The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-05
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.



England and ali other powers that the peo-
pie of America had millions for defense but
not one cent for tribute" No nation since has
dared TO search q ship or Impress seaman
sailing under American eolors.
This lesson was taught foreign powers
by the government at time when poorly
prepared for war: and when those IN power
required nothing but the constitution "as IL
10" to carry the war to final and successful
termination, thus demonstrating the fact
that all the powers necessary, even In the
emergency of war, had been delegated to the
general government by the States. The
course pursued by the FederaIists during the
war 10 paraiyzed them that they made but d
feeble effort In the next election. Mr.. Monroe,
tho Republican nominee, receiving almost a
unanimous vote.
As q political organization the Fedarallsts
almost ceased to exist; Democratic govern
1nent had been for sixteen years 80 emnently
successful that opposition almost entirely
faded out. The era Of good feeling had M
rived, and party lines seemed almost Oh
liberated; 30 firmly settled did matters ap-
near that MI. Monroe was reelected by the
unanimous vote Of all the States IN The Union;
hut these restless spirits Feletalstsi were
not thus to ia suppressed. UP to this time,
1s1g. 30. all new States had been received into
the Union, as matter q course, a ,,, with
out question; but now the State VI MISSOURI
applied for admission and was met by The
proposition, "prohibit slavery within your
limits and YOU can enter the unionE NO
euch test had over been applied 70 other
States. This "straw" was caught at by those
who contended for increased powers for the
Federal government. and appealing to the
anti-slavary sentiment Of the country made
the issue u serious and dangerous one. and IN
mn evil hour the Republicans made y fatal
concession by compromising the right, By nj
lowing the Federal government To NEEDLE
with local State matters.
The student Of history can trace with an
unerring hand all the subsequent trials, mis-
fortunes, mourning and hloodshed TO this fatal
mistake.
II the Republicans had stood firm for the
right and said to the Federal government
"hands Off, for all local matters, the States
they Yielded the "Rubicon was crossed and
the States were free no more.
Notwithstanding this success for the Old
Federal sentiment they were moi able to or-
ganize an opposition Tor the next Prssiden-
fial canvass The consequence was. NIL this
candidates for the succession wore Repnhl-
cans Adams, Clay, Crawford and Cen Jack
son. The election resulted III % votes for
Jackson, IA for Adams. Al for w. IL. Graw-
ford and 81 for Mr.. Clay.
No one receiving a majority, the election
was referred To the House of Representatives.
Though Gen. jackson had received much the
largest popular vote he failed OF an election
In the House by a combination formed BY the
friends Of MI Clay and Mr.. Adams, by which
the latter was elected President. Bargain and
sale was charged against Mcssra. Clay and
Adams, and whether true or false they both
had good reason to remember IL for the re-
mainder OF their long lives.
The will OF the people had certainly been set
aside, yet the election OF Mr.. Adams was
clearly constitutional and II Mr.. Clay had
not accepted the first Office In the gift Of the
President the charge would have fallen harm
less ut his door, but the acceptance OF office
gave color 70 the charge which deepened rs II
grew older, and stood as a Zion In the path"
OF Mr.. Clay ever after. Politically, WAS
friend Of Mr.. Clay, and was not disposed To
believe the charge. but his best friends must
admit that IL stuck
Mr.. Adams claiming to be Republican,
and elected as one, yet 1t was remembered
that he was native to the soil where Federal
Ism tourished as the rose, and that he was
the son Of John Adams the first and only
Federalist who had ever occupied the Prest-
DENTAL chair, aud then the charge of "bar-
gain and sale stuck to him also. These COM
bincd influences brought upon him most
signal rebuke.
At the first general election an opposition
Congress was returned. with which he had to
contend during his administration. Mr..
Adams was SO much injured IN public estima-
tIl.
jackson defeated him by more than two TO
one This reflection upon Mr. Adams embtt-
tered him very much against tho Republicans.
for he was the first Republican President who
had not had an opportunity to decline third
term.
The wisdom of the Republicans In thus re-
firing Mr. Adams was fully demonstrated q
short time afterwafd. for when he was re-
turned TO Congress BY his constituents he
took his seat With the opposition and con
tiuIla1 with tbnnl tn his lpith and nf
The most bitter, able and vindictive opponents
OF the Democratic party who ever entered
Congress He showed his feelings in many
ways. On one occasion the constitu-
ton was being attacked for allowing repre-
sentation ''fur all others" In which he was
q leader When his attention was called to the
fact that Ii his scheme should succeed much
bloodshed might be the result hsroared out Mt
the top oil his voice, Let 1t come though mil
lions be bathed In blood"
Within the memory of many now living a
distinguished Senator Of tho same political
school said, without little blood letting
worth "a rush. How birds Of o feather will
flock together
Mr. Clay, who took the lead In the House
for Mr.. Adams, found himself much embar-
rassed. LOST his place in the Democratic party,
joined the Wings or National Republicans"
and ever after figured at their head Ia defeats,
and manfully bringing up their rear when
victory .perched upon their banner.
rs eiecIlon 81 ISIS was very Bitter The
term Federal now disappeared from D olitics !.
the very name was enough to sink any party
to the bottom. The supporters Of Gen. Jack
son now adopted the name Democrats"
which had at first been given to the Republic
cans In derision. The Opposition called them
selves National Republicans" Notwith-
standing this cover the oloven foot would
stick out, and the result was a Waterloo de-
feat to them.
Thus the will of the people had been vindi-
~ f.hi
succession from Mr. Jefferson.
While the old Federal idea was thus COW
cred up under the name National Republic
can, still the germ that never died could not
be restrained by such moderate councils as
prevailed in that party; 50, early In this adj
ministration, paper WAS started III Boston
called the Iiberator. Its motto was, "My
country Is the world; my countrymen all
mankind" With this broad bottom aud anti
slavery and meddling with local State affairs
nailed 70 its masthead, they launched forth to
save the world and at this day the ilegiti-
mate offspring of that effort sits In the White