Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-12-08
F,or M Guzs,ts.


p
Wig party. Nowl never understood ex
actly tie meaning q the term. but as it was
always used in lqroachful or cfprebrious
sense. | naturally concluded that it meant
something very b4j--somethiBg like traitor
or tory. But heasng it used SO frequently
Of late began to eel some curiosity to know
moro particularly what it sighiies; and after
considerable reelection in regard to the best
means Of obtaininrthis information, ! ccnclu-
ded to have resouse to Webster's Dlction.
airy, knowing that The old Doctor is consider
ed pretty good authority in such eases, and
you canno: well inlgine ms surprise when ]
found that he defies it to be "An appellation
given to the frieiss Of the Constitution at its
formation and aiption, and to the political
party which favbrcd the administration Of
President Washington Now l had always
regarded the Wigs as friends Of the Con-
stitution, but, as | lad never looked upon
Democrats, generally, as its foes, | was at a
loss to khow why the name should be exelu
sively applied to the Wings. and resolved to
examine the matter little further.
And here permit me to state, that this COM
munication has leen written with two-fold
object in the first place, to disabuse the
mndsof those wlo like myself, have been de
eeived by this false use Of the term; and
secondly and more especially to induce your
self or some of your intelligent correspondents
to take the subject in hard, for am inclined
to think that there is a great deal more ig-
norance prevailing IN regard to it than you
are aware Of With your permission, then,
shall proceed to state some Of the results of
my investigations, believing they may be Of
some use to portion Of your readers.
Upon examination, | found that consid
cradle diversity Of opinion prevailed in the
Consention that framed the Constitution Of
the United States, in regard to the power TO
be granted to the general government. Some,
looking back to the struggle through which
we had just passed, and forward to the prob
ability Of future attacks from abroad, were
in favor Of a strong and efficient government,
in order that it might be better able to resist
the aggressions of foreign nations while 9TH
ers, apprehending less danger from that d.
rection, wished to place such restrictions on
the powers Of the general government as would
prevent the possibility Of its infringing on the
rights Of the several States Aud when the
Constitution was submitted to the considera-
ton of the people, the same difference of opn.
ion prevailed. and some were in favor of
adopting, and others Of rejecting it and as
the government just organized was Federal
government, the former were justly styled
Federalists, while their opponents were term
ed Anti Federalists. shall not pretend to
decide which party was right or which was
wrong am willing to allow that it was an
honest difference Of opinion, and that they
were equally patriotic and sincere in their in
teptious, bat | must contend that a party
that numbered among its members such men
as Washington, Franklin, Adams, Marshall,
Jay, and others, should be allowed to have
some claims at least to honesty, intelligence
aud patriotism.
Time and space will not permit me to trace
the history Of the two political parties, let it
suffice to say. that what first and most con-
tributed to weaken the Federal party, was the
military establishment kept by the elder
Adams, together with the Alien and Sedition
Laws. passed during his administration.
The first night be justified to some extent,
since the probabilities Of a rupture with
France rendered it necessary that the coun-
try should, in some degree, be prepared for it.
This, however cannot he said Of the Alien
and Sedition Laws; for although it might
seem right and proper that the President
should possess The power Of cxpelling from
the country, men sent here and paid by for
eign nations to stir up discussions and create
mischief and also to suppress any publca-
ton intended to produce sedition, and endan-
ger the safety Of the Union but rs this can.
not he done without giving him the power of
expellng any man that might chance to in.
cur his dispeasure, and Of supprcssing any
publications that did not accord with his
views, the remedy is worse than the desease
l.The friends Of those measures seemed to for
get that while they were destroying the tares,
they were roofing up the lchcat with them
These measures must be regarded as political
hlunders that cannot be too strongly con-
demned, yet we have no right to impute to
their authors dishonest or improper motives
But the final dissolution of the Federal
party must be attributed to the unwise op.
position of many Of its members to the war
of 1912, Whether they were censurable for
opposing the declaration Of war. is perhaps
a debatablc question. England and France,
in their contests with each other had both
violated the rights of neutral nations, but
whether the British Orders in Council were
more unreasonable and unjust than the Milan
and Berlin DEGREES Of Napoleon, might afford
matter Of dispute The Fcdcralists regard
ed the aggressions Of England rather as acts
OF self defense and were willing to bear with
her, since she was opposing Napoleon, whom
they regarded as the common enemy of man
kind: while the Democrats, looking upon
England as our natural enemy, were unwil
ling to brook the slightest insult offered by
her, but were willing to submit to any indig-
nifty from Napoleon so long as he was con-
tending with England.
Here again shall not pretend to decide
between the parties, but would give it as my
own opinion that we had ample cause for de.
elaring war against both, had we possessed
the power of waging it successfully And
although ! am willing to allow the Federalists
the right of trying to prerent the war with
England, yet after it had commenced, it was
their imperative duty to cease their opposi-
ton, aud to stand by their country as the