The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-23

noble and instructive one. Il took its rise
at the close Of President Washington's
second term, and it had its origin in the
doctrine Of State Rights. The Federalists,
many Of them, honestly believed that the
powers granted TO tho general government
by the Constitution we're not sufficient for q
stable government, and they resorted to a
liberal construction, as they termed it, to
increase its power over the States and the
people. Among these were men of un-
doubted honesty and patriotism, such men
as Washington, Hamilton, Pickering and
the elder Adams On the other hand, JEFF
fersOn, Madison, Monroe and many others,
North and South, believed that the powers
conferred were ample, and, fearing an en-
largemcnt thereof, they insisted on a strict
construction Of the Constitution, and held
that the general government was the mere
creature of the States, and should be watched
carefully, lest it should become unmindful of
its origin and attempt to oveTawe the States
and assume an original sovereignty, which
never belonged to it. Thus the Democratic
party arose on the main question Of State
rights, which divided not only the leading
men of that time, but the great mass OF the
people. Il is true there were some minor
questions Of difference. The Federalists
were opposed to the FIRST French revolution,
and against tho admission of foreigners,
except under severe restrictions, as the
alien law will testify. The Democrats IA
vored both. The Federalists passed tho
sedition law, to augment the power and
consequence Of the general government,
making 1t penal TO talk against the
President or other Federal authorities,
and for doing this many Democrats were
prosecuted, convicted and thrown into jails.
But majority of the people of the United
States would not sanction these proceedings,
nor this broad construction of the powers
Of the general government. The constitu-
tion was then a new thing, and all the de-
bates upon its formation and adoption were
fresh in their memories, and they knew very
we'll that there never had been an intention
on the part of its makers to give up all the
rights of the States and confer unlimited
authority On the general government Con
sequently they defeated old John Adams
for a second term, and elected Thomas JEFF
fersou, the distinguished leader OF the
Democrats and the immortal author of the
Declaration Of independence, in his place,
as President of the United States. Thus
the Democratic party took possession of the
government and held it during the two
terms of jefferson, Madison and Monroe, and
the whole country prospered in an unex-
ampled degree. Then, the Federal party
pretended to be detunct, and matters be-
came so mixed up, that, after a canvass in
which several were voted for without any
one getting majority, the House of Rep
resentatives finally elected John Quincy
Adams, the son Of old John Adams, who
had professed to turn Democrat but who
really held to all the old Federal doctrines.
Then came reaction, and the Democratic
party, reused from the lethargy into which
it had fallen during "the era of good feel
ing, as it was called, during the admins
tration of President Monroe, hurled the
younger Adams from his place, after bis
first term, and put the old hero of New Or
leans, General Jackson, in the Presidential
chair. After his two terms, Mr. Van Buren
was elected, but owing to the distracted
financial condition of the country from
overtrading and speculation, which the
Federalists, under the new name of Wings
took advantage Of Van Buren was defeated
for his second term, and the Democrats lost
possession of tho government But Harri-
son dying, and Tyler, State rights man,
succeeding him, difficulties and quarrels
arose in the Whig ranks, and, at the end Of
Tyler's term, the Democracy came again into
power under Polk, and the country again
At the end of Polk's first term,
there were three candidates for the Presi-
dency in the field Gen. Cass, the regular
Democratic candidate; Martin Van Buren,
the candidate Of the Free Soilers; and Gen.
Taylor, the candidate of the Wings. ow-
ing to this split in the Democratic party
and the war popularity of Gen. Taylor, who
had no particular politics he was elected
President, and the Democrats again lost
their nscendency. Gen. Taylor dying
soon after he had commenced his term, was
by Fillmore, the Vice President,
but he, at the end of his term, was defeated
by Gen. Pierce, aud the Democracy were
once moro in power. At the end OF Pierce's
buchanan was elected Pres
idcnt by the Democracy and all was again
we'll But during his term the anti-slavery
had gained such power, that they
succeeded in electing Lincoln as his success
sor, which brought on the civil war. From
that time until now. the Federals, under the
name of Republicans or Radicals, have held
the government, and stretched its powers
beyond anything the old honest Federalists
ever dreamed Of, setting the Constitution at
naught, and committing all sorts Of enor-
mites, sustained BY the military arm and
the decisions Of corrupt courts.
We have given this brief history Of the
Democratic party for tho advantage Of our
young men. many Of whom have grown up
of late years without a true knowledge Of
the noble old party to which they belong.
And. besides, it will not hurt the old ones
to be reminded Of the past. The great
growth and prosperity Of this oountry are to
lie attributed to the Democratic party. which.
has, for the larger portion Of time, had pos
session Of the government, and Is now likely
to get it again at the close Of the corrupt
Of President Grant. The
prospect is now cheering, for wherever the.
old party flag in the late elections has been
raised. the Radicals have been routed ana
put to flight. The Democratic party cannot
die because il is founded on tho constitu-
ton and equal human rights. when Dem
acrcy dies in this country. free government