Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-01-21

lof the wisest and most patriotic msn of
the nation, for the purpose Of forming
a constitution, to be adopted BY the
States. Of tt."ege Z iis ssr ga.
This convention met at PhiIadelphis;
Asmight be anticipated in SO pumerous
ia body, representing the fcelihgs and
diversified interests Dc the thirteea
States. aunanimity upon all thesab;ssss
and details did not at firstlexist. The.
independence of the country had been
achieved; but unless form of govern.
ment should be adopted, that would
unite the States, and concentrate their
resources, there was no reason to ex-'
pect that America would gain any thing
by having anarchy instead ofdesp po,isni.
In this convention there were three
plans of government advocated. Some
writers have denominated their sever.
al advocates so many parties; but to-
infer that there were parties in the con.
vention because of a difference of opin.
ion is wrong. All its members, at
least, with few exceptions, were the
warm supporters Of the constitution
which was formed, though in every
particular it did not coincide with all
their previous predictions.
There were few who were in "a
vor of abolishing all the State govern
ments, and establishing over the whole
country limited monarchy, with we'll
defined restrictions.
There were some who desired TO
create, what they termed, strong gov
eminent, by having Senate with
members during good behavior, and
President for life.
Others, again, advocated extreme
democratic principles, which were as
inimcal 10 the welfare of the country,
as the former are to the liberties of The
people.
In every respect the constitution is a
compromise of the opinions ofthe mem.
| bers of the convention, Of the interests
I Of the sections Of the Union, and of the
j States.
e Mr.. Hamilton, to whom the country
? owes debt of gratitude, was in favor
! Of giving the Executive more power,
=. and that he should hold his office for
life; and the Senate during good be.
I havior. But when he found that these
J views did not meet with the approb.-
tion Of the convention, he waived his
own cherished opinions, and was the
champion of the constitution. in the
convention of New York, which met
to take into consideration its adoption,
The constitution, when presented to
the people for approval, received from
some warm opposition. 1t required,
therefore, all The influence and talents
ofits friends to secure its adoption in the
respective State conventions.
Those who opposed it were not the
monarchists; but the democratic portion
of the community; and those who were
jealous to preserve the State govern
ments. They thought in that instru-
ment there was conferred to the depart
ments ofthe Federal government too
much power: that the central govern
ment would in time overshadow and
absorb the State governments. Those
who supported these views were a nus
i. merous and respectable portion ofthe
= = people.
Those who were in favor OF the con-
sttution were called the Unionist, or
. the Federal party.
After the constitution was adopted
and the State governments organizes
in accordance with it; the people, un-
|; der Washington, were united into one
party; and that was the Federal party,
> but after John Adams came into pow
er, the term Federal was no longer
general, but limited, by his friends ap-
propriating it to themselves; and forc-
ing arbitrarially the term Democratic
on Mr.. Jefferson and his friends. Fed
eral was then an honorable cognomen
and coveted and adopted by the Adams
party; the same as Wing is now by
one party; and Democratic was consid.
cred stigma, the same as Loco Foco
at the present time. The Adams par ;
ty wore this name until it became a
disgrace; and the Jeffersonian party
retained the title Of Democratic until It
became honorable.
AS John Adams and his party be-
q came unpopular, the term Federal did
also; and this party ceased to exist. af-
. ter the war, under Monroe's adminiss
tration. A Il the various parties, when
John Q. Adams was elected; and when
: Jackson was elected the first time,
pretendedlto advocate and profess the
principles of Jefferson; and called them1
selves Democratic.
But duringdJackson's administration
the principles and >measuresof his op-
ponents, in their tendency, were simi-
lar to the elder Adams party; and the