Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-11-05
Friday Morning, November 5. ls47.
THE COMPOSITION OF THE WING
PARTY.


will explain many things In our recent poii'lcal
history, which might Otherwise be ine4pEcaole'
and throw ligh, on many features OF Wing poll
on which are shrouded in darkness. To do this,
:, is not necessary 10 go farther back than the
contest between General Jackson and John
Quincy Adams The Northern States having
nothing 10 fear from the overshadowing strength
Of The Federal Government, because they couio'
in an emergency, WELD that strength Tor lne'r
own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or protection, con'enueu ioi
that construction OF the Constitution winch gave
the largest powers TO the General Government
Tho, construction was SO latitudinous, that u
made the States but little more than departments
of o consolidated Empire. Whatever Congress
in its wisdom might think proper 10 enact Inc
President to approve, and the Supreme Court to
sanction as necessary and proper, The Federal
nar,y commended, established precedent as olnd-
ing as clause of the Constitution. When The
legislative and Executive Departments nao
made law, or exercised power, or ackno~-
lodged principle, and the Supreme Court ap-
,o;n,ed by the Federal Government had decided
the law thus made, or the power thus exercised,
or The principle thus acknowledged, was mol
violation of the Constitution, the question
was forever settled: as much so as IL The
decision was interpolaled in the Constitution.
The Supreme Court, might, perhaps, ovef'ruie
its decision; and that was the only method IN
which the interpolation could be stricken from The
original Constitution. Neither The people nor
their representatives could do any thing but suffer
patiently and in silence. They might repeal the
law, but the principle was established, and beyond
their control. This party, known as the Federal
parry, regarded John Quincy Adams as its expo
nept. and rallied around him as lis leader. II
found its chief II not its entire effective strength,
in The Northern States; and We believe that The
correc, reason OF this tact is given above. The
Northern States cared but little for the oversha-
downing power which might be given by implica-
ton 10 the Federal Government because they
could, when necessity required, use that power
for their own advantage
The Southern States the weaker portion OF the
coniederacy, held adifferent doctrine. They con-
tended that the States Of The Union were Tree and
sovereign States and that the General Govern.
iuent was nothing but an agency established by
them for their benefit, bound and tetered BY
strict construction OF the Constitution, which
alone gave il authority. They held the reserved
rights of the States TO be sacred, andTequred that
Congress could righlfully exercise no power which
was not granted by the Constitution, or necessary
and proper to carry into effect some one OF the
granted powers. And they further held that these
incidental powers were not intended 10 embrace
substantive powers Of great and overshadowing
importance, lowering above the expressly grant
ed power 10 which il was considered mere Incl
dent and appendage. These were The principles
OF The States Rights parry of The South-,he par
,y OF the people-lhc party which gave practical
force and effect 10 the theory popular sovereign
iy-the party which denied The sovereignty OF The
General Government, and its power 10 give au-
thorita,ive interpretations TO tho Constitution OF
the United States, and alter that instrument by
forced implic atoms and latiIudincus conslruc-
lions. These Two parlies-the Federal and the
Republican-whose leading features we have has
lily skelched, convulsed the country for many
years. In 1924, Henry Clay, who had been
prominea, member cfthe latter, deserted his SIAN
dard, and took service in the ranks OF The former
under John Quincy Adams. This detection gave
the Victory 10 The Feceraisls: but ii was short
lived In 1928, The Republican party rallied
under General Jackson, and hurled the coali-
lion from power, with every mark OF popular
indignation. The Federal party was, Of course,
thrown into the opposition. The administration
OF General Jackson, and Of his successor, Mr..
Van Buren,, gave offence TO many. The Procla-
nation, the Force Bill, the Specie Circular, the
Removal OF the Deposites, the Sub-Treasury, The
arrangement OF The currency, and The plan for IN
creasng our military establishment, each drove
many from The Republican ranks. These men
lett at different times and for different reasons,
and Of course had but little in common. But all
of them, like The Federalists OF the North, hated
The administration. To give effec, to that hatred
and make their opposition of any avail, they were
forced to band together and act in concert. The
FIRST step was TO assume the name OF Wing,
which then meant nothing but opposition This
was all that i, meant until after the election Of
General Harrison in 1910. Up TO that lime we
do not remember any attempt even 10 lay down
a Wing creed. The Harrisburg Convention
Temp, would be frivolous in the extreme The
sagacily OF the Wing leaders was entrusted with
The task OF ascertaining the temper OF the people
in their respective States and making such issues
as would be most available. The campaign OF
1910 was conducted on this principle Genera
Harrison was made 10 be Bank man or an
anti. Bank man, Tariff man or an anti-Tarih
ar Viruinia
were appealed to. This course had the desired
effect, and the Wing party was placed in power
BY large majority. Then came the n cessiy
for political creed. The Ship Stale was un-
der Wing control, and must take some course.-
The officers and crew were by no means uDani-
nous. A violent contest ensued. The helm
could no, be wres,ed from Mr.. Tyler, but the
Clay and Adams party succeeded in carrying
majority OF the Wing party with them, and COM
hitting them to the principles advocated by The
Northern Wings, who were formerly styled Fe-
deralis,s. Thi. made the Wing party essential
ly Northern parry, and SO it remains 10 the pre-
sent day. Almost all OF its effective strength is
at the North. Had il been elsewhere different
scene would have been presented in the Extra
Session, and different scene would be presented
al the present time. This fact explains some GU.
rious events, 10 which we wish TO call public al
tention, more especially The attention the South
ern people.
The bulk OF the Wing party being at The North,
j, follows as matter OF course that the Northern
Wings dictate The policy to be pursued and the
principles TO be sustained. When they state their
policy and their principles, they state uneqaivo-
caly the reasons which actua,e them. Then bull
one OF Two alternatives is presented TO the South
ern Wings. They must either yield to Northern
dictation or be annihilated. They have hereto
fore taken the former, and have yielded their sup
port TO measures advanced by the North Tor rea-