The Arkansas banner., 1845-11-12


 THE VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY REs0LU- l
 TONS OF l798 AND 1799.
 As the REPUBLICAN or DEMOCRATIC PAR ry, in the United States, profess to hold, and be governed by, the doctrines promulgated by the Legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky, during the memorable sessions of 1798-99 and 1799-l800, we take pleasure in mak- ing the following republication of those celebrated and precious Resolutions, in order to supply the members of that party, or as many of them as our circulation will reach, with the recognized and established Text Book of their Political Faith We are par ticularly induced to do this, as we find very few copies exiaut in this part of the Union so few, indeed, that majority of persons, as well those who advocate, as those who ep- pose, these doctrines, seem to have derived all knowledge of them from mere oral tradi- lion; and, in many instances, to have very erroneous understanding of what these doe trines really are.
 And, by way ef introduction, few words of historical rcminiscencc may not be out of place.
 In the month of July, 1798, the Congress of the United States, in obedience to the will of JoHN ADAMS, then President, passed two Acts, ever since, familiarity known as $ Tie .4iicn and Sedaion La1cs" These Acts created much dissatisfaction and alarm in the minds of those Statesmen who regarded the Union of the States as a government of limit ed and specified powers, and contended fer 8 strict construction of the Constitution, ae- cording to its original intent and true mean ing, At the head of these were THOMAS JEFFERSON and JAMES MADISON.
 When the Legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, assembled, in the en- suing fall, each of these bodies took this mo- mentous question under consideration. And each having adopted what were deemed ap- propriaio Resolutions, directed them to be communicated to the governments of their sister States.
 9Ir. Madison drew up the Resolutions ol the Virginia Legislature.
 Mr. Jefferson, hy request, prepared the Be solutions which were adopted by the Legis- laturo of Kentucky.
 Accompanying the Virginia Resolutions T+eGo was an Address 10 the People, setting forth thereasons of thoiradoPtion. This ad- dress, is believed to have been, as well as the Resolutions, from the pen of Mr. Madison.
 When he Legislatures of these two States again assembled, in the fall of 1799, they re- eeived answers from most of their sister States Whereupon, in order to do away with some 5 misconccption o their views and purposes, i'll the original adoption of the Resolutions, to correct much false and dangerous doctrine then abroad in the land, and to enforce still more earnestly and strongly their real senti- ments, the Legislature of Virginia adopted q long and elaborate Report from the pen oi Mr. Madison; and the Legislature of Kentae- ky adoptedan additional Resolution. succinct- ly and poiatedy reterafing the Resolutions of the preceding session.
 The political doctrines set forth in the se- veral documents enumerated, were adopted and proclaimed by Mir. Jefferson, Mir. Madi- son, and their disciples, as the the doctrines of the Rspu5licaa, as contradistinguisbed from the Federal Party-then headed by John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. And this may be considered the true origin of these two partics-or rather the basis of teir re- spectiye and opposing organizations. The Rcpu5Acaas, iascrbing these doctrines upon their banner, selected .Nr. Jc6crsoa as theiy candidate for the Presidency and the Fe3cy- alia's, adopting the latitudinous construction of the Constitution, as indicated in the "tli- en and Sedilion Iaws," rallied around join .4dams, and contended for his re-electon.- The contest was fierce and obstinate one But the Republicans proved victorious, and elected MT. Jefferson From that time, Tho mas Jefferson has been recognized as the Fa- lher of the Republican or Democratic Party. and fhe doctrines of 1.-The yirginia'a and Ken lucky Resolutions of l798-99," have been the established creed of that party. This ex- plains the meaning of a "Jellersonsian Repub- , lican," or what is the same thing "Demo- erat of '98-99.n And should any individual be, at any time, in doubt as to the party re- lations of himself or others, in these Resolu- tions he will find an uuerring touchstone, which will assign to each his true political character.
 VIRGINIA RESOLUTIONS OF 1798. lN THE AIRGLALA Enl-sE OF Dn1 ' z ..-.. 2