Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-03
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE WING PARTY.
Letter from a'Geatleman IN Philadelphia to hi
friend an this city.
[coAausIcArEp FOR rHE NATIONAL IsrELIrGrScER

MY DEAR SIN: / have received the two papers you
kind enough TO send me- which each contain edito
rial articles to which you call my attention purporng
define the difference distinction between the creeds
general views of policy held by Wings and Democrats
the two great political parties into which the country has
been for more than twenty years divided. While both
these articles written with apparent sincerity, they
nevertheless nged by the peculiar preudce Of the
writers; the object being draw comparison favorable
10 Democracy and unfayorabe to the Wings In my udg
ent they do than justice to the policy and practice
OF one party, and injustice to those Of the other
shall not undertake to reply 10 these articles specih
cslly bat rather what understand 20 be the true
characteristic principles policy and measures OF the two
parties esyin. others judge which nearest the
truth, these writers myself.
The two great parties into which the country has been
for many years divided may date their origin from the
day on which John Quincy Adams elected President
of the United States by the House of Representatives, in
February, 1925
During the first term of Mr. Monroes administration,
powerful had become the Republican and weak the
Federal party that the latter surrendered discretion
and Of existence that upon his reelection
for second term he encountered opposition. Soon
after entering upon the duties of the Presidential office
namely, during the of 1S17-Mr. Monroe made
tour to the North and every where received by the
whole community with the most lively and gratifying
Republicans in manifesng their cordial regard to him.
This of things seemed be gratifying to the
party the other; old enmities buried old
preudioes discarded and general amnesty between oppo
acity agreed upon, which rise to the cx
precision that il the Of good feelings term
by which Mr.. Monroes administration characterized
In consequence of this dissolution and magamaton Of
political psrties-the Republican party being dissolved
for the want of antagonsvec candidates. in due time,
appeared the field asprants for the seat abouto be
Gated by Dir. Monroe-namely, John Quincy Adams, Vim.
HGrawfcrd John c. Calhoun, members of Mr. Aonroes
Cabinet Mr. Clay, Speaker of the House of Representa-
tves and Gen. jackson. Each Of these candidates be-
longed the Republican party while it had existence
party and is well known they had all been honored
by distinguished marks of its favor and confidence The
contest that ensued rather personal than political
one, and resulted, there having been choice by the
people in the election of Mr. Adams by the House of Re-
representatives. before remarked.
For short time there appeared be general acqui-
in the choice of the House; and il some
months before opposition organized This, how
ever accomplished before during the session
of Congress; and the first manifestation Of this oppos
tion IN Congress upon the Panama question: upon
which very able and protracted debate place the
Senate Parties then designated, Republicans
and Fedsrasts, Wings and Democrats, but
Administration and Opposition" Subsequently they
denominaed the Administration" and the ''Jack-
party, Gen. jackson having been nominated by the
Opposition" without the intervention or action Of
caucus or convention.
These parties were not formed with any reference to
tho principles policy Of any former party whatever SO
Ear from it that both led and composed by those who
had formerly belonged both the old divisions Other
considerations and influences operated in inducing men
70 JOIN the one or the other As general rule, the
North AID considerable portion of the West adhered
TO the Adminstration-Mr. Adams being Northern man
and Mr. Clay, his Secretary Of State and the master
spirit Of the Administration, Western man While the
Eoah under the lead of Mr. Calhoun and Gen. Jackson
both Southern men, ranged itself chiefly in the opposi
ton or Jackson party"
There at this time and had been for many yenrs
before important national q1ess before Congress- upon
which took sides according their respective views
the interests Of their constituents Among these we're
the questions Of imposing protective duties and Of ap
proprang the public money for purposes Of internal i'm
provement-the construction especially Of the national
road westward Upon and in favor Of these two mea-
both the North aud the Vest generally agreed
the West being deeply interested in extension and
completion OF that great national highway and the North
being deeply interested in the protection Of her infant
manufactures against the hostile competition Of England
France and other European countries while the South
under the lead Of Mr. Calhoun who had but few years
before bcen in conjunction with Mr. Lowndes the great
champion OF protection and internal improvements
warmly opposed these Measures These circumstances
than any particular acts Of President Adams
Communications in his messages gave character to the
/" Administration and Opposition" parties, so far as
public measures were concerned.
Il must be borne in mind in passing, that the South
and the Democratic party generally, under the lead Of
Dir. Lowndes, Mr., Calhoun, Mr. Clay and others had
Z 49,
tic manufactures while tho Eastern States and the Fede
rsl party opposed this policy and advocated what would
now be termed free trade their interests being chiefly
sonnected with foreign commercef
Upon Mr. Calhoun's leaving Mr. Monroe's Cabinet and
becoming Vice President, be from 1926 to 1889,
he took entirely different in regard to these
measures and held that protection domestic manufac
and the appropriation OF public moneys for the pur
poses Of internal improvement both unconstitutional
In this change he followed by the entire South and
thus pass that the two parties then known
by their present names became identified with their re-
spectiye Of public policy neither being then
dcrsd peculiarly democratic anti-democratic as both
were composed OF who had enjoyed in eminent de-
gree the confidence Of the old Republican party; Fcder
alists and Republicans indeed Unfortunately in
tcrmingled both having lost their former designations
and being no longer ansgonistie Even Gen. Jackson
and Mr. Van Buren voted in the Senate for appropra-
fona 10 the Cumberland road and to establish ollgatss
thereon and he former claimed the decided adj
Of yrotVs duties by his friends at the North md
West aud the latter voted for the famous tariff act