The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-23
The Origin of the Democratic Party.

What has been and is the ground OF
this columnv and dctractiOn OF the Dem
ocratic partv2 This question is eminent
" proper ut this time, when we have just
passed through an era of confusion, which
has been trial-time to test the validity
of principles, and the integrity OF par
ties rs the posscssors of principles, ana
TN, cxponcnts of their practical tendon
cies in government. The Democratic
marty had its origin in the Convention
which formed the Constitution OF the
United States. In that convention there
were two decided and opposing wings:
The one which soon took the name OF
the Federal party, and was headed 10y
Hamilton and Knox, was composed "i
NIL those who favored y strong central
government. and espoused all measures
in the early history ofthc country, when
tended TO consolidate all governmental
mowers in national sovereignty, to Oh
| i;terotc or reduce the States to mere
nominal or municipal corporations, I"
combine all special Interests in the very
STRENGTH oc their schShncss, looking to
! the government for class leSlSa'l"n'
and as guarded and foStercd by pr"''',
tive laws ut the expense of the general
RIGHTS of tho people, and by the Imp"si'
ti1n of all modes of taxation upon IN,
hodv of the citizens for such special III
forests 1t was the sacrifice of constltu'
tional principles and Of general laws Il
sn,cial interests, bounticS, monop"lle>
and 10 all modes of concentration I"
wcaltb and power by the great drag-nc'
Of the Federal party. They were th'
authors of National banks, OF pr"te'tiN'
tariffs, internal improvements ..
which the States were To DC SUP
siIizcd: of the assumption "t th'
State debts, by which they we're to D.
corruptcd, and their heritage OF hberli':
wore 10 be bought for IAN OF pott"S''
and by which, and by various oth"'
measures. wealth and power were 10 %
accumulated in the hands OF the ir"
The Supreme Court was 10 DC 50 man
arnd os to construe the Constitution an'
the laws. in spirit hostile TO the reSrrN
81 rirhts of the State, and, Mt all pniht
If this Federal policy, to protect, enforce
and uphold, the power OF consressionna
and Executive intervention in their do
mnstic concerns, and in their relations
Ell oocb other. SO decided had become
the fenr or dread OF this CONTAMINATION
of,er the formation and before the ""Vi'
,;or If the Constitution, that nuihoc
ttbe States expressed desire, IN orue
IN prsrent miseonStrUct'on or d0"Se
10 1owsrs. that further declaratory an'
'ts P:; clsuses should beaded, and, II
consequence, the ten amendments S"asu
;n, more fully the integrity OF the state
"nd the rights of the people, were mau
narts of the organic law. ms WAS III
nucleus of the Democratic parry
without a name. Constitution ad"p'e.
June p, l7sS; Amendments N"F'"
1881
TneCon,rast Of the Parties
Tho constitutional party, headed b,
rna,n.s Jefferson, and aided and Su'
.,;nnd in Virginia by those clear, heaue
al nd hearted men, Edmund Kan
Snb and James Mason, derived thei
,;,ia ss Democrats, by nickname give
,bam by their opponents, when, uh.ol
sciously on their part, indicated Tue 't =
spirit OF popular partyI'neE "r 49,, ~
bemocracy-the strength, (Srdfosl pow
r;ctnrv of the people. 1t. WAS term 9
s.nrnscb. il has become monument o
honor An parties, by whatever nam ;
NJ! H. ,rore afterwards known IN thei
~, changes of names in the suoSequen !;
h;",nrr Of the Federal party, ana wnie
n nis' ,ccseded to that old party, nay
nav nav distinguished for the support Q