The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-30

cratic party of the last twenty years, which
has divorced the Government from Banking
inflicted death-blow on the policy OF Pro-
tective Tariff and of Internal improvements
| by the Federal Government, is not the Demo
cratic party of the preceding twenty years,
which allied the Government with Banking
institutions, sanctioned the principle of Protec-
ton, and favored Internal improvements by
Federal action. The Wing and Democratic
parties are now scarcely twenty years old.
They originated, we said, in difference OF
policy respecting the three subjects just re-
ierred to. The question of Slavery had moth
| ing to do with their formation no principle,
no rule of conduct, was adopted by them in
regard to it. Soon after their organization, it
began to be agtated and demagogues in the
South, for their own purposes OF mischief la
bored to attach to it fearful political signii-
canoe. The public mind was needlessly excl
ted, and gross misconception everywhere pre-
vailed until General Jackson at last called
the attention of Congress to the subject, and
IeOOhiihchucu u Ia" w suppress WV Ni'N"
ton of Anti Slavery matter in the mails This
recommendation, as grossly repugnant in its
spirit to the Constitution and to the funda-
mental principles of civil liberty, as the Alien
and Sedition Laws, clearly showed that his
Democratic principles embraced nothing within
their scope but the questions of policy we have
indicated And this was true of his party
1t must be admitted that the nature Of the
controversy between the two parties gene
rally attracted to the ranks of the Wings,
Capitalists, Conservatives, supporters OF Mo-
nopoly, and that class of persons who, INCLINED
to too much government, are disposed to loose
construction of the grants of power in the Con-
stitution. while it led the Democrats to take
a position rather antagonlstc, and they found
themselves constrained to appeal not unire-
ouently to natural rights and the fundamental
principles of Democracy. In this way, though
not founded upon these principles or with any
view to their universal application, the Demo-
cratic party has come to be regarded by many
of its adherents as being committed by its pro-
fessons to the cause of Progress in all its forms
especially as it relates to the overthrow of
Human Bondage.
The questions at issue between these Parties
were really settled by the election of 1874. Mr.
Clay was the distinct representative of the
Wing policy on these questions-Mr. Polk, the
distinct representative of the Democratic policy
Notwithstanding the Importance which the
question of Slavery had assumed, notwthstand-
ing its introduction into politics, and the i'm
pending question of the annexation of Texas
the People generally subordinated all these
considerations to the old questions at issue be-
tween the Wing and Democratic parties, and
decided in favor of Democratic policy. In our
opinion, the project of National Bank, the
principle of Protective Tariff, and the policy
of a general system of Internal Improvements
by the Federal Government rapidly ceased
from that time to be regarded as Party meas
lres, and there would have been a breaking up
Of old Parties had no new question interviewed
to keep up their divisions But it so happened
that Mr.. Folks Administrator having disposed
of the matters in dispute, took up the question
of the annexation of Texas, and involved itself
in a controversy with Mexico In these ele-
ments it found means to maintain the 0rgani-
,ation of its Party by appealing to the Slave
Interest on one side, and to the National pride
and passion for territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on
the other. With projects for the acquisition
of territory and foreign war leading to con-
quest it was not difficult to keep alive the old
party divisions but the war ended, and the ac-
QUESTIONS made, then the question arose. How
should the new territory be disposed of The
Slave Interest had sought to extend the area of
Slavery the Democratic supporters of the
no such policy the Wing Party had unitedly
opposed all acquisitions, but was divided on
the question, what should he done with them 2
For the first time the two Parties found them
selves confronted by Question which had had
nothing to do with their formation, on which
they had never acted respecting which they
had no principle or rule of conduct Cues
ton which, if settled upon Principle would
necessarily destroy their respective Organiza-
tons, as it would divide their Northern from
their Southern sections. As might have been ex-
pected they attempted to avoid this result by
Evasion or Compromise Az the Presidential
election was pending, the Wings Graded the
Question, by selecting II candidate uneommit-
ted upon it, but popular as a military leader
and the Democrats compromised by nominating
a man whose repud alton of the Wiimoi Proviso
constituted his strength in the South while his
reputed belief in the Merriam Proviso it was
hoped would save him in the North
The experiment did not entirely succeed
Many disaiiectod Wings, more disaffected Dem
ocrats, drew Oft and, uniting with the small
band Of men resolved to settle the Question on
Principle made a separate nomination, and
thereby defeated she Democratic Party Rec
ollect no old issue entered into the canvass
That Party was defeated because it took a
false position on the Slavery Question.
The policy of secession prepared the way for
the final success of Compromise The Wing |
President died before he could carry out his
schemes, and the Vice President, his successor,
the conservative spirit of Whigisn,
labored for Compromise. BY his influence,
combined with the pressure of the Slave Inter-
est, enough Wings and Democrats Of the North
were induced to abandon the ground of Prin-
ciple, to secure the success Of n system of meas
ures which left the Government under the CON
troll Of Slavery, laid open the Territories de-
fenceless to its irruption, and gave it new ia
cilites for the arrest of fugitives. What else
could have been expected These old Parties
had not been organized for the purpose Of
ti.alx A. Sla A.,ast;a.