The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-17

hank, sussf IN We had sssissel Mn upoa that
wsAstsz fell win the bsnh, Mr.. Caiheun was pros
trated upon the tariff question An existing tariff
was TOO high for South Carclina, and she resisted
IT, even to notification, Mr.. Calhoun leading Of,
and he was swamped.
From 1928 to lS40, the country was divided b.
tween two great parties, with several small out
side facsions,) the wings and the democrsts-ths
former standing out, with Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Web
ster, in favor Of National Bank high protective
tariff, internal improvements by Congress- and the
distribution Of the proceeds Of the public lands
among she States; and the latter opposed to the
bank, the tariff, internal improvements " Con-
gress, and the land distribution schemes II Mr..
Clay. And it 90 happened that majority OF the
American people preferred the demoera tic theory
Of jackson to the whig theory Of Clay and Web
ster These two great men, therefore, could not
be elected; they were thus far left in the back
ground, simply because their political principles
were obnoxious to the popular sentiment Of the
country. Had Mr. Webster and Mr.. Clay been the
champions, with Gen jackson, Of the principles Of
the democratic party, either the one or the o.her
could have been elected in 1896 as easily as Martin
Van Buren, and each Of them would most probably
have passed sometime ago, . term or two in the
White House ut Washington.
In 1910, . new and perilous political element was
hrst distinctly introduced into our Presidential
elections, involving the suspension of the extension
Of slavery, and it's ultimate abolition in the South
ern States. But the pet bank system Of Martin
Van Buren,, the extravagant imitation Of the paper
circulation Of those banks, and the general expo-
sion and bankruptcy which had followed, over
whelmed Van Buren, and all other issues, and Gen.
Harrison. tho wing candidate, was elected. That
was another occasion in which Clay or Webster
might have been elected; but the wings, under the
delusion that Gen. Jacksons popularity was dxe to
his military glory, would have nothing but an
"avAilable ardidats." Hence they nominated .
military chieftain- and from that day we may date
the decline and final dispersion OF the whig party.
In 1914, Mr.. Clay was nominated by acclamation,
as the whig candidate for the Presidency but his
opponent was the champion for the annexation OF
Texas, and the candidate of the progressive de.
mocracy. Still, but for an abolition diversion in the
State Of New York, which carried off some ten or
fifteen thousand original wings to Birney, the indie
pendent abolition candidate, Mr.. Clay would have
been elected. In 1913, the whig party threw
Mr. Clay aside, and committed their second ruinous
VI dN0uGDLity, III uoulHhung Uencral
Taylor, another military chieftain. He was elected;
but Mr. Clay might just as web have been elected,
for the democrats in New York, upon personal and
facious split between Cass and Van Buren,, had in
evtably given the State over to the wings
The year 1850 marks another epoch in the history
of our political parties 10 the establishment of his
Southern supporters and the delight of the Northern
antisavery section OF the whig party, General Fay
lor and his cabinet recommended . settlement. Of
the several slavery questions growing out of the
cent acquisition of territory from Mexico upon
basis rather prejudcsl to the peculiar institution
of the South. Mr.. Clay proposed different scheme
in the Senate, in salutary spirit Of compromise
between the slaveholding and non slaveholding
States of the Union. Gen. Taylor died-his cabinet
were displaced in dsgrace-and Wise President Fill
more, succeeding to the Presidential Office, adopsed
the policy of Mr. Clay This plan, too having early
received the full support Of Mr. Webster in the Senate
had the additional advantage of his support 10 the
cabinet, but, more than ALL ofthe mass of the de mo-
cratic party efboth Houses Of Congress. Mr. ClAy's
scheme became the basis the compromise measures
finally adopted; but the result Was an irremsdable
split between tho Southern apd tho Northern see
tions of the wing party The latter, led on by that
arch demsgogue, w. Il Seward, arraysd themselves
at once in deadly opposition to oil those men distn.
guished for their services in defeating General Tay.
or's scheme Of settlement and In carrying out Mr.
Clays.
On the ether hand, the whole whig party Of the
South were rallied to the ride Of Fillmore and Web
ater But the Northern wing secured the nomina-
ton Of General Scott the South being in the mi
nority. General Scott had net made himself obnox.
ious to Seward and his allieshe was considered,
also, the most available military cheftain Of mo.
dern times and was therefore, in spite of all rsmon
strances, forced upon tho South. The result il
known to the world. Mr.. Webster demurred-ths
country demurred and in tho late election We ave
had most emphatic public condemnation of mere
military cheftains rs web IS of nomination made
upon factions. antslavery, sectional, and disorgs-
niziDg principles The country has most decisiyely
rebuksd the miserabls device of mere gunpo rdsr
availability, and scattered she wing party to the
winds. 1t now exists. az Mr.. Webster predicted,
only in history.
We see, then, upon = review Of our national poll
tics, frsm the foundation Of the government to the
present day, that the American people cannot be
charged with the crime of ipgratitude for great
public services, like these of Clay, Calhoun, and
Webster, with indifference or neglect Of their
claims to the highest honors Of the country. 1t
will be seen that there were no hostile political par
ties till the time Of John Adams and that from that
day to 1916 the two great parties Of the country
the republicans ard the fsderalists-stood each
upon broad national principles 1t viii BE- also seen
that these party lines. which were obliteratea in
the administration Of Mr.. Asnros-sphe era Of good
feeling'-were succeeded by . reorganization Of
parties in 1924; and that from 1924 down to this
present day, the policy Of General jackson and the
democratic party, with triaing break or two, has
been the controlling, and is now the established
policy Of the government, against the theory Of
hefsrs. Clay, Webster, and the uhig party Tthas
been, and is so, because the democratic policy s,
and has been, more consistent with popular and
State rights, equal privileges, and the expansive
and progressive spirit Of the age
Il Maa the 6rst miafortune then of NJ Clay and