The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-05-26
Political.
For The Cecil Whig.
AMERICANISM.
The Old Parties-Thc Change
The Effects OH Them.

| . Inc EiAectS Oh lnem.
Mr.. Editor The changes which have
occurred, i'll the relations of parties in the
United States, as manifested by the result of
| the elections within the last two years, are
such as to confound the calculations and
,ioepardize the prospects. if they do not be-
wilder the intellects of the wire-worllcrs of
both the Wing and Democratic parties. We
had all known for the last ten years, that
there existed among u.s. class of persons
who were professedly adverse to the discipline
and practice of the old parties, on some
points, particularly those which related to
the introduction of Foreigners into this coun-
| try: their premature investment with the
rights of citiz, nship, and their employment
in the various branches of thepublic service.
| We have also known that in particular dis
tlicts, where large masses of voters arc crowd
ed together, and where the population is sub
.ject, from the mere heat of personal contact,
| to violent and irregular emotions, they have
occasionally succeeded in carrying charter
| election and even in some instances have
| elected their representatives to Congress or
! the State Legislatures; but no one could pos
! sibly have Imagined that this small body of
men, who but two years since, were ridicul-
cd for their zeal. and dcspised for their in
| significance by some, whilst they We're look
ell upon with cold disregard by the masses of
the old parties, in so short period, by the
mere power of conversion from the ranks of
their opponents, could have assumed the first
rank in numbers and power in the councils
of the nation. Yet such imagine will in
the sequel he found to be tifr case. The
change thus produced, by the transfer of the
authority and power of government, from the
hands of the incumbents of the old parties to
sect entirely new, so lately scarcely, if at
all known, and as yet. wholly untrcd
amounts to civil Revolution, noisclcss,
bloodess It's true, but still n political Rcvo-
luton Had the same change which, from
the wonderful wisdom, the admirable struc-
ture and the marvellous operations Of our In
shtutions has taken place in this country in
silence and in safety occurred in any other
nation, surrounding communities would have
been disturbed the Glamour, if not endangcr-
cd by the violence of the contestants. | am
plain man, sir, and by no means closely
read in History. / have however pcrused
curSorily that of the ancient Republics, and
those of some of the modern nations of Eli
rope, but in neither of these do | rccollect
any parallel to the spectacle which has been
| exhibited in this our day. That revolutions
in public sentiment have frequently occurred
i'll each Of them. is fact which every nco-
phite has had forced upon his observation;
that these Revolutions arc frequently attend
cd by turbulence, violence and bloodshed,
and that they formerly but seldom took place
without them: that they have some times
been produced by a mere desire for change
OF Rulers, and that they have as frequently
subsidized so soon as the obnoxious inculnbentS
were removed, are facts known to all. At
others the public mind goadpd into fury by
the lash OF Oil al arrogance, or crushed and
bruised by the lnltiction of wrongs to which
passive submission furnished no alienation,
have risen in the phrcnsicd courage Of dcs-
pair, and at blow not only swept away
their oppressors, but have also demolished
the Institutions to which from habit and
education they were attached, and to which
alone they could ultimately look for protcc-
ton or redress. Mankind have not always
| been willing or capable to examine carefully
or distinguish critically between the Law and
Its Officers; between defective institution
and corrupt executive. In all such cases
complaint of some great evil has been openly
made, and redress as openly refused. In all
countries affecting to regard the right of pc
tition, they have been preceded by certain
premonitory symptoms, applications, me-
MORALS, petitions, or rcmonstrances, which.
whilst they served as an appeal for redress,
were also intended as a warning to beware.
But in the instance of the late change, if we
are to believe the partisan press-no great
wrong is complained of, no misjudgcd act Of
legislation is alleged, no portentious evil is
pointed out, no danger to the freedom of the
people, the Constitution of the country or the
| Institutions Of society, is said to impend; but
the people themselves, stimulated by capri
|
| have resolved, with an unanimity which ac-
cldcnt alone could produce, upon changing
the officers of Government and modifying
our civil polity for mere pastimc; and we are
startled and astonishcd by the unhcralded.
unannounccd appearance at the polls of a party
which is said, (by its opronents,) to be
without principles or policy, without
organization or object, with scarcely re-
spectacle organ, Editor, or orator throughout
the length and breadth of land fruitful in
such appliances of political warfare; who
come forward, secretly it is alleged, quietly
ii is certain, and by the pcaccable exercise
of the elective franchise, their undoubed
constitutional right, and at blow derangc
| the machinery and defeat the plans of the old
parties, Spreading confusion among the Wings
dlsmay among the Democrats, and settling
as far as one election can settle, for good or
| evil, as the future may disclose, the fate and
fortunes of three and twenty millions of citi-
zens Of the United States. Having achieved
a victory and for the present accomplished
the object of their mission, they suddenly re-
tire into silence and obscurity-a silence
which denotes no change of purpose or de-
ficiency of rcsolution--an obscurty which
signaizcs the conscious possession of a
mythical and rcsistless power. Such is the
-picture whether faithful or not, will not say
which is presented to us Of a party which
must command respect for its numbers,
should it even fail to secure our admiration
and support gifts principles.
The effect to be produced upon the intro
drction of this new clement of power into our
political system has not been felt by the
country, nor can it be until, if ever. the prin-
ciplcs which have been evolved by it's career,
are codified and passed into laws by the SUI
pcror authority. In the meantime a breath
ing spell is left us in Maryland, before we
shall be called upon either to affiliate with
this new power, or otherwise to arm and
prepare TO vanquish itor be ourselves over
thrown, in the arena of political strife |
propose, sir, to employ this interval in the
investigation, of the following points, in your
Journal -