New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-02
A WISE ANn FRuGLL GOVERNMENT.

one thing more, wise anu lIttS"4 60'o
meut. which shall restrain men from IN
turing one another; shall leave them
otherwise free to regulate their own pur-
suits Of industry and improvement; and
shall not take from the mouth OF labor
tbe bread it has earned. This Mr.. Jetier-
son pronounced to be the sum OF good
government, which be deemed necessary
to complete the circle Of felicities that
were in store for the American people
provided they did not rebel against the
unmistakble will OF Him who has invested
them with power to choose between good
and evil.
When we revert to the time Of Mr..
Jefferson and remember the very exciting
political contest through which the coun-
try had passed just before he was first in
augurated President, we can fully realize
the reason why he then took occasion to
impress upon the minds Of the American
people the necessity for q wise and frugal
government to complete the full measure
Of their glory and happiness. The con-
test for the presidency in the year 1900
was an unusually bitter one between the
Federal and Republican parties-t the two
great parties Of that day. Mr. John Adj
ans was the candidate OF the Federal
party for reelection, and Mr.. Jefferson
the candidate of the Republican party.
Prominent writers Of that day say party
divisions were drawn to strong and III
separable line, and were particularly dis
tinguished by virulerce and acrimOny.
These divisions rested in a great meas
ure upon points Of foreign policy
and on foreign predictions or
aversions. Mr. Adams is represented
as having been rendered unpopular by
his apparent apathy toward the French
revolution, and by the charges repeatedly
made that himself and party We're favor
ably inclined toward Great Britain. His
administration was also accused Of spend
ing money for the building of a navy and
other purposes that many deemed i'm
polite and useless. These, of course,
were the political opponents Of President
Adams; and the enactment Of an alien
law, by which the President was author
lied to compel suspected foreigners TO
leave the country, and Of tie
sedition law. which provided thai
the authors and publishers Of false
and malicious accusations against tie
President and members Of Congress should
be prosecuted and oriminally punished,
were also denounced as despotic measures
by the political enemies Of President
Adams and the Federal party. OF course
infammatory writers existed in those days
as now, who, to carry an election, would
not scruple to misrepresent the purpose Of
a law--no matter how wise and saIUtary
in order to arouse the passions 0: the
people against the party in power: tie
spirit of the opposition being stimulated
more by the prospect o. a political VIC
tory. to be followed by division
Of the spoils, than 10y a patriotic desire to
relieve the country Of odious and oppress-
i've laws: laws that can be repealed When
ever the people 50 determine. Hlt the
opposition to Mr.. Adams administration
OF the federal government. though il
reality groundless. was crowned with sue
cess; yet the most serious strife Q: tina:
presidential contest WIS not over. and the
country witnessed with great commotion
the efforts Of intriguing and unpriIcipled
politicians TO make g man President for
whom the people had not cast vote for
that purpose. As the constitution existed
at that time each eiectOr voted sOr two
men without designating which was to be
President; and lie who obtained the great
est number Of votes was to be Presi-
dent. and the nearest to him Vice Presi-
dent. Colonel Burr had been nominated
by the Republican party for Vice Presi-
dent, and receiving the same number Of
votes as Mr.. jefferson. who had |
been nominated by the same party Tor |
President. the election, according to the !
was carried into the House |
Of Representatives for the purpose 0. de-
who was to succeed Mr.. Adams |
rs President. Here for weeks the strife |
was kept up: for strange as It may appear
the States. which lad to determine
the matter. each State being entitled
TO one vote Ito be cast as the ma
Iority of members from each State
were equally divided in
heir choice between Mr.. jefferson
md Mr.. Burr for President. nC:withstand-
ng the popular vote lad been rendered
Tor Mr.. Jefferson. The creates. excite
nent prevailed throughout the country.
md for while popular government was
II imminent danger. A writer of tia.
leriod says the time limited by the con-
'titution for the election of President
lad nearly arrived. and there was danger
nat government must come 10 q pause OF
)e resolved into its oriaiua. clements. Al
ength, after thirty-:ive Intellectual ballots.
me of the representatives o: the State of
Maryland made public the contents of a
ttter to himself. written by Mr.. Burr.
y which he declined al pretensions 70
lie Presidency. and authorized Linz to
'.scAln' In his name. any competition
nth Mr., Jefferson. Ca this specific dee
Arat!on. observes the same writer. tao
ederal members who represented .Le
't"'es which had heretofore voted blank.
withdrew and permitted III. Eeoubliean