Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10


SON Democrat" and is also supporter of the pre-
sent Democratic candidate for the Presidency. II
would therefore, we think, have been more natural
for him to select Democratic medium for his OBJ
ections to the Platform of his party but, as he has
sought place in our columns, we yield it to him.
FOR THE NATIONAL RTELLIdENcER.
To the Editors Of the Daily Times:
GEsrLENES: In your paper of June 7th, under the
head Of Resolutions of the Democratic National Con-
vention, 1852" find the following viz
'sRssolved, That the American Democracy place their
trust In the intelligence the patriotism and the dscrimi-
mating justice of the American people Excellent u 81
sic semper y
'Resolusd That we consider this as distinctive fea-
ture Of political creed which proud to main
OF sprngng from and upheld by the popular
will and NTH the creed and practice Of Fede-
ra under whateUer form, schc seeks TO palsy the
cW Of the constituent and uhich posture too
monstrous for the popular credahty"
Thus for the preamble; now for the
9th Resolution "Taat the liberal principles embodied
By Jefferson The Declaration of Independence and sanctioned
IN the Consultation, srhich makes ours The land of liberty and
the asylum Of the oppressed of every nation, have been
dinal principles in the Democratic tdith,' sc.
1t will be impossible in short newspaper article, to
enter into defence Of Federalism 1t will be time enough
when specific charges shall be made. Charges utterly
groundless vague generaes, unsuscepdble Of refuta
ton, have been favorite weapons in the hands of
Democrats General assertions party slang, cnlcu-
lated and intended to keep alive the odium which the De-
mocracy Of 1889 to 1926 heaped upon the Federal party
of that time only be rebutted by similar assertions
is then confidently asserted that the charges of "para
lying The nil of the constituent" and Of employing mpos-
lures" for the purpose Of imposing popular credul,
utterly false and that the author Of the assertion
unless his ignorance of the political history of his
be equal to his impudence, kaos that they false
As to the l6srat principles embodied in the Declaration
Of Independence and sanctioned in the Consultation, deny
that they the offspring of Mr.. Jeerson's mind 1t is
well known all who read that the sentr: ens contained
in that declaration formed the burden of every political
speech at public meetings. in the halls Of the Colonial Lee
gsatures in the Congress, in all private conversations
among patriots Of that exciting period and in
mons from the pulpit The newspapers teemed with pa
triotc essays of similar stamp The Declaration of In
dependence is compilation derived from thou
sand sources but in especial from decara-
ration set forth by the people of Meckenburg, IN CD
than year before the 4th of July 1776 from an
address the people of Great Britain by John Jay, in
1774 and from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and
the Constitution of Virginia all of date anterior the
Declaration of Independence The proofs of this assertion,
which will doubtless startle the worshppers of Mr. JEFF
ferson may be found in Griswod Appendix to Israes
Curosities of Literature, page As to 49, and in
ticle in the New York Review by the Rev. Dr. Hawkes.,
published soon after fuckers Life of Jefferson
not any part of my intention to derogate from the
real merits of the Declaration Of Independence in
srument dear to every American heart whatsoever be
its author But the charge of plagiarism cannot be de-
MED The resemblances extending only sentiments
but to the language Of entire paragraphs copied arord for
ord from the declaration of the people of Meckenburg
set forth May 90 1775 and from the above
toned plain that they admit of dispute 1t is
true that Mr. Jefferson when the Meckenburg declara-
ton was discovered in old papers by Mr. Adams,
he elder denied its authenticity But the fact fully
established by the Legislature of North Carolina who,
Jealous for the honor Of their State made thorough
vestigaion Of the whole matter and ordered it TO be
tered among their records.
Further 1t is said in the resolutions above named that
the liberal principles embodied, &C. are sanctioned in
the Constitution"
The especial devotion of Mr. jefferson the principles
of the Constitution remains be proved At the time of
the adoption of that instrument by the Congress Of the
United States Mr.. Jefferson in France and whatever
influence he had here erertd against In his letters
to his friends he did hesitate declare his hostility
to many of its provisions; and when he home in
$780, enter the duties Of Secretary of State he be-
came unmeulalely acknowledged cnlel ol the AMI
federnists Who composed the Antifederal party? Mr.
jefferson and his partsansthe men who opposed
to happy Federal Union. The Federalist, de-
rived from the Latin word fdus league, friend
of the union Of the States and assumed by the Fede
raj party at the head Of which stood GEORGE WASHING
Mr. Jefferson and his party did not reject If they
did not assume the designation Of Antfederasts The
Of Democrat and Republican were not claimed un
til time during the progress Of the French Revou
ton, which, bearsme6ed approved even in all its
brutal enormties in the Reign of Terror by the Demo-
cratic party of that day But the reader is requested to
pardon this depression Let to the Constitution
and add remark that If devotion to the Constitution
be test Of political orthodoxy, it must surely be award
ed to the Federnsts. Hamilton and Jay, and Madison
at that time and for ten years Afterwards Federalis
the chief trainers Of that instrument and the list
Of the gners both of the Declaration Of Independence
and Of the Constitution be examined 1t will be found that
majority Of them Federaiists It is ridiculous
to suppose that these men, who at least be allowed
claim TO the possession Of common sense, enemies
to the instrument Of which they were the authors.
Other grounds must be sought which to build Mr.
Jeersons reputation The Declaration Of Independence
it his offspring, and his Notes Virginia.
will sustain his charpcter literary and phi
losopher The phrases ",rhen in the course Of human
events !" "to dsso,v the political bands " decent
spect;" modes of expression Of which sophomore
would be ashamed And in the Notes on Virginia, his
49,. ~ IL