The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-16
THE THIRD CANDIDATE.


organ in this city has announced Mr. Hale's
acceptance of the Pittsburgh nomination. This
is an important fact, which demands comment
for, if we understand it rightly it is significant
of the fate of the Wing partysand foreshadows
party divisions for years to come.
Since the foundation of our Government,
two different and distinct principles have
struggled for the mastery. They have dictated
different constructions of the Constitution, and
have formed the opinions of men with regard
to all the leading questions Of public policy.
From the beginning there have been men
amongst us who distrusted the people, and
chung to the ideas nculcated by European
monarchies, who embraced cold stationary
unenterprising conservatism and who thought
that all the acts of the citizen should be di-
rected and controlled by the Government On
the other hand, there have been, from the first,
men who confded in the virtue and intelli-
gence of the people-who believed that new
policy was necessary for new world, and that
the true purpose of Government was the de-
fence of the citizen from wrong, and then to
leave him to pursue happiness according to
the dictates of his own judgment. The issue
between these two principles was first made up
during the last few years of the last century,
cratic principle has trumphed in every fair
encounter The opposite influence has gained
| the control of the Government three times by
false pretences; but in every instance the tri-
umph has been short and was followed by
overwhelming condemnation. Hence it has
naturally happened that the opposition to the
general policy of the country under which our
resources have been developed with such mar
4 vallonu rapiIitu oil tho claimants
of dissatisfaction, should resemble an agglome-
ration of factions rather than legitimate po-
itical party. After the overthrow of the
younger Adams, the Federalists constituted the
strongest division of the opposition forces, and
| by contact and cooperation 1t Impaired It's
centralizng principles to the other portions Of
the opposition. The abolition faction naturally
leagued with Federalism for without the
prevalence of Federal ideas in the administra-
ton of the Government, its objects could never
be accomplished The league between FEEDER
alism and fanaticism to break down the veto
power, and establish the supremacy of a Con-
gressional majority, fully illustrates the nature
of the attraction by which the Wing party of
the North became thoroughly tainted with ia
natcism. The distinct and differing interests
of individuals however always kept alive an
party Washington Union
. We do not know who is the author of these
profound observations but they bear about the
same relation to the politics of the present
generation, rs the cooked hat and short clothes
of past times bear to its fashions
The true purpose of Government, he says, is
:" the defence of the citizen against wrong,
and then to leave him to pursue happiness ac-
cording to the dictates of his own judgment"
We should like him to tell us how many of the
sxty-four public acts, and fourteen public reso-
lutiOns of Congress, at its late session, had for
their main purpose +" the defence of the citizen
against wrong" We recollect but one, and
that was the Steamboat bill. The other acts
and resolutions were designed to pay the ex-
penses of the Government, to stimulate and
sustain the enterprise of the States to enhance
the value of the public domain, to facilitate
commerce, to promote intercourse among the
people, and to secure great variety of OBJ
jects not coming within the general definition
of "a defence of the citizen against wrong"
The editors of the Union must put off their
short clothes and cooked hats, and familarize
themselves with the usages and ideas of the
nineteenth century.
Their theory of the utilization of Abolition
with Federalism is no better than their theory
of Democracy.
What is Federalism, understood in party
sense! Capitalization, carried to an ex-
treme-a loose Interpretation of the Constitu-
ton, with view to accomplish ends not con-
templated by the trainers of that instrument
usurpation of powers by the Federal Govern
ment-disregard of the reserved rights of the
States and of the People
Let us take the two prominent, active forms
Of Abolitonism, so called, and zee what natu-
raj affinity there il between them and Fede-
ralism
Mr.. Garrison represents one form, but he is
n thorough State Rights man. He contends
that the Federal Constitution guarantees sla-
very-that the Union is its chief support-but
does he look to i" the prevalence of Federal
ideas in the administration of the Govern
ment" for the accomplishment of his purpo-
to put down Slavery! Far from it: on the
contrary, believing it to be repugnant essen
TALLY to Liberty, rs Rhctt believes it at war
with Slavery he throws himself on State
Rights doctrine insists upon dissolution of
the Union, and secession, as the only true and
honest remedy for the grievance of which he
complains. Mr.. Garrison and his party are
SeceSsionidS, not Federalists. They desire no
league with Federalism, or with any body of
men that sustains the Federal Union.
Take the other prominent form of Adolf
tionism - that represented by the Pittsburgh
Convention. 1t wars against Capitalization
it is strenuous for u rigorous Interpretation of
the Constitutional struggles in defence Of the
reserved rights of the States and Of the Peo-
powers--it acknowledges the existence of no
implied power, unless absolutely necessary to
the exercise of power expressly giyen-and,
so far as slavery is concerned, its whole action
is directed against a usurpdtion. 1t is "the
prevalence of federal ideas in the administra-
ton of the Government" which it denounces
and which has made its existence necessary
Had it not been for the unholy league between
Slavery and Federalism, there would have
been no Liberty Party, no Buffalo movement
no Pittsburgh nomination. 1t was the alliance
between the United States Bank and the Fed
eral Government that led to the organization
of the Democratic Party under its present form ;
it is the alliance between Slavery and the Fed
eral Government that has led to the organiza-
ton of the Independent Democracy. The for