Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-07-12
THE DEMOCRACY AND THE FEDERALIsrs.

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confess do not the force Of the objections wn'cn
been urged against the appointment OF man q me- ee''
abilities and high reputation. r-,...ru.l
in Of his opinions and, therefore that ne reslcen'
should not have selected him. But Whatever nv
might have been in the earlier period Of ms me, ye. zen
jackson objection - them 2 ms smpoyns mr
FIRST month Of his administration he appointed him Minister
ito London" &c. Ntt
The above is the beginning Of an article in late
number Of the government paper, in which it has
been thought necessary to account for the appoint
ment Of Mr. McLANE to be Minister of the United
States to Great Britain.
Being of the opinion, which we have already
expressed, that this is judicious appointment and
that the President deserves credit for having dis
crimnated in this instance, between the experience
and satesmanship which qualify for such trusts
and the pretension and presumption which impor-
tunaely demand them, we regret very much that
any thing like an apology to the Democracy for
the act has been deemed necessary or advisable.
II this apology, explanation, had been confined
to the real merits Of the question, we should not
have interposed word, unless in appreciation Of it.
But when the Union would give us to under
stand that it was only in his earliest life + that
Mr.. McLASE was Federalist, or entertained other
than democratic . opinions; and when it is at
tempted, by the mode Of defence against the charge,
to produce an impression that Federalism, early or
late, was ever regarded by Gen. JACKSON, during
the reign Of his power, bar to political advance
ment, or by "the Democracy" which rallies under
his name, as disqualification for admission into its
ranks and to the choice Of the gifts at its disposal,
we feel it to be our duty to vndicate the truth of
history, by establishing the fallacy of these as
symptoms.
Mr.. McLANE never dishonored himself by re-
nouncing the faith of !" his earliest life The
opinions of his youth he entertained in the prime
and vgor of his life, and manfully avowed them
when the occasion called for it. One Of those, out
bursts of proud and generous spirit we well re-
member 1t was in the discussion which occurred
in the House Of Representatives of the United States
in February, 1925, the question of counting the
Electoral votes with open or closed doors-Mr Nc
LANE advocating the latter course as conformable
toprecedent, and Gen. HAMILTON, of South Carolina
Directing to it as Federal precedent-that Mr.
McLANE came gaIlantly to the rescue, as follows:
mr. McLAsB expressed his regret that any thing
tendency to revive animose which, for the happiness Of
the country ought never to be disturbed But he said, If
this subject was to be introduced he willing meet the
gentleman from South Carolina The precedent he had
feed to was precedent in party tines and Of the Fed
em party But (sad Mr. McLane does not because is
precedent of the Federal party, to with less title
torespecs Ia this the only precedent of that party Il is
the precedent Of party, says the gentleman capable Of
acting the alien and sedion laws. True, Is and is the
precedent Of party which organized this Government which
put it motion after building up and established the policy
which, wisely cheed, had made this nation, at this day,
prosperous home and respected abroad II the precedent
of that administration WAsHrseross to the wisdom Of
arhich time, mhic tries al things, firing its SEAL 1t is
precedent Of the party that established the Judiciary
built no the navy created army and laid the foundations
Of the system Of national defence which has afforded to
security at home and protection abroad After copying from
that party all these measures Of national glory and pros
Derifu why will not the hoponbe gentleman receive from it
also this precedent which has the motives and the
great objects in view In ali other The Federal party
coasued the true interests Of The country, and thar ea-
sures iceys calculated 10 subsere them Il has been folly to
adopt diem In the brought into precedent, they
had the same objects in view and the gentleman will find, it
he adopt their policy in this respect also, he will reap the
fruits Of this he has done Of other pecdents set by them
Register of Debates, poL |, p. 400.
Again, in the same debate, in reply to Mr.. Me-
DuFrrE, who also had referred disparagGgly to the
Federal party
"Mr McLASR said he could not conclude his remarks
without some notice Of another topic Of the gentsmen from
South Carolina, (Mr McDuYrIE, to which he wished he
could have been spared the duty Of adverng toe
reply which that gentlemen had given to the precedent Of
1901 which he (r Nc had, former occasion, called
"a the attention of the House. 1t had been summary and
violently denounced because had emanated from the old
Federal party Mr.. McLAsr remarked that what he said
on former OCCASION this subject would make
sary for him say much He was not 50 weak
at this time Of day upon grave and arguena-
tive defence Of the Federal party he well knew was not
to be defended by speeches OK Of this House II would
have TO rely Tor M defence upon The sodog and poriety Of
is works, 70 Which NE general state Of national hap
pnes and the cool judgment Of posfery fast e6ixing
their SEAL To the survivors Of that parry IL be
of proud satisfaction to witness the Wisdom Of its policy daily
trumphng the bissre prsudcea while those who bad
disappeared from the stage had passed 10 higher reward
He could but lament however, the disposition occasionally
manifested 10 keep aUe those DID aa,nosifies Il was INF
cient to satisfy him that the party was not dead but
secpng and not sound but that and then would
rouse up and shake his gsy He had not altogether
distrussd the promise hat IN the present day. some Hcus
would appear to rid Of this monser with heads than
the Lennsn Of DID, and he sncersy hoped tha after this
labor should be achieved he should continue Be wssnd
ed by the arrows Of the conqusro fatal than oss
dipped in the gall Of the ancient Hydra Of De-