deeply interested, he should perform it to the best of his ability. Though, it is true, 1t has not formed any part of my design to enter the political arena. and contend fer victory and empire with those who are asking public favor: Ii Is. nevertheless, a source of pleasure 10 me, 10 meet my iellow-ci!izens and discuss before them, upon all proper occasions, any one or all of those great questions ot public policy which have agi;ated the public mind, and divided the AInerican people, since tke formation of the Government. and fear will N1AA4i9d1 u AlNtAC ts eAS AAa+E sttfs NO-NNsS racy shall remain. But of very large portion of pleasure, experienced upon other occa- sions, am upon this deprived for the want of time fer reflection, so important in the investigation of any subject.
 Gentlemen, the people of the United States differ radically, totally, fundamentally, in fe- lation 10 many great questions They differ honestly too. They differ as 10 the power of Congress, under the Constitution, to char ter Bank of the United States. They differ as to the power of Congress to carry on general system of Internal Improvements within the chartered limits of the States. They differ as to the power of Congress 10 pass Tariff law, and make protection sub stantive principle of legislation They diff fer in relation to the act passed at the extra session of Congress, 184l. ''commonly call ed the distribution act" They differ upon the subject of the late bankrupt law. They differ as to what is the proper construction of the Constitution of the United States Upon all these questions the people differ totally, radically, fundamentally. There is one subject, however, about which the great mass of the people, south of Mason and Dixon's line, do not differ. That is, that the principles and policy of the old Federal ists were radically wrong. That cur fathers repudiated, rejected and condemned those principles, as being inconsistent with the genius and spirit of the government, and dangerous to the public liberty. This is the subject to which wish to call your attention for as hort time, in order to see who 1t Is that is advocating those principles.
 If, gentlemen, 1t should appear, from a fair investigation, that the Democratic party are advocating the principles that so emi- nently distinguished the FcderaiiSt5 from the Republicaas in the beginning of the govern ment, as well as in l738-99 and 1900, then II will be your duty to forsake that party and go to others possessing different principles. Upon the other hand if il should appear that the LEADERS of the Whig party are adyocat- ing identically the principles the old Federal ists did, it will be equally your duty to reject those ifaders, and come into the Democratic party in support of those great principles, of the rights of man, established by the revo- lutionary conflict, and subsequently ingrafted into the constitution of the country.
 When the revolutionary war had been brought to a close, and peace reigned in all parts of the country, it became neGessary, to perpetuate the principles for which our fathers fought, to form a more perfect government than existed under the articles of coniedera- ton. For this purpose a convention was called. Immediately aller il met, to the as tonishment of the American people, as well as the lovers of liberty throughout the world, two great antagonist parties made their ap- pearance. One party owing, no doubt, to an ardent attachment to the British form of go- vernment, contended for Constitution that would elect the President of the United States for life-elect the Senators in Congress for life-yopr Judges for life; and all your officers for long periods, in order to remove the government from the control of the peo- pie. They declared this indispensably ne- cessary, because the people were not virtuous and intelligent enough to govern themselves These were the principles of the Federal party in the convention. The other party contended, that no officer should be elected for llfe-that the tenure of office should be for short periods; and that strict account should be rendered to he people by the off, Ger for the manner in which he had exercised the delegated trust con6ded to him. They contended, that in the hour of danger, when the clouds of diversity were gathering thick ening, dark ening, and ready to burst and sweep from existence all ages, sexes and conditions, that the people, ea masse, rallied to the stand ard of the country. They fought her battles maintained her honor and her interest and secured peace and independence to all portions of the country-lhat they were vir- tuous and intelligent enough to govern them- selves--that it was their right 10 do so, and it should be secured to them. These were the princiciples of the Democratic Republ- can party in the eenyention. Upon the issue