The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-13
: 'VID 'UV ~ y NVIl1lqI 1IA' AtF'I'l7sI
Opposition Parties in War.

person that each was the work OF DOM
inant guriy The Revolution was COM
menced by men who inherited the con-
victions Of the old English Wings, few
at the beginning having tho temerity to
dream of separation and the establish
ment Of n republic. For years after the
passage of the stamp act the strife was
simply arepetition Of the Whie and To
ry controversy in the seventeenth century
The current of events forced the former
party on toward democracy, while the
latter were broken up and destroyed
But the opposition did not subside until
the surrender of Burgoyne or the capture
OF Yorktown. In every State il had ad-
herents who assailed the Wings with
Causing the war, which they might have
prevented by a compromise with the
King"
Tue war with Mexico was essentially
of the same character. It was the work
of the Democratic as opposed to the then
existing Wing party. AS such it was
supported or opposed in the legislative
halls and at the ballot-box. As such II
was waged and carried to triumphant
issue.
But in no case was this party spirit so
strongly manifested as during the war of
1872. The Republicans, as opposed TO
the Federalists, had thrown down the
gauntlet to England; and their opponents
held them to "a terrible reckoning" there
for, Instead Of gradually giving way to
the Administration, they seemed to grow
every year more Formidable and bold.
Their opposition kept steadily increasing
until it eliminated in the Hartford Con-
yeniion, which proposed, 10Th tie consent
Of Congress, to retain the revenue of New
England for the purpose of more efectu-
ally providing for its own defence. This
measure failing, it was next recommend
ed that the national constitution be so
amended as TO give the States greater au-
thority over the revenue, militia, fortifi-
cations, etc, with the same object in view.
The states which in Congress cast ma
jorities against the declaration Of war in
1912, were New York, New Jersy, Mas
sachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island
and Delaware. Maryland was ready for
a defensive, but not an offensive war. AT
the very outset several of the Legislatures
adopted resolutions strongly cOndemna-
tory of the Administration for this pro-
ceeding. That Of New Jersey made
itself especially conspicuous. We ques-
ton whether the semi reasonable
Holseman platform is quite up 10 the
mark with that of the Fedefalists oi
1872, in point Of strong opposition to the
party in power. The war into which
the Administration had plunged the coun-
| try was denounced as "lnexpedient, ILL
timed and most dangerously impolitic
sacrificing at once countless blessings
and mourning all the hazards and losses
Of men and treasure necessarily result
ing from contest with nation posses
sing 80 many means to annoy us" This
was followed by lectsre about waste
fulness and multiplied disasters, foi
! which the Administration was held res
ponsible. A rumored treaty with France
was held up 20 view with as much loath-
ing as would be one with Anegro state al
present Finally, the resolutions called
for the opening Of negotiations in order
10 bring about treaty Of peace with
Great Britain. These passed both hous-
es of the Legislature of New Jersey in
the November Of 1872. a- .a.I
In Connecticut Governor Dearborn went
80 far as to refuse to cali out the State
quota Of militia; and the Legislature
resolved that the people held the war 10
be unnecessary. The danger Of this
militia being converted into standing
army was pointed ont earnestly. Gov
ernor Strong of Massachusetts, was not
to be behindhand, and be also refused 10
call out the quota of troops for the ma
tional service, on the ground that the
State was In no danger Of invasion. In
this construction Of the constitution he
was sustained by the Supreme Court of
Massachusetts, Little Rhode Island fol-
lowed the examples Of her two larger
neighbors though lamenting that her
extensive sea coasts rendered her espe-
cially vulnerable. Maryland gave a
general approval to these proceedings.
The opposition thus early manifested
in States which ought TO have stood by
1le sailor in an especial degree, and which
would probably have. done so but for the
partisan origin Of the conflict, continued d
down 10 the treaty Of peace. AZ every
session Of Congress circumstances against
the further continuance Of the war were
presented. Powerful speeches were made
against the policy of Invading an unof.
Tending community like the Canadians
leaving our own coasts unprotected
against the enemy's raVages, Ia truth
this was the strong point Of the FEEDER
alists, and furnished something like q
reason why the people on the seaboard
should feel dissatisfied with The manage
ment OF the war This diseOnienl
Increased month after month, h
spite Of the brilliant successes gain.
cd on the ocean and Northern lakes
II eliminated at last In the Hartford
Convention, which though not the dis.
loyal body that IL has been represented
--in that it proposed no forcible resist
ance to the constilutiOn-was yet weak
ening the hold Of the government At thi
North and indirectly aiding the enemy
Finally, its influence was put 70 rest itf
delegates TO Washington meeting ihs
Commissioners who had negotiated the
treaty OF Client aud thereby brought
about the restoration Of peace. But Wig
orous aud powerful as the Federalisis
had been during the second war, their
day soon passed away forever, as that Of
the Tories Of the Revolution had before
and that Of The Whigs has done u still
later day Let rs add, and as that Of The
so-calied peace faction Of the present
day ,gW do, ailer the overthrow of th,
rebellion bRs restored permanent peac,
10 our nov distracted country.
The facts 10 which We have referred
may bo especially worthy Of remem