The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1857-06-19
81. Federalism Newly vanped with
Modern Democracy.

Modern pepocrPcY
Il is not q little strange at thi
)ate day, to find party that claim'
adescent, ip a direct line, from th'
party Of Jefferson and Madison, Ia
borisg with go much zeal to strength
on the Federal Government at tht
expense Of the States - to frittel
away all that is left Of State rights
pr State sovereignty, to secure to the
General Government undisputed, ar.
bitrsry sway. The time was, when
the two parties that divided up the
people Of this country, were known
ps Fcderalists and Republicans. -
The Federalists aimed at the aboli.
tion Of State Sovereignities, and the
establishment, instead, of one con-
solidated government, to which was
TO be entrusted the legislation need
I'D, not only in matters affecting the
interests Of the country at large, but
in those Of strictly local character.
The party known then as the Rcpub-
l;can. and subsequently as the Dem.
ocratic party, because its adherents
regarded the latter designation, as
more distinctly expressive Of their
antsgonism to Federalism, took the
position that as all sovereignty was,
Of right, vested in the people, and
as Q Centralized Government had
a tendency to divest the people
Of this right, no more power should
be conceded to the General Govern.
rnent than was essential to preserve
harmony among the States, and pro
mote the general interests of the
country. The peculiar views of the
Federalists, during the administra.
tion Of JOHN ADAnS, found embodi.
Inent in such acts as the Alien and
Sediiion laws. 1t was then as much
rs a mans life was worth to utter
n syllable in disrcspect of the Pres
ident, or OF The Executive officers oi
the General Government. The snc.
cess OF the Republican party, in the
election Of Thomas JEFFERSON to The
Presidency, by a decided majoity,
gave this party the supremacy, and
enabled them to establish the policy
to which the country was afterwards
so much indebted for its harmony
and prosperity.
This party, under the name
of the Democratic party, prescrv-
ed its integrity, so far as regard.
ed its Republican policy, until it fell
a victim to pro-slavery seduction, and
Joined in securing the passage Of fthe
Fugitive Slave Law, the Legitimate
offspring, in its sharacter and opera.
fions, Of tbe Alien and Scdition Law
Of the Federal Era. Since tho enact.
ment Of this law, SO anti Republican, i,
and moreover, 50 obnoxious and op.
.pressive in its character, there has
been continual contest between Un.
ted States and State authorities: the
former s;ming at complete suprcm-
.acy, the latter struggling against
such encroachments as would de-
prive the States Of their independ.
ence. And how has it resultedl-
The laws Of the State no longer af.
ford the citizens any protection
The United States Marshal and his
posse can come into the community,
and unceremoniously pitch upon our
best citizens, and having hand.cufi.
I'd them like felops. carry them off
on the charge of having lodged or
ted some slave, fleeing from oppress-
Jon, and arraign them for trial, not
before a jury Of their peers, and in
the section where the offence was al.
lodged to have been committed, but
before Federal officer, clothed with
almost dictator;sl power, and 10 a
section where the accused cannot, as
? general thing, procure witnesses to
sstallish their innocence, without in
curing heavy expenditures.
This relic Of Federalism, has be-
come tho darling policy Of the party
styling itself the Democratic party.
Tie United States Marshals, the ap-
pointees Of the Democratic Admin.
istrAtiop, bave become distinguish
ed for nothing so much as that oi
running down fugitive slavcs, OF
.sctipg the part of spies 10 inform on,
and arrest any who may allow their
.syppathiss 80 far to get the better Of
fheir fears Of tbs Democratic law
as to give Q crust Of bread, or a cup
efcold wRterto southern ''chat.el.'
The State Courts and State officers
lsre treated as nero cyphers by these
latter. day FedcraliNs, The latter
take il N an act of the greatest DOS