The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-06-19
BEsNETrsvInLE, S. c., June 4, 1901.

BEsNETTsvILLE, S. c., June 4, 1901
Mr.. w. T. Clayton. Florence. ;. c.
Dear Sir: In your letter OF June 5you ask
me Ito differentiate between my views
and the views of leading Repu ubllcans, as
most of Us see no difference" l am very
busy at this time. but will dictate few
thoughts as they occur TO me in reply TO
your question. I do this with the more
pleasure because you have been opposed
80 me politically, bas show desire to
seek the truth.
At the time of the adoption of the Uni
ted States Constitution there were several
distinct plans of government proposed
OF these plans the fight was made upon
two: the Hamiltoaian idea and the Jener-
Sonian idea. Alexander Hamilton openly
maintained that the British Constitution
was the most perfect instrument Of Its
kind ever in existence He wanted all
laws for the government Of the States to
be passed by the Congress Of the United
States. He wanted the President OF the
United States and the Senator's TO hold
Office during good behavior. He wanted
the Governors of the States appointed by
the President of the United States and he
wanted the Federal Government to as
sumo the debts of the State. He wanted
q strong Senate and weak House OF hep-
resentatiyes, and openly proclaimed ms
belief that the people were incaple OF self
government. John Jay was sent as min
lister to England in order TO make COM
mercial treaty, which would have placed
our commerce under the control Of Great
Britain. The Eamiltonian idea was so far
carried out that he succeeded IN prevent
ing the incorporation Of a bill OF rights IN
the Federal Constitution. Under his
leadership the Congress imposed the
excise tax, which made the rich
escape the burdens OF taxation and
placed those burdens upon the poor. Thls
brought about the revolution ID Pennsyl-
vania and came very near disruptlng the
new Republic. Thomas Jefferson forced
the bill of rights into the Constitution as
an amendment. AS minister to France be
succeeded in defeating the purposes Of the
Jay treaty with England. Hamilton IA
vored and Jefferson opposed the granting
of monopolies, the establishing Of a United
States bank aud the assumption OF the
State debts by the Federal Government
Associated with Jefferson were Madison,
Monroe, Samuel Adams, Albert Gallatin,
George Clinton and Benjamin Franklin.
Associated with Hamilton were John
Marshall, John Jay, John AuaEns and
Pinckney. The Democratic party has been
In continuous existence ever since the
adoption of the Constitution, while the
Federal party. of which the Repu blicans
are the successors, has passed through
number of changes. The Federal party,
at first successful, 6pally committed sui
eide by carrying their doctrine Of Gen.
rralized government SO far as to pass the
alien and sedition law. Under this law
the President was authorized upon his
OWE volition TO expel from the. country
any alien whom he might suspect as dan
gerous TO the peace and liberty OF the
country, ETC. This radical measure crea-
ted powerful reaction.
The Democrats then remained in power
almost without interruption until 1860.
During this time all Of the territory &C
Quireo by the United States up TO 1895
was secured except the Territory Of Alas
ka, and every foot of it was encountered
by the vigorous denupciation Of the Re
pubiicans.
During this entire time the Democrats
were the progressive men. They neld TO
the principle that the people should rule,
but that the General Government. while
keeping taxation at the lowest rate con-
sistent with good government, should eX-
pend the fund thus derived for the good
Of the whole people. In 1856 they favored
subsidizing the Pacific Railroad. About
the same time they started the subsidy TO
the Collins Line of steamships between
she United States and England. Based
upon the principle Of the Jefersonian
commercial treaty with France, they had
concluded treaties with all the principal
nations. and those treaties are still in force.
They had built up our foreign commerce
until it excited the wonder apd admiration
Of the entire world. They had, under
General Jackson, stopped imprisonment
for debt. They had fought two successful
hod
tablished credit throughout the world
second 70 no nation on earth. They were
fighting for the principles Of liberty OF
thought and action and the freedom OF
American citizenship. Matters Of internal
concert the leaders Of the party differed
about. General jackson Was the first to
make a reciprocity treaty. The next reci-
procity treaty was made by President
Pierce. John Randolph, acting against the
leaders Of his party, voted against the
Embargo Act, and was finally successful
houn, Cheves and Lowndes actively op-
posed Pres dent Jefferson in the matter Of
decreasing the army. The first proposition
Of e protective tariff for the purpose oil
protection came from James Madison. and
Calhoun and Lowndes joined with Madi-
son in its favor. The Federalists opposed
protection. Clay and Calhoun favored
measures of internal improvement, and
Madison vetoed them Our great distinc-
tive foreign policy known as the Monroe
doctrine was a Democratic policy. The
Democrats defeated the scheme OF tn
Repu blicans to turn over Oregon and
Washington to Great Britain
The Democratic party has never yet dc
MED to any man within its lines the privi
leee of free thought and free speech. Il
has never yet failed to correct mistakes
when it has made them 1t has lost nc
opportunity to build up the merchant
marine and open up our trade with foreign
ports. 1t opened up the japanese ports
when all Of the n1tio7s Of the earth hal
failed.
The party has never been inconsistent
and yet it has never stultifed itself by
adhering TO previous platforms when the
conditions which demanded them haG
changed Until 1856 the Democrats hae
denied the power in the Federal Govern
ment TO make internal improvements, ano
yet it was the first TO advocate the great
Improvement of the Pacific railroads anc
the Nicaraguan Canal.
In the matter of tariff it was protec
ten art EcGer the Leadership of--Iac1e.
madison; declared for Tree trade in 1873
for Incidental protection in ls6s;
tariff for revenue only il 1880, and IN loo:
<bo Convention said.