Freeman's champion., 1858-08-26
The Democratic Party.

with tersenesS and truthlulness
which completely puts to the blush
the author of the unfinished "Hstory
Of Democrqcy." We copy the great
er part of the Gasette'S article. Refer
ring to Mr.. EvERETT's conciliatory
remark at the Democratic banquet in
Boston, that Thomas Jefferson was
the "great founder of the Demo
party" it says; ;
The party of which Jefferson was
the distinguished leader, and Of
which it may perhaps be said he was
the founder, was called Republican.
In all Mr.. Jeherson's written allu-
sions to the party with which he ac-
ted, the word Republican is invari-
ably used. The venerable Thomas
Richie, for nearly half a century the
editor Of the Richmond Enquirer, and
the most devoted and distinguished
disciple of Jefferson, in Virginia, uni
formly used the term Republican in
rallying his party to political conflict.
The party opposed to the Republi-
cans OF JeferSon's day was known
as the Federal party, as our readers
are aware. Washington, John Ad.
ans, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron
Burr, were we'll known Federalists.
The struggle of 1900, between Jeffer-
son and Burr, for the Presidency, is
recorded in History. There being
then no choice in the electoral college,
the contest was transferred to the
House Of Representatives, where it
was severe and protracted, the two
parties being equally divided. At
length Federaiist withheld his vote,
and Mr.. Jefferson was elected. The
newly elected President saw his am
bition gratiied, and felt his indebt.
edness to the generosity of a politi-
cal opponent. His own heart being
thus warmed he exclaimed in his in
augural, "we are all Federalists-
we are all Republican" So little
was the administration of Jefferson
marked by partisan rancor, so gener-
ouSly were all parties treated, that
the dividing line between Federalists
and Republicans was greatly obscu-
red, and many who had previously op-
posed the President rallied to his sup.
port. His successor, James Madi-
son, had an easy victory, and before
the close of Monroe's administration
there were absolutely no traces left
of Federal party organization. JEFF
ferson's declaration became literally
and practically true there were no
Republicans all were Americans.
There was slight opposition to Mon
roe's election, and none at all to his
reelection, one electer alone having
voted against him, simply because he
did not wish to see President unan-
imously elected, and without opposi-
ton. in a free country.
But during this political calm, the
great sea Of life and ofpolitics was
not without its ripples. There were
disappointed, ambitious spirits how
ering about on its surface, and occa.
sionally might be seen an;angry wave
daShing some grumbling politician
upoa shore Although the Repub-
lican organization was kept up, the
masses paid little heed to it. In 1924.
w. II. wford, Of Georgia, receiv-
ed the regular caucus nomination of
the Republican party, for President.
The people of the North brought for
ward John Quincy Adams, then Mon
roe's Secretary of State, while the
West brought out Henry Clay, the
champion Of the war of 1872, and for
many years the brilliant leader of the
Republican'party in Congress. Here
1t would seem, were candidates
enough for one campaign. But none
OF the three candidates in the field gave
satisfaction to certain class of pol.
iticians. There were bitter and relent-
less old Federalists who would never
forgive John Quincy Adams for hav-
ing very early in life left the party of
his father and joined that of Jefferson,
and they had no hopes to favor from
either Clay or Crawford. They
sought new man, through whom
they might break down the others,
and build up their own fortunes. |
Aaron Burr was prominent among
this class, and he it was who first
suggested the idea of bringing into
the field the hero of New Orleans.
In o letter to his son-in-law, Mr.. AL
ston, he recommended Andrew jack
son, aS the most available man upon
whom all the discontented forces
could unite. The glory of the battle
Of New Orleans was to be the potent
charm that, coupled with the name