Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-05
DAILY WHIG.
"Democratico Principles.

In an elaborate address ito the people," review
ing the events Of the year that has elapsed since
his removal from Richmond to preside over the
Executive Organ, the Editor Of the Washington
Union congratulates himself that he has labored
with honesty and singlepess of purpose to sup
port 'the true prncipl of the ancient and we'll
established democratic creed. We are not dis
posed to question either his zeal his ability in
the vindica,ion Of every Erecutipe recommended
fon and If that be, from the events Of the last
sixteen years we may leg5mately infer, the test
of modern democracy, it is impossible to doubt
his fidelity to the great priucipie-submission to
Executive diciation-which constitutes the lead
ing feature of the creed of the party which has
cunningly appropriated to itself a popular appel
laton, TO the influence Of which, in despite of the
appropriately of many of its measures, it is indebt-
ed for its repeated triumphs.
"The true principles Of the ancient and WELL
established democratic creed" What are they 7
We are aware that certain cabalistic terms are
in vogue among our opponents, to which they will
refer us, with triumphant air, as an answer to
this question-such as "Revenue Tariff" .divorce
of Bank and State" "strict construction" and the
like. But whose mind is so obtuse as not TO see
that these phrases, though constituting the shib-
boleth of the party, have practically no clear and
well defined Specification In reference to the
Tariff, the very scheme Just introduced into the
House of Representatives, as an Administration
measure, violates throughout the definition of
Revenue Tariff given by the Address of the Vir-
ginia Democratic Convention held in this city in
le43, and which has since been reiterated times
without number by recognized leaders and organs
of that party And, even thus modified, 1t is adj
mitted to be questionable whether the Administra-
lion party, overwhelming as is its ascendancy in
the House of Representatives. and decisive ms is
its msiority in the Senate, will be able 10 consum
mate the overthrow of the existing system. How
happens this, If indeed tariff discriminating
alone for revenue and against protection be, as
the Union asserts, one of the "true principles al
the ancient and ,oe established democratic creedl"
Is il not rather, because il is innovation upon
abe uniform policy of the Government since its
foundation-n policy which, looking to the deve-
iopment OF our national wealth and power, by the
protection afforded to national industry, received
the sanction and approval of Washington, Adams,
Jefferson Madison and Monroe, embracing the
whole line of Revolutionary Presidents, and en-
phaticaly the Fathers of the Constitution,-to say
nothing OF their successors, Gncluding Jackson
and Van Buren,, the apostles of modern democra-
Cyl all of whom without exception, unless the
present Chief Magistrate constitute that eXcep-
ZION, were avowedly, their written opinions and
votes demonstrate, in favor of Protective Tariff
THIS "prnciple," therefore, is neither ''anclent"
nor ''wel established" 1t is, on the contrary.
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policy as old as the Government itself-a policy
under the benign effects Of which this Republic,
which hut yesterday was in the swaddng, clothes
of infancy has rapidly acquired HerculeaD
stature aGd strength, and has been enabled to take
its position among the leading Powers of the
world--if not the first, soon to assume that rank,
unless her energies be tettered and cramPed by
the injudicious legislation oftsose who would 60
to Birmingham and Leeds, rather than 10 Lowell
ard Pittsburg, for Ploughs to till the SOIL and for
garments to clothe the laborers who cultivate il.
Still less can it be even plausibly pretended
that the idea of 'divorcing Bank and State" by
the ests blishment of Sub. Treasury, in which the
surplus revenues of the Government are to be
locked up, (thOugh, by the way, under their "re-
venue system," deficiency rather than a surplus
is to be apprehended) is one of the "true princi-
piles of the ancient and LoeH eStdbliSIed democrat.
ic creed" We need only refer to the files Of the
Richmond Enquirer, nine years ago, then con-
Quoted by the present Editor Of the Union, TO
show. that so far from being entitled to be so re.
garded, il was at that time denounced by himself
as a dangerous innovation upon the "ancient and
we'll established" principles Of the Republican
creed. Indeed we have some reason to doubt
whether the Editor OF the Union has yet become
n convert to the wisdom and e1pediency Of sys
TEN borrowed from barbarian and despotic govern
ments--lor, in the address to which we have re.
ierred, he touches il as gingerIy as il he were
handling hot iron. "The country" he believes,
''has resolved to adopt it. II toas promulgated as
one Of the important measures Of The baltimore
Contention" But he does not say that he is any
more in favor now, than he was in 1887, of
strengthening, by its adoption, the Executive
power, already too great for a Republic, and
Of adding to lis overgrown patronage - or
that ne wishes 10 see two currencies estal
Iished the better for the Government. md
the more worthless for the people. Confess.
edly, then, this is neither an ancient nor
"weli established" principle, either Of the SIDE
m9cratic" or Of any other creditor although
the Washington Globe, in 1888 pronounced this
nov fvorte measure of the democracy "Coul
federal conception" it thereby grossly slandersd
= party. which, whatever may be the sins Of which
it was guilty, at no time entertained the design Of
separating the government from the people, by
the introduction Of financial system which !.
equally at war with the spirit Of the age and with
the genius Of free government.
"Strict construction" il, we admit, an ancient
and we'll established principle Of the old RepuBli
eau party but, Judging the tree by its fruit, we
are constrained 10 deny tina, the modern democ.
racv, Of which the Union is the metropolitan
organ, has any especial and peculiar right to ar.
ray itself under a banner upon which those words
arc Inscribed. They are, indeed, sufficiently ri.
gid in the Interpretation Of the Constitution when
they would thwau the purposes or impugn the or.
Theology Of thoir opponents. But when they wish
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