The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-05
The Early Democratic Administrations
MIR. Buchanan and Young; America.

before the Washington Association Of Lancas-
ter This extract presented a sketch of the
DEMocRArIc party of WAsHNcroN's day, with
an account Of the character Of its opposition to
WAsHINGroE's administration. We propose to
dig again into this mine Of political wealth, and
exhume more of its buried treasures. Our ex-
tracts cannot fail TO be read with especial inte-
rest among Mr.. BUcHANAN's "republican
friends' in the city of Richmond; the gentle
men with whom he has been corresponding of
late in regard to the civil revolution of 1900
and the strict construction of the Constitution.
Taking up Mr.. BUcHANAN's Grafton at the
point where we left it yesterday, there follows
brief eulogy Of WAsHINeToN and his admins
trations, which it is not necessary to copy at
this time. After glowing description of the
prosperity and happiness of the country at that
period, Mr.. BUCHANAN thus proceeded:
Notwithstanding their prosperity, faction still
continued to rage and to increase The possession
Of power was the end of the opposition about the
means they were regardless.
"Their leaders pretended to tender solicitude for
the welfare of the people, Their voices were loud
in favor of public economy, and against navy,
an army, and taxes. Although France had
wantonly captured great number of our yes.
sels without cause, had actually demanded tribute
from US, and had threatened our country with
invasion, and with the dreadful fate of Venice
if it was not paid, although she had twice re-
fused to recognise our ministers, who went sup
plicating for peace, they were opposed to rails
ing an army or navy for our defence After an
army had been raised, notwithstanding it was
commanded by Washington, and destined to act
= against foreign enemy, they loudly expressed
their apprehensons that it intended to de-
stroy our republican form of government, and
substitute monarchy in its stead. The taxes ne
cessary for its support afforded them fresh theme
of defamation. BY means such these they sue
ceeded ioe in their endeauors that they at length
became the majority Of the nation, and got its desti
mics placed in their hands. Hov they haze used
that poicsr it tciu be my endeauor TO shoio.
"They began with the destruction of the navy.
1t had been supposed by the Federal administra-
tons that the navy our beat defence. From
the locality Of our country and from the nature
of such force they knew that it would be pccu-
liarly calculated to protect shores from for
eign nvasions, and to make respected by the
nations of the world, without, like standing
army, endangcring our liberties. 1t was also
foreseen by them that, without navy, our COM
merce would be exposed, as rich temptation, to
the avarice OF all nations and in consequence of
= our own weakness, we would be subjected to con-
slant insults and injuries upon the ocean, with
cut the power of resistance. II had, therefore,
been their policy gradually to erect navy, and
they had built great number of vessels at the
time when the FIRST Democratic administration
came into power.
cat that moment the scene changed. They had
8 promised the people an exemption from taxes,
and unless they could perform their popularity
was in danger. They did not hesitate what course
to pursue. They Immediately sold national
ships-thcy disarmcd the country-Isft commerce
unprotected, and inritsd insult aud injustice from
abroad, that they might not be under the neccs-
city Of imposing trfing tax, and thereby in
. juring their popularity at home.
Thanks BIO to Providence, the dcusion upon
this subject has vanished, and their conduct now
appears in its proper light before the public. The
little remnant of that navy, which had been fondly
cherished by Washington and his adhcrcnts, but
which, despscd by the patriots Of the present day,
has arisen triumphant above its enemies at home,
and has made the proud mistress of the ocean
= tremblc. The people are now convinced that a
navy is their best defence.
The Democratic administrator, nsEt declared
: against commerce. They were not satisfied with
depriving it Of the protection ola navy but they
acted though they had determined upon its
initiation At time when the nations Of Europe
were convulsod by dreadful ware, the United
= States being neutral, and when in consequence
thereof all of our native productions in the
greatest demand, and the carrying trade present
& cd to our merchants a rich harvest in every quar-
ter of the globe, they shut up our ports by embar
goes and non importation laws. BY these means
: the streams Of wealth, which were flowing into
our national treasury, and into country, from
the thousand fountains of commerce, were sud
denly dried up. These acts Of parrieide gaze an
instanfGneous aud dreadful bIoto TO our
prosperity. The voice Of business was no
longer heard in our cities. The stilntss Of
death pervaded every street. Detection and
despair sat upouAAch mans countenancc. The
newspapers OF the day, instead Of being filled
with arrivals from abroad and sales Of merchan-
disc, tecmed with bankruptcies lind our ships
,cec dup 10 rot, as melancholy monuments of the
toeak and toicked policy Of our Government
&" Who that has Witnessed these things cannot
observe the hand Of the Corsican despot. like
that dreadful hand upon the wall Of the BabyIo-
nish monarch, writing our destruction Who
| can avoid believing that Bonaparte was the
source OF this policy, and that il intended to
l operate in unison with his continental 'system!
l IL might, perhaps, be unwarrantable TO assert
| that our administrations actually corrupted
by France; but that their politics were biassed by
warm and improper par,iality for that country,
i there can be no doubt.
"Time will not allow me 10 enumeratc all THE