Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-03-08
Parties and the President.

Parties and the President.
The Opposition complain that the Pres
ident mas not signalized his ajminiSration
BY the accomplishment ofany great and me-
Aor,ble measure Of policy; something dis
sisctivc ard dazzling. As they imagine the
war with Mex;co Was. In Tho sdministra-
ton Of M. Polk. Toszsch unreasonable
sary,en. wore ste jussice Of the accusation
sdmh,ed. Il would be sufficient reply to
cay. that . majority Of Congress. the only
operative branch Of the government. have,
shreaghoui Mr.. Fillmore's term. been Of
.sdverse political sentiments. and bitterly
hostile to the policy film, party to which
he belongs.
A more philosophical reply may be
found in the cause Of the complaint itself
That cause IL the radical difference be-
tween the two great parties in their con-
ccptions Of the character Of our govern
s,cn,, and the duties Of our public agents.
Tho Wing party are eminenfly and only
conservative. They believe that in ell the
aspects Of nature. our country is the most
pleased. Of al that make up the Garth
Providence has scattered rich and count.
less bene factions, al over it's broad sur
face. Iis soil. its climate. its minerals. its
streams. its forests. It's hsrbors-all tho
slemeuis of wealth and content bestrew it
with aLoun11::::.s fitness. They believe far
Their that our people have energy and skill
enough to develope and employ all these
great resources; and that, If left to them
selves, American genius and industry. will
work from these matcrials,a destiny for
our country. more magnificent than has
ever yet shone upon the sons Of men,
They believe lastly that our fathers devils
ed and transmitted to us, the very wiscst
System Of government. that could have
been invented. for tho accomplishment Of
these ends. Having faith in these things,
they are, a. We have said. conservative.
They arc for defending the Constitution,
as !, was wriiten-ior adopting the advice
and adhcring to the policy Of the founders
ofour system. and chiefly Of him, the au-
gus, father Of our liberties-for guaran.
sesing to the individual members Of the
eonfcdcrscy. the rights to which they arc
entitled and the institutions they prefer
and for restraining each branch of the
Federal Government, within itslegitimate
sphere of action, and vigilanrly guarding
aguinst the encronchmenfs Of tho Exccu-
tive Department, which they regard most
dangerous. They are opposed TO wars OF
conquest; TO Intervention in the affairs of
other Governments or permitting any IN
reference with our own by them; 10 all ex'
perimcnfs in Government, Ind TO all tinker
ing with system that works well. Their
policy is more preventive than active;
more seen in opposing mischief and guard
ing against danger, than in invcnting new
measures and proposing untried schcmc,'
To describe most briefly the Democratic
party, we would say they were the exact
opposite of the Wing party. in most, if not
all. these respects. Their history shows
that they have no fixed principles; TO set
tied policy; no common feeling Of brother
hood. They are forever busy. always
changing. full ofinven'ion, and fond ofcx-
pertinent. Whenever a public measure
has served its use. by gaining a transient
Ssssr. il is abandoned for new one; when
svsr . man has ceased to be available for
PARTY purposes. he is deserted for another.
Change sits ever at the helm Of Locofoco-
lem: popular favor is the breeze for which
asprends its sails, and power the haven for
which it steers. The honors and cmolu-
m-n,s Of office, The pride and patronage oil
high staton-what were locofocoism with
out ihcmi The Dead Sea. with no ripple
On its surface and no living creature be-
meath its watcrs.dark, stagnant and stcnchy.
would be its fticst emblem. Such is To-
.eofocoism, and such are its votarics. at
10 not Of the people nor FOR the people. 1t is
progressive beyond true progress; too con-
servalive where conservatism is necessary;
wsrlike beyond the correct standard for
upholding national honor; eager to over
reach in the progress Of civilization our
"manifest destiny;" it blinks at fragrant
violations Of the Constituiion-winks at
tho open violation Of international law
sympalhizes with open rebellion. and calls
it revolution-sees in Dorr or Lopez
second Washington, and in every attempt
u rebellion, Unsuitable struggle for indc-
pendence. In word, Democracy, as
professed and tested on this continent, is in
consistent with the true progress and pros
perity Of the American people. Its meas
ures are anti-rcpublican, its principles pro-
5esscd in insinccrity. and its action for the
few and not for the many. and not with the
people"
These essential differences in the morale
Of tho two parties fully account for the
inability of our opponents, to find merit in
the administration Of Mr.. Fillmore. 1t is
too steady for them, too quiet. too self.
denying. They are accustomed TO look
To the President as the Gosc,rmcaf. They
expect the Executive TO dictate, in true
Jscksonian style, the policy of,hc country.
Congress is. in their view. cyphcr. if no,
. troublesome incumLrance. An Admin
isira'ion that is no, always plotting some
new schcmc-the which il bullies or brides
Congress into the adoption offs. they
think. necessarily imbecile and pusillaai-
mous. They can't understand the thing.
because they were taught in different
school, tie school in which Old Hickory
= H.. L.