The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-06-28
"Reminiscences.

Readers of certain inflammatory prints are
apt TO believe that the present era of parties
Is lhe most violent and dangerous one to the
country IN ITS whole history. This is far
rom the Tact. The Union has been dissolv-
Gu dozeh tlmcs-on paper and in frothi-
precisely as it is being dissolved now
When the simple question Of ratifyinp or
rejecting the Federal Constitution came nm
in 1877, "a question the reader of lshG
woulg think likely to be carried by a unani.
nous aye" from Maine to Georgia.) the
whole people were suddenly arraigned into
two parties-Federal and anti Federal TAX
/ ing for example Massachusetts and South
( Carolina, We shall see the strength of parties
/ in the State Conventions called to consider
/ the famous document. In the former State
I IS7 delegates voted "aye," and los "no :"
in the latter State, South Carolina l49 voted
AYE" to 73 "no Just two to one in tho
affirmative. South Carolina was more Sen
siblc at that time than Massachusetts,.
Nnen the Federalists undertook to ccle.
/ brate the ratification Of the Constitution
very violent exhibitions Of party feeling oc-
Cured. In Providence, Rhode Island, Uhe
/ very seat OF free speech,) a mob Of a thou
sand men--soIne armed, and headed by n
Judge of the State Supreme Court-prevent.
/ ed the Federalists from celebrating the con.
stitutional victory. In Albany the process
( sion Of the latter party was attacked with
clubs and stones, and the C0nstituti2a burnt.
In New York city a mob of Federalists de-
stroyed the type Of Greenbrass's " Political
Register" for obnoxious remaaks against
their doings and sayings. One Of Patrick
Henry's PhlllippeS was directed against Jas.
Madison, in the Virginia Assembly, oppos-
ing his election to the United States Senate
Aifhnnsrh al
President was unanimous there were elcre,.
candidates voted for as Vice Presidents by
the electoral colleges. The debates Of In.
first session Of Congress were very spirited
and warm. Antislavery memorials and De.
utIons for ab Jlitons" poured in-Bcnja.
min Franklin headed one, as President of q
Philadelphia society. These of course ex.
cited most acrimonious debate aud the pa
pers OF the day show Us that the recent per-
sonalitleS in the Senate were more than
eclipsed by those in the first Congress; and.
what is very astonishing to US now. days,
the Majority Of the Representatives from
Maryland and Virginia decidedly leaned to-
ward anti-slavery views. \ year CT so later
Jefferson had an idea that Adams and Ham.
iton were engaged in conspiracy to over
turn republican institutions: and the latter
entertained views that the former was a
Jacobln, quite as dangerous TO the country.
So, from that time 10 the present, the par
ties of the United States have been at one
another, wrestling and snowballing
times blackballing-tal and writing, and
conducting the country through all sorts Of
Imminent dangers and "crissise, :" and SO
it will be until the world comes to an end,
and with il this government
Upon the eve, then, of another Prcsilcn-
tial campaign, let us remember, on all sides.
that anlmoSity Of debate and personal con.
flct have been part Of politics from tho
time the lsraclites qIarrclled about Saul and
Samuel down to tho last hour OF the Kansas
discussion. Let Us keep cool and save the
/ Union in our o"n way for il is always de-
sirable TO look back and gather little light
from that great lantern Of experience which
Patrick Henry in revolutionary times, 50 ell
oquent,y eulogzed.-Ne1, YorG Times anl
-he59H1er.