Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-02-28
ORIGIN AND NATURE OF WHIGGERY.

ORIGIN AND NATURE OF WHIGGERY.
The Editor of the Register, in a late number of
that paper, discourses learnedly upon the origin of
Whiggery and concludes, upon the whole, that
modern Whggery is just what ancient, old-ashioned
Whiggery used to be. There nsver was greater
mistake. "a -+sf t-.-' = 3 + - u = F-t ~
re- It is not important that should differ with the
Editor as to the origin of the term Wing" He
says the band of Highlanders who opposed the
pations of Charles the 1s IS called the Whiga-
more's Raid, from the word Wing, Wing, that is,
gel on get on, which used by the Western peas
ants in driving their horses'; and that this
gradually spread through the whole army and became
the soubriquet of the Parliament rarty'' On the
other hand, Defoe says Wing was the word used,
in those parts, for kind of liquor the High
landers used to drink whose composition he does
not remember; and he adds that the term Wing 'saf
forwards became denomination of the poor harrass
ed people of that part of the county,, who banded
against King Charles. Burnet says that the word
WhiggGa used by the Western Scotchmen in driv-
ing their horses, was the origin of the term Wing
applied to them others, with Defoe, derive it from
the Scotch word Wing, or wigg, sgnifying achey
and Jameson, in his Dictionary of the Scotch lam
guage, does not venture to decide.
So much for the origin of the term.
Every one knows that the Wings of the American
Revolution those men who opposed the usur-
pations of the English Parliament and conended for
and established the independence of these States.
At the close of the Revolution, the term ceased to
have any immediate direct application to our
people, far as party appellations were concern
ed. Those who controlled the Government had been
Wings but when questions touching the con-
struction of the Constitution, the rights of the States,
and the best mode for perpetuating those liberties
which the Wings had established, names also
arose, and the people were divided into Republicans
and Federaliss. For instance, Jefferson and Hamil-
ton were both Wings, and yet, after the close
of the Revolution, the former announced himself a
Republican and the latter proclaimed himself Fed
eraiis; and to this day these apPelaons are known
and properly applied their respective followers.
Mr.. Hamilton held that the Federal Government
ought to exercise controlling influence over the
States and his policy, financial and otherwise, was
steadily directed to that end. Mr.. Adams held the
same opinions, and during his Administration, labor
ed to fix them permanently on the country. He
favored National Bank, large standing army in
time of peace, and laws restricting the freedom of
the press and subecting foreign emigrants heavy
disabilities; and the result of his Administration was,
high taxes and general discomfort among the people.
Constitution ought be construed strctly-that Con-
gress possessed powers but such as had been ex-
pressly delegated, necessary, by implication,
to carry out express grants-tha the States the
best they the sole judges of all per-
tanning 10 their domestic concerns-that the freedom
of the press ought be encroached upon by "
dtion -" laws-lhat large standing army, in times
of peace, was dangerous to the public liberes-and
that the taxes levied upon the people ought to be as
light possible, and scrupulously applied to the
support of an economically administered government
and the extnguishment of the National debt Mr.
Jefferson was brought forward for the Presidency
and the people decided by elec,ing him. in favor Of
his principles. Those who voted for him were call.
ed Republicans, and those who sustained Mr.. Adams
were called FederaHsts. These are facts well known
to the country, and doubt distinctly remembered
by aged men now living among us, who took part in
! the party contests of that day.
The term Whig therefore lost sight of, as
party appeation, at the close of the Revolution, OF
rather it ceased to be used that day. distinguish
one portion of the people from the other. al, who
had been friends of the country in the trying
through which it had passed, had been Whigs-they
were Wings still in contradistiRcon to the traitors
or Tories but new views and new opinions, as be-
tween ourselves, and against a common foe
spIdng ups ana ne" parry names, odseo upon InoSe
views and opinions succeeded. Indeed the Register
admits that there is chasm of just half century in
the history of the Wing pary-that is from the close
OF the Revolution to 1880; and the question now is
achere aUere the Wigs all this time2
We shall continue remarks this subject in
our next issue.
GOOD.
| The following good hit is from the Halifax Repub-
lican, whose Editor has recently taken his stand in
the Democratic Republican party:
"The Wings blame US for ceasing to advocate
Wing principles. Have not the Wing party ceased
to advocate Whip PRINCIPLES ? But saw thew, YOU