Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-03-22
specula,Ions on Parties.

The Philadelphia Ledger OF late date, has
he following article on the subject and princ-
plies Of parties, which il would be well for the
Locofocos to read. The article contains many
facts, bu. which are so carefully told as 10
screen The Locofocos from The odiam which
justly attaches TO Them, ESPECIALLY the Free
Trade portion Of .hem,) as the friends of Brit
ish interests and British prosperity Here il IS:
Federalism.
Some Of the journals lc!l us lha, The "Whig"
party have again attained power, after period
Of hearly hfiy years. This is news TO some
We believe that We know abou, as much of
American history, especially political as any,
body North Of the Tweed, or West of the Se-
vern, or on The Thames aud we are entirely
unable TO discover, in the election of the pres
ent administrations, the success of any party
which has been excluded from power during
tho last fifty years, and much less The success
Of parry W hlch really did exist fifty years ago
Wing party existed during The Revolution,
composed of all men in the Continental Con-
etess and The Conipental army and nary, and
all who supported HE Revolutionary cause
They were called Wings, in conlradstncion
from Tories, the latter term being applied 10
all Who opposed the struggle for independence,
and contended for the continuance of British
rule Each Of these parties disappeared as an
,agonisls, al the close of l7S3, the Wing party
ruling undlspuled. and The Tory party leaving
'he country, or renouncing any distinctive or
ganIzaion or appearance. No parties appeared
afterwards, ull 1897, when the Federal Con-
,rnlion assembled to form Cons stiiullon and
The two parties which arose in that body, and
IN The State Convention 10 which their work
was submitted, were not known as Wings and
Totes. They were known as State Rights
men and Cons,uionalis,s and the first were
most numerous in Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, and the second in South Carolina and
Georgia In The State Conventions, Massa-
chuseis opposed the Constitution. because ii
surrendered TOO much power 10 the Federal gov
erumen,, and adopted it by majority of only
l9 in Convention of 355, Rhode island would
not adoptit at all ill 1890, three years after its
adoption by nine States, the number requisite for
It's operation But Georgia adopted il unani-
mously, and South Carolina by majority of
76 in convention of 222. After the Consti :
tuition went into operation, and the country be-
came somewhat involved in he troubles of The
French revolution, portion of the people ia
vored an enlarged construction of power in he
Federal government These were mostly the
original State Rights men of Massachusetts
and Rhode Island and New York, and were af-
lerwards called Federals,s Another portion
conlended for State Rights, were mostly the
original CoHsl;ulionalisls of the Carolinas and
Georgia, and were afterwards called Repnbli
cans. Subsequently these parties were dis
timely divided in conies, for The Presidency,
the Federalists being led by Mr.. Adams. the
Republicans by Mr.. Jefferson. The Fedora
lists gained the victory in l706, aud the Re-
pahlicans in 800; and the latter retained pow
er uill 1924, the Federalisis disbanding on The
retirement of Mr.. Madison in 1916. During
this whole period Of II years. from 1883 10
1924, Wings and Tories were unknown as par
lies in American politics or if the terms were
occasionally applied The first was given to The
Republicans, and the second 10 the Federalis,s.
After he election Of Mr.. ]. @. Adams in
S25. some Of the jackson men" attempted,
bul unsuccessfuly. 10 revive the distinctions Of
the las, % years, calling themselves Republi-
cans. and the adams men, Federalists. They
found obstacles TO this in the " Jeffersonian
Republicanism" of Mr.. Adams, and the early
Federalism" of Gen. Jackson. After the first
election OF Gen Jackson, he "opposiiion" ra-
lied under The name OF National Republican
ISM" and after his second election, under that
of"Whigs" These "Whigs" were out OF pow
er during eight years, and afterwards gained IL
temporarily in The election of Gen. Harrison.
Their oiher candidate, Mr.. Tyler. not proving
Wing" they remained in manoriy ill The
recent election. According % this history, the
present "Whig" party were unknown as such
ul 1886 And they cannot claim The doctrines
Of fifty years ago, without claiming Jefferson
and Madison for leaders, as we'll as Adams and
Hamilton for fifty years ago, some modern
l"Whigs" were Republicans" and some mod
ern Democrats" were "Federailsts." Mr..
Clay is modern Wing" Yet fifty years
ago, he was 'Jefersonian Republican" Fifty
years ago. The "Federass" conended for
alien aud sedrional laws, standing armies.
large navies. and national debt Do the mod
ern wings" contend for any Of these things !?
We beliese not. Fifty years ago, the Repub-
licans contended for economy and stlct ac.
counlablliiy in The Federal government. Do
modern "Whigs" contend for these lhings?-
Some pariisans of Gen. Taylor say tba, he was
elected on this very ground, and il is distinctly
taken IN his inaugural address. La short. any
attempts TO idenniy modern "Democrais" with
old Republicans, or modern "Whigs" with old
Federalisis. are preposterous, exhibit ignorance
Of our political history that is truly ridiculous
The issues OF fifty years ago were settled long
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