The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-02-14
THE WING PARTY.
THE WING PARTY.
Letter from a, Gentleman in Philadelphia 10
his friend in this city.
COMMUNICATED FOR THE NATIONAL INTELM-
GENcFR

Letter from a. Gentleman tR Philadelphia u
his friend in this city
COMMUNICATED FOR THE NATIONAL INrELLI-
GENcER.
PHILADELPHIA, November rs, 1853.
My DEAR SIR:--I have received the two pa.
pers you were kind enough to send me. which
each contain editorial articles, towhich yol
call my attention, purporting TO define tho diff
ference or distinction between the creeds o.
general views and policy held by Wings aut
Democrats-the two great political parties in
to which the country has been for more thar
twenty years divided. While both these ar
ticles are written with apparent sincerity, they
arc nevertheless tinged by the prejudices o.
the writer's; tho object being to draw a com
parison favorable to Democracy and uniavora
BIO to the Wings. In my judgment they Dc
more than justice to the policy and practice o
one party, and injustice TO the other.
/ shall not undertake to reply to these arti
cles specifically, but state what understand to
bo the truo characteristic principles, policy
and measures Of the two parties, leaving 9th
ers to judge which comes nearest to tho truth
these writers or myself.
! The two great parties into which the coun-
try has been for many years divided may date
their origin from the day on which John Quin-
cy Adams was elected President of tho United
4 oldtCS ny tuC ilOusc VI hcptcoCnthtNNo, III
| February, 1925.
| During tho first term of Mr.. Monroes Adj
minstration, so powerful had become the Re-
publican and so weak tho Federal party, that
the latter surrendered at discretion and went
out of existence; so that upon his reelection
for second :erm he encountered no opposi-
ton. Soon after entering upon the duties Of
the Presidential oiiice-namely, during the
summer OF 1Sl7-Mr. Monroe made tour TO
the North, and was everywhere received by the
whole community with the most lively and
gratifying demonstrations of respect, Federal
lists vieing with Republicans in manifesting
their cordial regard to him. This state of
things seemed to be as gratifying to the one
party as the other; old eamities were buried
old prejudicies discarded, and general am
ncsty between old opponents was tao tly
agreed npon, which gave rise to tho express
ion that it was "the era of good feelings
term by which Mr.. Monroe's administration
was characterized.
In consequence Of this dissolution and a
malgamation of political parties--the Republi-
can party being dissolved for the want of an
antagonist-fve candidates in due time ap-
poared in the field as aspirants for the seat a
bout to be vacated by Mr.. Monroe-namely,
John Quincy Adams, VIM. III. Crawford, John
G. Calhoun, members of Monroes Cabinet,
Mr.. Clay, Speaker Of tho House of Represon-
tatives, and Gen Jackson. Each of these can
didates belonged to the Republican party
while it had an existence as party, and, as is
well known, they had all boen honored by dis
tingushed marks of its favor aud confidcnco
The contest that ensued was rather personal
than political one, and resulted, there having
been no choice by the people, in the election
of Mr.. adams by the House Of Roproe ontatiycs,
as before remarked.
For q short timo thore appeared to be
general acquioscnce in tho choice of the House:
and it was somo months before an opposition
was organized. This. however, was accom-
plished before or during the next session of
Congress: and the first manifestation of this
opposition in Congress was upon tho Panama
question, upon which q very able and protrac-
ted debate took place in tn, Senate. Parties
were thcn designated, not "a Republicans and
Federalists, nor as Whigs and Democrats, but
as Administration and Opposition" Sub
scquently they werc denomiuatod tho admin
istration" and jackson party Gen. Jackson
having been nominated by tho "Opposition,'
without the Intervention or action Of caucus
or convention.
These parties were not formed with any ref
erenco to tho principles or policy of any for
mer party Whatever; so far from il that both
wero led and composed by those who had for
mcry belonged to both the old divisions. -
Other considerations and influences operated
in inducing men to join the one or the other.
AS general rule. tho North and considera-
BILE portion of the West, adhered to the Ad- |
ministration-Mr. Adams beng a Northern |
man, and Mr.. Clay, his Secretary of State and
the master spirit of the Administration, a West- |
ern man; while tho South, under tho lead of
Mr. Calhoun and Gen. jackson. both Southern |
men. ranged itself chiefly in tho Opposition
or jackson party"
They wero at this time, and had been for /
many years, important national questions be- /
fore Congress, upon which men took sides nc-
cording to their respective views or interests
Of thoir constituents. Among these were
questions of imposing protective duties, and
Of appropriating the public money for pur-
poses of internal improvement--the coustruc-
tion, especially, of the national road west
ward. Upon aud in favor of these two meas
ures both tho North and the West were gen.
orally agreed, the West being deeply intercs-
ted in tho extension and completion of the
great national highway, and the North being
as deeply interested in tho protection Of her
infant manufactures against the hostile compc-
lition of England, France and other European
countries; while the South, under the lead of
MIR. Calhoun, who had but few years before
been, in conjunction with Mr.. Lowndcs, the
great champion of protection and internal inn
provoments,F warmly opposed these measures.
These circumstances, more than any paricu-
ar act of President Adams or recommends
tons in his messages, gave character to the
Administration and "Oppostion" parties, so
TAR MS public measures were concerned.
1t must bo borne in mind, in passing, that
he South and the Democratic party generally,
,nder the lead of Mr.. Lowndes, Mr.. Calhoun,
Mr.. Clay. and Others. had in former years, ad-
7ocated tho encouragement of domestic man
ltactures, while tho Eastern States and the
Federal party opposed this policy, and advo-
'ated what would now be termed free trade;
heir interests being chiefly connected with
oreign commerce.f
Upon Mr.. Calhouns leaving Mr.. Monroe's
jabinct and becoming Vice President, as he
vas from 1925 to 1888, he took an entirely
Iifierent course in regard to these measures,
md held that protection to domestic manufac-
ures and the appropriation of public moneys
or the purposes Of internal Improvement were