The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-02-14

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fed with their respective courses of public pol
10y; neither being considered peculiarly dem
ocratic or anti-democratc, as both were com
posed of mon who had enjoyed in an eminent
degree the confidence of the old Republican
party: Federalist and Republicans indeed
were eindscriminately intermingled, both hav
ing lost their former designations, and being
no longer antagonistic. Even Gen. Jacksou
and Mr. Van Buren voted, in tho Senate, fol
appropriations to tho Cumberland road and tc
establish toll-gates thereon; and tho former
was claimed as the decided advocate of pro
fectipe dntcs by his friends at the NORTH
and West; and the latter voted for the famous
tariff act of 1928, which was so highly protec
tive as to DO denounced by the South as "the
bill of denominations The letter which Gen
Jackson addressed to DR.. Coman in 1924, and
which was extensively published and repub-
lished in the newspapers of that day and since
approving in unequvocal terms of protecting
American manufactures by indiscrminatipg
duties, was a sufficient justification 10 his
friends at the North and West to claim him as
a friend of "the protective policy;" and they
accordingly mado use Of it with great effect
during the campagno of 1928, which resulted
in his election for President. Gradually, how
ever, tho protective policy came to bo that OF
National Republican or Wing party, as apar-
| w, tHOuUll III WIS duVOcdtcu ub uDNcTUulcttul
policy by both Democrats and Wings in Penn
sylvania ms late as 1914, when the tariff of 49,
~ was claimed by the former as ''lhe Demo
cratic tariff, and tho people wero assured by
the leaders of that party that if they wished to
prevent its repeal they must vote for Mr.. Polk
| rather than Mr.. Clay As a commentary up
on this assurance the tariff of 1912 was re-
ncaled by Democratic Congress in 1916. Mr..
Dallas of Pennsylvania thon Vice President,
giving tho casting vote against it in tho Sen
atc.
As TO tho National Bank question, up to
the time whom G n. Jackson voted the bill ro-
chartoring the United States Bank, tho ono
party was as much in favor of that measure as
the other. The Republican party in 1871 re-
fused by the casting vote of Vice President
Clinton, to recharter the fret United States
Bank, chartered in 1874. But in 1916 the
same Republican party changed its course on
this question:: Mr.. Crawford, Mr.. Gallatin,
Mr. Madison, Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. For
syth, and other prominent members and lead
ors of that party advocating the measure.
No complaint whatever was made against
the United States Bank. nor had its recharter
been mooted, until Gen. Jackson himself bro't
the subject before Congress in-his first annual
message. When the bill for rcchartering tho
bank was subsequently, in 1882, brought by
Mr. Dallas, (who, at his own solicitation, had
charge of it and voted for il against the veto)
before Congress and passed., it was defeated
by tho veto ofthc President. But, so far from
taking the ground that Congress had no con-
stitutional power 10 charter such an institution,
Gen. Jackson said. in his veto message, that
bad he been called upon ho could have fur
nisod the plan for n National Bank to which
there would havo been no constitutional OBJ
lection; and it was wcll known that his plan
was that of strictly Governmental Bank.
with Government capital, Government dircc-
tors. &c.
Mr.. Clay Mr.. Webster and other promi-
nent Wings, being in favor of tho roclarter of
the bank and not having been changed by tho
veto message, as were worry largo portion of
the Jackson-men who had acted with them
the question of shank or no bank! first be-
came party question, though there were still
many Jackson-men in favor aud somo Wings
opposed to such an institution.
The question of disposing of tho public lands
for the benefit of the whole of the United
States when tho proceeds of their Gales were
no longer required for tho purposes of revenue
for the payment of the public debt was one
which had long occupied the attention of states
men, and various propositions were brought
forward in regard to them. tho purport of tho
greater portion Of which was to surrender the
lands to tho States in which they were situa-
ted, tho subject being presented to the Senate
in tho winter of 1882, it was by that body ro-
ferred, not to Committee on Public Lands. to
which IL lcgitimately belonged, and of which
Col. VIM. II. King was chairman. but to the
Committee on Manufactures, Of which Mr.. !
Clay was chairman! Mr.. Clay and his friends
earnestly opposed this reference Of tho SUBJ
joct, not being able.to perceive what the Com
mitteo on Manufactures had to do with tho |
subject of disposing Of tho public lands, and |
well knowing that tho whole object of the ref |
erence was to embarrnss him, he then being |
the nominee of the Wings for President. II
was supposed to be impossible to devise a |
plan Of disposng of tho public domain that |
would not meet the hostile opposition of either
tho old or tho new States. Mr. Clay, howev-
or, the subject being thus forced upon him,
grasped it with his accustomed ability and |
succoss,nnd reported plan that met tho cordial
approval of largo majority of both houses Of
Congress, as was oyinced by its passage by
vote of moro than two-thirds of tho Senate
and House of Representatives. But the bill |
was pocketod by Gen. Jackson, who neither
signed nor returned it.; and, during tho vaca-
lion which ensued the party press set to work
10 raise up opposition, and SO successful was
this effort that before tho commencement Of
the next session Of Congress, notwithstanding
inc universal approDatiOn Wild which tho plan |
was at first hailed, tho whole jackson party"
were arrayed against it, and it consequently
facd This was Mr.. Clays plan of dsposing
Of tho pnblic lands; that is to say, giving 10
zach State its proportioDato share of tho lands
themselves. Subsequently, measure was
passed. when tho Troasury became plethoric
Ind overfowing, which distributed or loaned
hc surplus revnue to tho States in certain in
'tallments, three of which paid to such ss
would accept their share, the fourth being ar
'ested by sudden change in tho fiscal affairs Of
he country, which soon drained the public
,offers, and compelled the Government 10 bo
,ome borrower instead of lender.
have thus cndcavored to present plain
statement Of tho rise and adoption by .hc par
y now known as the Wings Of certain moas-
lres and views Of public policy, as well as
hose adopted by what is now termed tho
Democratic party. without entering into any
omment upon tho effoct Of their respective
measures upon the county. |,
Ii is proper to remark that the torn Demo
rat was not taken by that party which op-
,oscd the old Federal party, but denominated