The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-05-24
True Democracy.

states on account OF the war OF 1912.
But because of it's policy of consolida-
ton, manifested in the alien and sedi-
ton laws, it was overthrown by the
Democratic party in the election of
Mr.. Jefferson to the Presidency in
the year 1900. 1t died in conse-
quence of the disapproval of it's prin-
ciples by the great body of the peo-
pie.
Nor did the Wing Party, the lin
cal successor of the Federal Party
fall on account of it's opposition to the
Mexican war. After the war Gener-
al Taylor, Wing, was elected to the
Presidency and called around him
in his Cabinet leading Wings of the
country, with Daniel Webster at
their head. What threw the Wing
Party out of power was the same
cause which had defeated it's prede,
cessor in 1S00-its policy of consoli-
dation.
There cannot, we think, be doubt
that the cause Of the rise and success
of the Democratic Party was simply
its political principles; and that the
downfall Of the Federal and Whig
party was due to the fact that the
people eschewed those principles.
What, then, were the principles of
these two parties2
Those of the Democratic Party
made the General Government one of
restraints or power. The principles
of the Federal or Wing Party virtu,
ally made it government Of unre-
strained power. The Democratic
Party maintained that the limitations
OH powers, conferred on the Federal
Government, contained in the Con-
stitution should be observed. The
Federalists contonded for construc-
tive powers, which virtually spongod
out the limitations OF the Constitution
and thus would make the Govern
ment of the Uuited States one of un-
limited power.
The course of the two parties,
touching various measures which
came up in the history of the country,
shows in practical application the
fundamental principles on which they
were organized. The Democratic
Party opposed the Alien Law aimed
against the rights of foreign born
citizens; and the Sedition Law strik~
ing down the liberty of the Press in
it's criticisms of the Federal admins.
tra'ion; and the incorporation of an
overshadowing Bank Of the United
States; and Tariffs laid by the Gener,
al Government, not for Revenue only
bat for the benefit of manufacturers;
and various other measurers. 1t
could find no warrant in the Consti-
tuition authorizing such measures, of
legislation by Congress. The Feder.
al or Whig party admitted that they
saw no express warrant in the Con-
stitutioh, but claimed that the meas
ures were constitutional by construc.
ton. The Democratic party replied
that if construction Of the Constitu.
tion by a majority in Congress was
the criterion of the powers of the
General Government, then it must
be limitless in its powers. "TEe
general welfare" was it's license; and
absolution it's natures
On these principles, consisting of
nothing short of constitutional gov~
ernment or absoutism, these two
parties faced each other.
The Democratic party lost power
for the very reason the Federal and
Wing party had lost ia portion
became consolidationists. Democrat
ic Freesoilism and Squatter Sover-
etgnty were the outgrowth of rankest
consolidationism THOR constructive
constitutionality was so refined and
feeble that Wings, even like Mr..
Seward, threw aside the Constitution
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