American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-21
For the American Union.
POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES.

Il
Mr.. Editor
| | promised in my last to give
somewhat ofthe history of the misecal.
led, self.inaating, piebald Democratic
party which is in these days being
thrust upon the unreAecting for the
true principles upon which our govern
ment was founded. And in order to
effect this, hope you will bear with
me while Iendeayor to show what those
true principles were and how they now
form part of fthe Government of this
country. At the conclusion of the Re-
volutionary War, tho colonies being
without form of government, the first
thing to be done, was to call a Cunven-
tion to meet in aPhiladelphia on the Cd
Monday in May 1887, to form Con-
stitution. Delegates were chosen from
all the States. They met and elected
George Washington President of the
j Convention. 1t is strange, yet true,
that the delegates composing that au-
gust body of patriots, were all Ameri-
can Wings. No Democrats there, or
what was then known by that name
There was then no party names but
Wings and Tories. The Wings were
in favor of Independence and against
Tyranny-The Tories (the ancient lea
ders of the present locofoco party) we're
in favor the tyrannical movements of
the King and the liberty for which the
other party was fighting. Well, this
Convention held a session of months;
during all of which time, the doors are
kept closed. No man passes into or
from that hall but the members of that
glorious little band of 'Know Nothing
Americans who had met for the pur-
pose OF forming Constitution for this
great country. Washington was cho-
sen the firsti President aud John Ad-
ans Vice President. Jefferson was
appointed Secretary of State and Ham
ilton Secretary of tho Treasury. In
January 1850 Hamilton made a report
J upon the public debt contracted during
the Revolutionary War and recommen-
ded that it should be assumed by gov
ernment, which amounted to over sew
] enty five millions Of dollars.
1 Topay this money Hamilton recon-
mended q tariff or tax to be levied on
article OF foreign growth and manufac.
ture, and on spirits distilled within the
country. The Tory party at this time
changed their name to Republican,
They opposed this bill with all their
power. But in 81 this bill became a
law in spite of the Tory. Republican
party. Here | must drop word or
two in relation to Jefferson. He was
a Wing in principle and ia action, and
the Democrats claim him because he
opposed Hamilton $ bill to raise money
to pay this debt which he himself re-
GREETED afterwards. 1t was the Tory
republicans that claimed him at that
day for the same reasons that he is now
claimed by the patent-locofoco democra-
cy of these modern times-thus show
ing an unbroken chain of descent from
the Revolutionary Tory down the pre-
sent piebald Democracy.
| In order to enable Congress to carry
on this war, John Adams loaned to the
government five hundred thousand dol
lars. He was the first man to stand up
in his place in Congress to declare for
liberty. Yet this same Democratic
party are unceasing in their cries a.
gainst this patriot. The alien and Sc
dition law was passed under his admin
istration, which was pronounced to be
a gag law by the Tory-ropublicans. -
Who did it gag? Not che American
citizen, Its requirements were of a
healthfal tendency toward our institu-
tions--requirlng the subject to have
been twenty one years on our shores
before permitting him to vote or to, hold
office. After Mr.. Adams term, Mr..
Jefferson was chosen President, on the
36th ballot by the House of Represent
tatives. have nothing to say against
Mr.. Jefferson's administration, aItho'
he made two blunders; the first was
the building of his gun boats, which in
the end proved an entire failure-the
second was o transaction which took
place during the Tripolitan war, the
history of which have not here space
to relate, but refer the reader to the
history of that war. The administra-
tions Of both Madison and Monroe were
Wing. The Tory,republicans with
view no doubt to the loayes and fishes,
were induced to support these latter
gentlemen, who made good Presidents
Notwithstanding the bad company they
were surrounded by.
1 In 1923 party spirit run high, and it
was at this period that the grand meta
morphosc took place; that is, the old or
iginal Tory party, afterwards amalga-
mated with the Republicans, arc now