New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-10-07
Parties and PrincipIes.'

Parties and PrincipIes.'
Under this title we embodied some weeks since
levy considerations which seemed TO important IN
rcply to the letter Of A True Working Man,
which had claimed for our political opponents the
credit Of being exclusive or especial friends OF Free
dom Of Progress and Of Equal Rights we nave
lust received another letter from our correspondent
which we have not yet time to examine, but winch
we shall review if we find any thing new IN H.
Meantime there is a Loco Feco paper published at
seneca Falls. ~ Y, under the title Of Democrat,
which has been for time engaged in writing q,
the Tribune without sending us its attacks aud
which has made our article above named the text for
rather more substantial foray than it has succeeded
in making in any other instance that has fallen under
our notice We shall therefore pay our respects to
this
The Democrat presumes that
1T will no, be denied that in the organization Of par.
ties n s,s meant something One party was then called
the 'Democraiic'-be other the Federal Men then
divided principles and for principles and openly pro
claimed their views The Democratic Party was 'hsh
democratic in n purely political sense-they desired
Government by the People, which is the political den
milton Of Democracy
Our critic il as mistaken in his facts az in his logic
In the first organization in this country, under orr
present form of Government there was no party
called Democratic The party which resisted the
adoption Of the Constitution was first called Ant
Federal. but took the appellation of Repabi'-
oan The name Democrat was first applied to it
as term Of reproach by its opponents 10 imply
community of feeling and purpose between II and
the French Democrats of the Reign OF Terror. 1t
was but slowly and reluctantly assumed by success
sive sections Of the party bu, even now the name
Democratic is generally eschewed in Virginia aud
other portions Of the South. So much for that point
Yet the Democrat proceeds;
The present Democratic party has. from its organ
ration the present urac. subscribed to the same a
Giles ~ faith aud preserved its and organization in
an unbrokcn succession This the highest evidence OF
title II combines the evidences of grant, prescription
and possession
Ifthese premises were true il would TO those
who know how parties change and power cor
r,pts, afford very slender and doubtful evidence
in support OF the conclusion. Tories when in pow
er-W higs when on, Of it,, il a dry old maxim
founded ON ample observation The evidence Of
Pedigree is never reliable in proof ,of fidelity to
Principle Say not to yourselves We have Abra
ham to our father is an old and most impressive
sdmonilion. But it is not true that either the name
or organization of the party now claiming to be
Democratic can be traced back in unbroken
ccssion' to the Jeflcrsonian party of '9s. Mr. Mon.
roe when elected President, was counseledby Gen.
Jackson that Now is the time to cxtcrminate the
monster Party Gen. Jackson was himself dc
nounced when first candidate for President in
1924, by the Richmond Enquirer, Albany Argus
New Hampshire Patriot, and other leading organs
OF what was hen orthodox Democracy. possess
ing no feeling in common with the Republican par
iy" Among his earliest supporters were many of
the leading Fedcralists of the elder time, including
the Vrooms. Walls &c of New Jersey che Bucha
mons Mullins Hcmphills, Nc. of pcnnsy lvania. the
Chiilcndens of VI Francis Battles OF Mass Ac. &c
When Gov. Van Ness of Vermont turned over 10
Jackson in ls27-s he appealed expressly to the old
Federal party to unite in supporting Jackson rs one
known 10 be adverse to reviving old party dislinc
tons and certain To- treat them well their for
mer opponents The sequel proved that they wers
81 treated Many of his most honorable appoint
ments were made from the old Federal ranks-wt
ness Roger h. fancy, Louis McLane, James Blu
chanan w illiam Wilkins, James A. Hamilton, DC.
&c
nut Inc democrat
lie, us look st some other tests Democracy is e
Government, by the people. Universal sufrageis
dinsl principle OF Democracy snd this has been
boon conferred upon the People 10y the Democratic
" and generally opposed At frs, 10y the other party"
Here are more bunders. 1t is historically true
that ALEXANDER HAMILTON Protessed Unirers0l
Sssrage IA the Contention rhich framed me pres
ent Federal Constellation. in lss7-beforc any State
party had adopted the principle. Col Hamilton
proposed that the Federal House of Representative
shoald be chosen by the votes of every freeman
twenty one years of age but in this he was over.
ruled On the other hand Virginia the fountais
and pattern of party Democracy. has not estab.
hshsS Unirersai Sggraee 10 Mis day. In that
State whose politics were shaped and whose des,i.
nies were so long controlled by jefferson and Nsdi.
son. rich man can vote in a. many counties as he
owns Real Estate in while man destitute of prop.
erty land no, the son OF a Frcehodcrl cannot ro'e
at ALL The Constitution of Tennessee. framed in
1896 by Convention almost or quite wholly of the
JciFersonan Republican party, including Andrew
jackson who signed III prescribes tina, no person
shall be eligible to the Office of Governor unless he
owns 500 acres Of lsnd 10 the Legislature unless
he owns 200 acres. We might multiply these citS.
tions-but to what end The man who can call
south Carolina in any real sense Democratic State
and Vernon, something opposed to Democratic.
can o. easily call white black or ice red.hot
The Democrat farther expaiiaies -
Equal representation is equally Democratic meas
ure; but for attempting 10 establish Universal susrsce
and Equal Representation in Rhode Island Dom Was
Imprisoned and the whole whig party cried Amen
Our critic here passes from the falsehoods Incl
den, to his mperec, information to those uttered in
malice and wickedness Dorr was not Imprisoned
for attempting to establish universal suffrage and
equal representation. but for making that s,,emp,
through revolutionary violence aud treason. When
constitution largely extending the suffrage had
besn legally framed. before any overt act of VIC.
bucc and treason was committed he instigated his
followers 70 vote It down at the polls, and thus
throw Tie Government, back upon the old charter
We bad ill that time been long and earnestly favor
able to Free Constitution for Rhode Island; but
We could not approve this or the subsequent con.
duct Of Dor Co. Il was just ~ now with regard
p ths Aasi Rent excitement We earnestly desire