The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-11-09


We think that few words this subject will explain
many things in our recent political history, which might
otherwise be nexplicabe, and throw light on many lea
lures OF wing policy which are shrouded IN darkness
To do this 1T is not necessary to farther back than the
contest between Gen. Jackson and John Quincy Adams
The northern States, having nothing 10 fear from the
overshadowing strength OF the federal government, be-
they could, in emergency, WELD that strength
for their ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or protection, commended
for that construction of the constitution which gave the
largest powers to the general government That con
sruction latitudnous, that it made the States
but little more than departments OF consolidated en-
pire. Whatever Congress in its wisdom might think
proper to enact the President 10 approve, and the
Supreme Court 10 sanction as necessary and proper,
the federal party contended, established a prece-
dent as binding clause OF the constitution When
the legislative and executive departments had made
law, exercised power, or acknowledged a prln.
cple, and the Supreme Court appointed by the federal
government had decided the law thus made, the power
thus exercised the principle thus acknowledged was
not violation of the constitution, the question for
ever seted-as much So if the decision nerpoa-
ted i'll the constitution The Supreme Court might, per-
haps, ovelue its decisions and that was the only method
in which the Interpolation could be stricken from the
original constitution Neither the people nor their repre-
senatves could do anything but suffer patiently and in 81
lence They might repeal the law but the principle
established and beyond their control This party known
the federal party, regarded John Quincy Adams its
exponent and rallied around him its leader 1t found
It's chief il not its entire effective strength in the northern
States and believe that the correct of this fact
is given above The northern States cared but little for
the overshadowng power which might be given by I'M
pcaton to the federal government, because they could,
when necessity required, use that power for their own
advantage.
The southern States-the weaker portion Of the coned-
eracy-hed different doctrine. They contended that
the States of the Union were free and sovereign States
and that the general government was nothing but an
agency established by them for their benefit, bound and
iettered by strict construction OF the constitution
which alone gave it authority. They held the re-
served rights of the States TO be sacred, and re-
CURED that Congress could ghtfuly exercise power
which not granted by the constitution, necessary
and proper to carry into effect some one of the granted
powers. And they further held that these incidental
powers were not intended to embrace substantive powers
OF great and ovelshadowng Importance towering above
the expressly granted power TO which It was con-
the principles OF the Stae-righs party OF the south
the party of the people-the party which gave prac-
teal force and effect to the theory OF popular SOW
reignty-the party which denied the sovereignty of
the general government, and its power to give
hOritatve interpretations to the constitution of the Uni
ted States, and alter that instrument by forced mpca
tons and latuCinous constructions These two parties
the federal and the bcan-whose Leading features
we have hastily sketched convused the country for
many years. In 1924, Henry Clay, who had been a
prominent member of the latter deserted his standard
and took service in the ranks of the former under John
Quincy Adams This detection gave the victory TO the
ederasts but it short-ived In 1928, the repub-
party rallied under General jackson, and hurled the
coalition from power, with every mark of popular ndgna
ton The federal party was, of course, thrown into the
opposition. The administration of Gen Jackson and OF
his successor Mr. Van Buren, gave offence to many The
proclamation, the force BILL the specie circular the
mova of the depostes, the treasury the arrangement
of the currency and the plan for increasing military
establishment, each drove many from the republican
ranks These left at different times and for different
reasons, and of course had but little in But
all of them, like the federaists of the north hated
the administration. To give effect 10 that hatred and
make their opposition of any avail, they 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 all that it meant until after
the election of Gen Harrison in 1910. Up to that time
do not remember any attempt even TO lay down wing
creed The Harrisburg convention made no such attempt
for knew that the attempt would be frivolous in the
extreme. The sagacity of the wing leaders ntrust-
ed with the task of asceraning the temper of the people
in their respective States and making such issues as
would be most available The campaign OF 1910 was
conducted this principle. Gen. Harrison was made
TO be "a bank man or an anti-bank man, tariff man
or an anti tariff man. as the people OF Massachusetts
desired effect, and the whig party was placed in
power by large majority Then came the necessity
for political creed The ship of State under whig
crew were by no means unanimous. A violent contest
ensued. The helm could not be wresed from MIR. Tyler
but the Clay and Adams party succeeded in carrying
majority of the wing party with them, and committing
them to the principles advocated by the northern wings
who were formerly styled federalisis This made the
whg party essentially northern party and SO i remains
at the north. Had it been elsewhere. different Scene
would have been presented at the extra session, and
different scene would be presented at the present time
This fact explains some curious events, to which we wish
the southern people.
The bulk OF the wing party being at the north it fol-
lows, 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 unequivocally the which
actuae them Then, but one Of two alternatives is pre-
scented to the southern wings. They either yield
northern dctaton or be annhilaed They have hereto
fore taken the former and have yielded their support
advanced by the north for which nearly
every southern man disavows. They make the best ex-
cuse they can--excuses which, instances their
northern leaders laugh at. The northern wings wanted
bank, and justified such institution by latitude
nous and federal Interpretation of the constitution.
This forced the southern wings to advocate a
bank too; and Immediately the cunning of their
right hands employed in making it appear that
bank was consistent with strict construction of the
constitution, and republican measure The north
em wings advocated tariff for protection, and avowed
and higher profits to their manufacturers. AS
decency would permit, hear the southern wings cry
ing loudly Tor aprotectve tariff they had done
for free trade but they could not stand the northern
sons for they unpopular IN the south, and they
had to justify themselves by the absurd plea that high
would rebound 10 the benefit of the agrcuturst The
northern wings opposed the annexation of Texas and
avowed that their course that behalf founded in
their hostility slavery The southern wings had to take
anti annexation ground that they might cooperate
with their allies beyond Mason and Dixons line. This
tlty to the treaty when presented, and friend
ship for it when the JOINT resolution brought for
ward, and anon denying that Texas indie
pendent--a fact which one had before questioned
but Mexico. These the past offences OF the
southern whigs-ohences which they have commit
ted, because they have suffered themselves to be led
and driven by their northern allies, who rule their
ram des Rutth lie all he wi