The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-28
WINGS AND FEDERALISTS.

The Union. some days since, declared it's in
tenton OF doing, VIVA, we have long since urged
as matter of duty, that in speaking of our no.
iillca opponents they should be called Federal
ists-not in spirit of reproach, or contempt, but
as true distinguishing title, descriptive of their
principles and policy. To this de termination the
Richmond whg papers particularly object, and
our friends of the Republican facetiossIy reply TO
the Union and deny that the Federal party are
now in existence, having become defunct some
twenty years ago. The Republican well knows
how closely Identified in principle and INTEN
TON is the present wing party with the old
Federal party. ADD in that paper of Thursday VIC
find very lpcd paragraph setting forth the po-
were wanting that these two parties are the same
1t might be found in the closing paragraph of the
article now before us, where it looks to the er-
pressed opinions of The Representatives in Con-
gress. instead of 10 the expressed letter of the
constitution, which has always been favorte
doctrine with the Federalists, and We snpoose
these gentlemen would point to the efforts of Mr.
Clay. and others, To destroy the VETO, as another
pronf Of their democracy
Just returned to our labors, we do not feel in
working order 10 pursue the subject, and there.
lore make use OF The following, extracted from
the speech Of the Hon. WILLIAM SMITH. uttered
in 1843, at public dinner given him by the peo-
pie of Madison. Such as Federalism is therein
depicted, is the wing party now.
The complex system Of Governments, with
which our enlightened ancestors have supplied us.
| ia vii in he &
the trial that we have given it, | am sure. il will
he allowed, by large majority Of the American
people, that II Is the best system ever devised Ia
secure public liberty and prnmOte personal bappi-
ness. Bot as powerful party originally object.
ed 20 IT, as too weak. and have perseverinolv on
deavored, by construction and indirecfion. Ia
remove that objection and enlarge lis Mowers
thus endeavoring to accomplish what they could
not originally do, by direct and open eforls-it is
obviously orr duty to watch ov and preserve
the system from innovation and change, with a
vigilance that never tires. To do this with the
more effect, IT was early deemed important by our
Republican fathers to avow certain opinions
widely spread them among the people, and deep.
| ly implant them in The public mind, as great
principles never 10 be forgotten or abandoned. -
The first Of these, in importance as in truth, is
that which declares, The authority Of Consti.
! tuilons over Governments. and Of The soveIeipnty
ct the people over Constitutions And the sec
nnd, that which lays down, that the powers Of The
! Federal Government are derived from the Con.
stiiuion, and that the Constitution is compact
TO which the States are parties" If these prin-
clpIes are great trotbs, as | conceive them 10 be
then il is plain, that if the powers exercised By
| the Federal Government "be valid, it is solely
! because they are graDted-and If the granted
powers are valid because granted; al other powers
| not granted, must net be valid"--that - when
i ovo thnra
coostitUtionalmy Of a particular power. the frs
question is, whether the power be expressed ir
The Constitution If it he, the question is de.
cided-ff it be not expressed, the next enquiry
must be, whether il is properly an incident to an
! express power and necessary to its execution. n