Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-09
RICHMOND, VA.
wednesday Morning, February :. ls4e.
POLITICAL PARTIES.

editorial upon The saline subject oolh OF WINCH
we propose bri,fiyto nciicc These writer's re-
mons,rate against a proposition, sah'ch has re-
Gently been made, 10 change The name OF Inc
Whir party, from Wing 10 Republican Dissent
ing widely IRON most oil their views ~ fesa'" W
par,ies. we concur tally in their reinohs'rdhee,
and protest against all attempts on The part OF 'he
Wings, to appropriate TO themselves name I"
which they are cot justly entitled and oy wh'c'
their political opponents have been long uis''n'
gusheG and recognised II the Wings, as 'ney
are called desire 10 change their name, lei mem
do so, provided they do not, in disregard oil al
courtesy and propriety, assume name oeong'
ing 10 others. The words Republican and DEMO
cratic are mol strictly Synonymous, but as ordina-
rily used in this country, they convey the same
meaning, and The Wings are well aware that
here the expression, Republican Parly,"i is IN
derslood as meaning nothing more than The De-
mocratic Parry.
By political party, we understand number
Of citizens, who, no, momenarily, but Tor some
period, unite in respect 10 some measure or prin-
ciples, in the support Of which they keep within
the bounds of the fundamental law, and which
measures or principles, they really believe con-
ducive TO the common coed OF their county,
Parties have existed in every free State where
political power was widely diffused In one oil
the ancient republics, neutrality in party was
made a crime against the commonwealth
Among the Romans, idem senttre de Repu9llea
was principal ground OF attachment and friend
ship. Nothing grea, can be accomplished in the
political world without associated effort, and
where there is freedom OF opinion and freedom OF
action, men entertaining the same opinions Will
naturally combine their energies and exertions.--
No individual, who thinks the political principles
10 which he is attached are OF much importance,
will decline The means OF enforcing them by re.
fusing to unite with those holding similar views.
Coincidence OF opinion promotes cordially, in
creases sympathy and strengthens confidence =
Confidence is the main element towards en- ur
ing the cooperation Of numbers, and wllhoul
numbers, no important measure can De carried,
or obnoxious measure defeated, or any cherished
principle be successfully vindiraled. Cahas and
factions spring up and struggle for season On
der despolic governments, but great political par
ties can exist only 10 The atmosphere OF freedom
Whether, upon the whole, parties are most pro
ductive ef good or evil, they seem 10 be The in
separabe companions OF all free governments
When they are animated by patriotism and seek
iaudable ends by honest means, they may be re-
garded with federation, il moi with favor; but
when, by the use OF corrupt means, they seek
power from sordid views, they meFi, The contempt
and the scorn OF mankind Cantid men admit
and all patriots deplore The excuses committed
by parties, especially those excuses committed
during periods of intense political excitement.
"Alsernon" and the Editors of The Wing unite
In euloszing the name OF Wig, 10 claiming as
members Of that party The mos, eminent states.
men known in English and American annals,
In extolling the conduct OF the Wings Of Great
Britain, and in ascrlbing to them The same poit-
ical lenels held by The Wings OF This county,
nAlgernon" observes that The word Wing "sug-
gests the idea oil hostility 10 tyranny and Execu-
tive oppression; that it is the synonyme OF popu.
lar right aad constitutional freedom, in opposition
TO illegal power and Executive usurpa'ion and
that has been SO cherished euer sine its origin;
that The Wing party, has with admirable sonsis.
.sncy, PRESCRIBED It's principles unchanged, through
Ill The uieissitudes oi It's fortunes and under ma
nifold adverse AMI dscouracing circumstances,
Tor aeaTly ttoo cln'uries to the present time. =
VIVA, was the origin, and what have been the
leading features o! the Two great political parties
OF Great Britain2 Have the Wings Of hat country
exhibited such steady and consistent devotion TO
the cause ot human freedom as to justify the
imitation OF the Wings OF the United States or
eI,ravagant eulogy from any American poli-
Giant We hombly think that the conduct OF
neither Inc Wing nor the Tory party of Grea'
Britain has been characterised BY unusual dis.
in,eresletness or extraordinary patriotism.
Hailam, IN his Constitutional History, observes
tha, Tory was nickname Tor some Of the wild
Irish in User aud that the name OF Wing
meaning sour mix, originated in Scotland. The
words Wing and Tory were first heard in their
application 70 English parties in 1879, according
20 Hallam; bat Hume, in giving an accoun, Of
the origin OF parties says that, one year later, 10
git: the year 1850, sis remarkable Tor being The
epoch OF the well known eri;hels of Wing and
Tory, by which, and somsttmes tcishout any mate
rial differences, hi. Island has been 50 long civ-
died."
To Distinguish between The Two parties OF
Wing and Tory lis no, easv" says t;alam, (sec
ConstitnI ioua His;or., %. Ns,, q. 6o0) "oecaus:
those demon iua,,ons, being sometimes applied 10
factions in the Stale intent on their own asgran-
dizement, sometimes to the principles they enter
tanned or pfoessed, kaps become equiuoeai, and do
by no means al all periods and on all occasions,
present The same sense" Halian continues:
"Bo,h OF these parties, ii is material 10 observe,
agreed 10 the maintenance OF The Constitution
that is, in the administration OF The government
by an hereditary sovereign, and IN The concur
renee of that sovereign with the two houses OF
Parliament, in legislation as well as IN those
other Institutions which have been Teckoned most
ancient ani fundamental. A iavorer OF nnlim-
ed monarchy aoas mol Tory, aeither tras a Re-
publican a Walg. They differed mainly in this
that 10 Tory the Constitution, inasmuch as il
was the Constitution, was az ultimate point, be-
youd which he never looked and ilun which ne
thought il altogether impossible Ia sWerve where
as, Wing deemed all forms OF government sub
ordinate 10 The public good, and, therefore. liable
10 change when they should cease TO promo e that
object. The Wing had a natural tendency 10
political inprovement-lhe Tory an aversion 10
il. The Tory arden,y supported he Church,
while the Wing treated The DissenIers with mo-
deration, or perhaps with favor. This d,slinc-
tim, subsisled long after the TWO pan,ss u had
.kited tkeiy ground as to eivil liberty and royal
posor!"
The same writer observes Chapter xv p. 572, J
that
"A high regard for III. memory OF William
Ill may Justly b. reckoned one OF the tests by
which genuine Whigism, US opposed both 10 To-
~ and Republican principles, has always been
recognised"
Mr.. Hume was friendly to the Tory, and Mr.
Halam TO the Wing party, as we'll as warm
admirer of William the 81. William the Sd
vas far less guided by any responsible counsel.
lozs ,h,r The snirii of The Cansiilnl renni1ed