Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-11-26
POLITICAL.
EnDnRALIsM Asp psnecHAcE. ,

| 1AOD&sf>@ @S.S~~ - ~'r-~-S1rrTTrf'L rts
The terms Federal, FSderdlisi, Federal
ism have undergone great perversions, ant
are often used IN direct opposition to theil
true Specification. In the ordinary jargon
of party politics such perversions may be
looked for, and they pass along with other
abuses. But when systems Of government
are spoken of, and when principles are re-
garded, it is becoming, we submit, that
words intended to designate systems OF prin-
ciples should be employed Alright. Federal,
Federated, Confederated-these terms de-
signate not centralized government, but a
government made upsof associated integers
or States, each with its local rights, usages
and institutions. In proportion as such
government becomes centralized beyond the
defined relations established between the
parts and the whole, in such proportion it
ceases to be Federal.
The tendency of Democracy is towards
Capitalization. The simple element OF De-
mocracy is the rule of the majority, and its
constant and unceasing effort is to carry that
principle wheresoever its influence reaches
and to make it prevail over every thing else
Democracy in State means that; and in 80
far as the States have connections with the
General Government and in SO far as there
are afinities between the democracies ofthe
States, so as to unite them in concerted po-
litical action in relation to the measures and
policy of the General Government, in 50 far
| Democracy means the same thing and its
unity of power is but the preliminary of the
Generalization which it aims at in the Gov
ernment.
If the principles Of Federalism prevail in
the Constitution Of the United States, it is
because that instrument Is what it calls it.
self-a Federal Constitution. By virtue OF
its wise provisions Delaware stands, in the
Senate of the United States, on an equality
with New York; and in certain contln-
gencv, the votes of the one representative
of Delaware, in the lower House, counts as
much as the aggregate vote of the thirty
three representatives in that body from the
State OF New York. The contingency re-
ferred to is no other than that of choosing a
President of the United States.
If Democracy assalls Federalism it is be-
cause of the bars and barriers which the
Constitution puts in the way of the unllm-
tied domination of majority; because OF
the protection it affords to State rights; be-
cause of the oppositionit holds forth against
the progress OF Capitalization. The term
Democracy has also been much misused-
as much so perhaps as the term Federalism.
We hear great deal Of the Democracy OF
the South; when any one may see, who
will take the trouble to look, that there is
no Democracy at the South, in the sense in
which the term is used in Tammany Hall.
The South needs protection for State rights;
and so long as 1t found the Democrats of the
North its most manageable allies, 1t baptiz-
ed its political creed accordingly and called
it by the name of Democracy. For a long
time the South has stamped its impress upon
the party known as the Democratic it has
announced its principles inrelation to many
measures of public policy, it has controlled
its counsels and directed its action. 1t has
impaired its own jealousy of the Federal
authority to masses that feel no such jeal-
ousy themselves, but would rather see that
powe- absolute so soon as they can possess
it. Gen. Jackson was in favor of a simple
government, he was for unity of power as
well as for unity of States.
The alliance between the State Rights
party of the South and the Democracy of
other sections must cease whenever the
characteristic principle of Democracy, the
rule of a majority, overriding all impedi-
ments, constitutional or other, becomes
clearly developed and aims at consumma-
ton in the sphere Of the General Govern
ment. The declaration of John Van Buren
that the anti-slavery party of New York
was to become the Democratic party of New
York and that the anti-slavery party OF the
Union was to become the Democracy ofthe
Union was no idle saying. Nor is it any
thing to the PURPOSE for political owls and
bats who cannot see anything but in the
twilight of partizan conceptions to urge that
Wings as well as Democrats at the North
belong to the anti-slavery party. Can you
not get beyond names? Whigs call you
them' Call them what you will-if the
hypocrisy of a misnomer will serve your
purpose. But the purpose of all those
the deliberate, fixed and settled pur-
pose, of all those who unite in that section
dl organization against tHC lhsulutiohS VI
the South is in full accordance with the
Democratic principle that the majority shall
rule and they are striving Systematically
and with zeal to make that principle para
mount in the action of the General Govern
ment over States and over policy. Their
first efforts, as now, are to evade the con-
stitutional acquisitions that guarantee the
riohts of the South and to nreyent their en-
forcement their ultimate purpose is, so soon
as they have the power to remodel the
Constitution in accordance with their de-
signs. So much for the present concerning
Federalism and Democracy.-BaA.A finer.
KossUrH AND WALKER.-The English
journals are in raptures with Mr.. Walkers
speech at Southampton banquet to Kossuth.
Mr.. Walker was MIR. Folks Secretary ofthe
Treasury, and his free trade sentiments had
always made him great favorite IN England.
Mr. Walker was toasted as "the next Presi.
Al