The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-08-20
PARTY NAMES FEDERALISM, DE-
MOCRACY.

are fond of applying to the Wings the term
| Federal, as word of reproach, and they seem
to think that they have answered all argu-
ments and established all conclusions when
they can ie-iterate that word in connection
with tolerable amount of disparagement
and denunciation.
On the late sad occasion ofMr. Clay's death
it was usual to find in the biographical sketch
es or remarks concerning him and his political
career in the journals styling themselves
democratic, some illusions to his change, as
they chose to designate it from democracy
to federalism during Gen. Jackson's admins
tration. Now it is perfectly well known that
Mr.. Clay did not change his political princi-
pies at all at that period; it is perfectly well
known that the same system of policy which
he had sustained before the accession of Gen.
Jackson to the Presidency was sustained by
him afterwards with undertaking consistency.
All this is known. Yet there are to be found
journals claiming the reputation ofintelligence
and accuracy, that gravely deplore Mr.. Clay's
conversion or perversion to federalism at that
time, and speak on the subject as though
they were actually telling the truth; and posi-
bly, some of them may believe that they are.
The only measure of public policy respect
ing which Mr. Clay ever did change his opin.
ions and his course was that which involved
the constitutionaity and the propriety of a
Bank of the United States. His position at
first was adverse to such an institution; and
when he afterward changed his ground, and
came up to the support of the financial policy
of National Bank, it was when that policy
constituted an important part of the demo-
cratic system of policy under the democratic
administration of Madison, In the matured
and well considered opinion of Mr. Clay the
condition of the country, at the close of the
war with England, imperatively required the
restorative agency of a National Bank to give
organization once more to the currency and to
restore n wholesome circulation to the ex-
hausted channels of trade A democratic
President thought so too.
But the American System formed the
prominent and characteristic features of Mr..
Clay's general system of public measures, and
to that he gave his earnest and hearty support
AS the Wings of the United States are
prepared to do now, or whenever it may be
inaheir pewer to do sowith any prospect of
success. The American System, including
protection to domestic labor and the improve
ment of rivers and harbors to facilitate CON-
merce between the States and with foreign
countries, was democratic system under
Madison's administration; for it was estab-
lished then and received the sanction of that
distinguished statesman.
In 1924, when Gen. Jackson was for the
first time candidate for the Presidency, there
was no candidate of the Federal party in the
field. Mr. Adams, Mr.. Crawford and Mr..
Clay, who were the other competitors, all
belonged to the Democratic party. The
Federal party, as such, had ceased to exist,
and when the issue was formed between Gen.
jackson and Mr.. Adams which resulted in the
election of the former to the Presidency in
1928, the leaders Of the Federal party, for the
most part, went to the support of General
Jackson. Those gentlemen, many of whom
took prominent positions in the Jackson party,
now delight in being known as Democrats,
and some of them have been remarkable for
the zeal and industry with which they have
sought to distinguish themselves in the service
of modern democracy, as though it were their
purpose to atone for the ferocity of their as
saults upon the democracy Of Jefferson and
Madison.
The school of modern democracy dates no
farther back than the administration of Gen.
Jackson. He was its founder first and its
expounder afterwards; and so long as he lived
it could be pretty well ascertained what was
democratic and what was not-a question
which in these later years has become very
much perplexcd. If Gen. Jackson had favor
cd a National Bank as Madison did, why,
then, NatlOnul DuHk Wuuiu HdNo ucon
democratic; If he had sustained the American
system as Mr.. Madison did, the policy Of
protecting domestic labor would have been
democratic, and it would have also been
democratic to admit the constitutional power
of the government to improve rivers and har-
bors and to facilitate both internal and foreign
commerce.
But inasmuch as Henry Clay was the great
champion of that general system and had
committed the objectionable offence of pre-
ferring Mr.. Adams to Gen. Jackson, in 1924
the champion was to be attacked in his sys-
TEN, and both must be prostrated together II
Gen. Jackson and his party were strong
enough to do it, Then it was that the dis
covery was suddenly made that Mr.. Clay was
a federalst, although his political course and
principles exhibited no shadow of change;
then it was that the adherents of Gen. Jack
son and none others were found to be enti-
tied 10 tho DESIGNATION of democrats notwith-