The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-05-06
The Government under Federal and
a9i..D Democratic Rule, ,ae Il

|
On the 4th day Of March next, this
government will have beenin existence
sixty years-forty.eight Of it under
Democratic rule, and twelve years un-
der the rule Of federalism, and it is a
fact, OF which the Democracy may well
boast, that the great problem Of mans
capability for self government has been
solved under Democratic rule. ....
History teaches US that while pros
perity has attended the country--that
while j, was making rapid and gigantic
strides to greatness and to power, its
destiny was guided by Democratic
hands. ........ ..........-
| During the Administration Of the ell.
der Adams from 1897 10 1901, (when
Mr.. Jefferson took the helm OF the State)
the first blow was struck at free prin-
clples. The alien and sedition laws
which will forever remain foul blot
upon theiescutcheon offederaIism were
passed intc laws. BY the former, the
President possessed the Kingly attri.
butte Of ordering any alien he chose,
from the country, and furnishing him by
imprisonment,ithe he refused d-and by the
latter, the freedom of the press and of
speech were annihilated, for the time
being, by its provisions, which punish
ed as sedition every thing said deroga-
tory o. the President, his cabinet or
any member Of Congress. The polili-
cal storm, which whired the elder Ad-
ans from power, caused these laws to
be repealed, and Democracy, years af-
ter, restored to the heirs of Matthew
Lyon, the money forced from him by a
prosecution under the infamous law, to
punish freedom of speech as sedition.
For twenty-four years, dating from
| 1901 to 1925, under the successive ad.
ministration of Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe, the country remained under
democratic rule. In 1925, the second
great blow was struck at free prnc-
pies, and an honest government. By
a minority Of the popular vote, and by
a minority Of the votes in the electoral
college, John Quincy Adams, in def
ance of tire popular will clearly axpres-
sed, was elected President Of the Uni.
ted States. Now is not the proper
time--nor this running sketch the pro.
per place to review the testimony given
to prove the bargain and sale between
two candidates, sworn and bitter enc
mics, by which one was made Presi.
dent by the other--he in turn giving
the other the first Office in his gift
The charges and proofin the case, have
passed into history. In the campaign
into which we are entering, they may
be reviewed; but that depends upon
the action of the federal National Con
vention. ms...e - 7a''aa sta
In the triumphant election of Genoa
Jackson, that fraud was rebuk edits
authors punished, and democracy agair
governed this Republic, and governed
it wisely and we'll until March 1871.
In 1870, the third great blow wa:
aimed at Republican government by the
leaders of the federal party. Wic
with excitement, and thirsting after the
spoils Of office, as a tiger thirsts fol
blood, the federal party boldly embla
zoned upon their banner, the infamou;
avowal, "WE sroop TO CoNaUER;" anc
stoSp they did. Mock log cabins were
made to take the place Of argument
hard cider The place ofreason, and amid
bacchanalian revels Of that yearly
the promise of ''lwo dollars a day anl
roast beef'--by coaxing, caiolement
and threats, and more than all, by {
studied concealmen! of principles, ane
an avowal Of those they never enter
tanned, a majority was found, sufficien
to elect the federal candidates. Scarce
was federalism seated in power, before
the conglomerate mass, made up of fac
tions and the fag ends Of factions-en
tertaining principles of governmental
! policy wide asunder as the poles, begar
TO show its own rottenness and perfdy,
The mass fell to pieces, and in the cam
| paign of 1844 federalism was. rebuked
and the wrongs inflicted upon the coun
Try in 184O were righted. Such is q
| rapid glance at the government since
the retirement of its first President.
! Under Democratic rule, the west.not
. wthstanding the stern and bitter oppo
sition OF the federal leaders, has grown
and strengthened, until il holds large
share Of the infuenc in the nationa
councils. jas79 ga5 .l s..
! During the war of 1912, from the
time General Cass first pressed with
hostile tread the territory OF the enemy
and drew :he first blood that was drawn
in that eventful struggle, at the Aux
Canards, until the time that General
Jacksons finished the war in q blaze o
glory at New Orleans, the country was