The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-15

oerning Its meaning, and with all the wis
dom of years since its adoption, learne,
men of marked ability Of the present. do,
disagree upon its scope. In forming tn,
constitution, tho struggle was between tn,
British form Of government, with som,
nominal notifications, aud republic
The States were slow in accepting tha
instrument, and It was only carried on tn,
strength of pledges Of speedy adoption Q
certain amendments, which included free
dom of speech, Of religion, right of peti
ton, to keep aud bear arms, exemption
from unreasonable search and seizures
right of trial by jury, right to life, liberty
and property, &c.
Madison wrote but few articles favorin.
the adoption of the constitution. He ia
vOred giving it trial, under the promise,
given for its amendment, and was not 4
federalist in the true sense of the word
such as was Hamilton, the recognized
leader of that party, Hamilton is report.
ed by c. c. Burr to have repeatedly de,
elared himself monarchist. In the con
vention which framed the constitution he
exerted his influence to impart to it cen,
tralized, concentrated and monarchial pow,
ers. He failed in this, but subsequently,
bent all his energies to give it an iuterpre.
tation conforming to his own views. Mr..
Adams was another leading federalis;, aud
he chopped according to IangdOn, "to
sec tho day when Mr.. Taylor, and his
friend, Mr.. Giles, would be convinced that
the people of America would never be
happy without hereditary Chief Magis-
trate and Senate, or at least for life At
another time, at dinner given by Jefier-
son, when he was member of Washing
tons cabinent, Mr.. Adams said-"Purge
the British constitution of its corruption,
and give to its popular branch equality of
representation, and it would be the most
perfect constitution ever devised by the
wit of man" Mr.. Hamilton replied
purge it Of its corruption. and give to its
popular branch equality of representation,
and it would become an impraetieable
government. As it stands at present, with
all its supposed defects, it is the most per-
feet government that ever existed That
was the republication of the federalist par
ty They were monarchists, and ondeav-
ored to engraft their ideas in the constitu.
ton. They did not succeed to their own
but advocated its ratification
ms the nearest approach to their views at
Yet, even then, there was con-
siderable trouble u having it ratified and
it was only after promises of amendment,
and its advocacy by anti-fedeulists, such
as Madison aud others of his school, that
the people accepted it, Delaware ratified
it in 1887, aud the last State, Rhode Is
land, in 1870. The people then fastened
to fortify themselves in their inalienable
rights, for the next year the first ten u
were adopted. The 18th a
mendmeut was adopted in 1898, and the
18th in 1904.
The federalists did not form the govern
ment as they desired, and what little they
did accomplish in the way of centraliziug
power in the administration, the people
promptly remedied by speedy amendment.
Nearly every act originated or instigated
by the federal party, was subsequently un-
done by its opponents, aud finally the fed
sral leaders, during the presidency of Mr.
Monroe, met and disbanded the parly, as,
they confessed, they chad no longer any
ground Of principle to stand upon" And
Mr.. Wolfe, as he evidently intends to do,
provided he gets his books, will find in
tracing the history Of the federal party to
the present day, that it is the same old 81.
elent Of discord, and in favor Of eurtailcd
freedom aud Capitalization. 1t has passed
under the name Of National Republican,
Abolition, Know Nothing, Republican,
and other titles, yet its hidcOusness has
always been apparent. During the war il
centralized the government, and after it,
though contrary to its former doctrines,
extended the elective franchise to the ne
gro; not for any love for him, however,
but to strengthen its fast waning power.
Now that the negro has proved unavail-
ing, the party, the lileal descendant OF
the iedernlists, as fOreshadowed in recent
utterances Of its leaders, are considering
the retracing Of is steps.
As to the charge Of traitor against
Washington, by the Democratic party,
Hildreth is too sweeping in his assertion.
The Democratic party was not formed un-
I'll after washington's administration, and
1t has never yielded to any party in re.
sPeet and reverence for him. There may
have been over-eDthusiast republicans who
made charges against him, but in thos!
days of uncertainty the people we're jeal.
Gus Of their hard-earned liberties, aud as
Washington was surrounded by federal
lists, they watched with close scrutiny all
acts Of the government looking to Gu
croachments upon their rights.
Washington himself was not politi.
elan. He was the great PArER PArRLE
and 6lled the ofhce Of President By ths
unanimous voice Of the people The Who'll,
nation reposed confidence in him, and h,
passed from public life in 1877 before
party strife began greatly to agitaie The
country, and died before the close Of hi
successors term Of Office. To class Wash
iDgtOu and Madison as federalists, Is I,
assign them positions they never occupied
Mr.. Wolfe says the ADVOCATE cited D,
authority, or historian, 70 prove its asser
tons regarding The Blue Light Federalis,s