The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-07-29
WOODSFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, JULY %, fs4s

Vulnerable blessings which democratic
laws, administered by democratic hands,
have impaired 10 the grea: people Of
America. Cheers. Whence arises
this word democratS II means The
government Of the people. Who is its
antagonistin this country, and whence
arose that antagonists Its antagonist
is Federalism, and il arose in the very
birth oi the government--whiIst il was
yet struggling for life. II arose in the
convention that framed the constitution
under which we live, and il sprang forth
from the genius Of a man whose nume
you will all comprehend in the words
Alexander Hamilton. [Cheers.] dTha.
statesman was a reader Of history, and
he had seen, through the medium OF
history, the human race struggling, for
century after century, to obtain and
enjoy civil freedom recognized by law.
These States had lately achieved their
Independence. General Hamilton did
not believe that the people could be
rendered sufficiently intelligent, suffi-
GENTLY thoughtful, and sufficiently wise,
to be entrusted with the sole and un.
bridled power oftlaw-making. He,
therefore, suggested in that convention
that the powers Of government should
be assimllated as closely as practicable
in its organization to those Of Great
Britain. He openly dec!ared-for he
was bold man-that the rich and the
well.born had the righ, TO make law,
and enforce it, too, upon the mass OF
the poorand needy. That is the prime
foundation Of the divisions which now
hold good in this Union, and which
keep large portion Of your fellow
townsmen from this meeting tonight.
Mr.. Jefferson, and the other illustrious
men of that convention, held different
opinions. They thought that the peo.
Pile, having no inducements to do wrong,
having SO great an inducement 10 do
right; and dhaving so large mass of in.
telligence, acquired in the discussion Of
the; principles ofthe revelation; having
SO vast game TO play for; that they
had acquired, and did possess, and had
the wisdom 10 retain, intelligence and
virtue suficient'to govern themselves.
.[Cheers,] These last IDEAS prevailed,
and the federal constitution, starting
out with maintaining the sovereignty Of
the States as essential to the civil lib
erty, of. the misunderstanding to itself,
by delegation from the States, a few
limited and exactly enumeratedpowers
1.-The government went into operation
under the lead Of Washington, who for
eight years conducted The government.
The nation remained one undivided
mass. the popular confidence in that
great man was such, that as TO him
there was no divisisn Of sentiment d.
mong the American people. But TO-
wards the close of his administration,
the ideas which Gen. Hamilton sought
to incorporate inlhe constitution Of the |
United States were revived, and sought |
to be covertly introduced through the
medium Of insiduous legislation. In the
contest OF 1895, Mr.. Adams the elder
was elected President; and now, my
fellow-citizens, ] have come to the
point where it is important that you fix
your eyes steadily, to understand much
that have to say ,ifl shall have strength
10 say it, before close.
The democratic and federal parties
were formed towards the close Of Gen.
Washington's administration; and in
The first struggle, before the democratic
party had 60. fairly organized, ,Mr.
Adams The elder was elected President.
So that the present whig palty,(a part
# whom are Of the, old federal stock,
ind who have inherited old federal
orinciplesD took date from that admin.
stration. Here, in response 10 a
voice in the crowd, which the reporter
lid not distinctly hear, Mr.. "A. said:
There are two divisions in the whig |
,arty, which shall notice ID order
hat all may fully comprehend the dif.
erence when name them.] Adams
vas ,,ihe first whig President, because
{ our presen: wings have a right to re-
ain his principles and call themselves |
Shigs, he would have right, retaining
he same principles, to cali himself q +,
vhig. And now we will get taste Of /
whig doctrine from his administration.
There were two laws which became
conspicuous during that I'D
ninistration. The one was 4 law de- I,
igned to act alone upon foreigners +
he Irish, the Germans, the French, the
people not born within the
limits OF the United States. That law
Enabled the President to arrest a man
,ot only without triol mt only w;tho,,t