The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1901-06-15

toilowlnK CORR spondence explains i'll self
FLoRkNCE. ). c.. June 3. IL L.
Hon John l.. McLaurin, Beunettsviile
>. C.-Dear Sir: have taken great inter
est in the political outlook, snu ~ mat
ter OF instruction ask that you ditferen
tiasc betwesu your views and the vie
held by leading Republicans. Most oil III.
see no differences, but perhaps you cal
show some difference; IL ~, p. ease do II
as am not inclined TO cond',nn you with
out hearing. Yours truly.
w. +. CLAYTON.
BBNNETTsvILLE, .. c., June 4, 1901.
Mr.. w. +. Clayton. Florence, s. c.
Dear Sir: In your letter oil June s you as
me to diterentiate between my view
aud the views Of leading Republicans, as
most of US see no diffs enc :" am v.ry
busy at this time, but will dictate "A Jew
thoughts as they occur TO me in reply T.,
your question. l do this with the more
pleasure because you have Deen oppos.d 4
to me politically. but show desire I'll
seek the truth.
AT the time OF the adoption of the Un,.
TED States Constitution there were several
distinct plans of government prup sea,
VI these plans the fight was made upon
two: the Hamiltonian idea aud the Jefter.
sontan idea Alexander Hamilton openly
maintained that the British Coustit tutiun
was the most perfect instrument OF It's
kind ever in existence Hr wanted a |
laws for the government OF the States 4,
be passed by the Congress oi the Unite
States. He wanted the President of the
United States and the Senators to hDld
Office during good behavior. He waated
the Governors of the States appointed by
the President OF the United States anu hs
wanted the Federal Government To ~
sume the debts Of the State. He wanted
strong Senate anu n weak House OF X o.
r,scntstives, and openly pr, Claimed ms
belief that the people were incaple OF sell
government: John Jay was sent as mi;,
lstor to England i'll order TO make com
mercial treaty, which would have placed
our commerce under the control of Great
Britain. The Hamiltonian idea was 80 tar
carried out that he succeeded in prevent
ing the incorporation OF bill of rights i'm
the Federal Constitution. Uuuer his
excise tax. which made the rich
escape the burdens Of tax ition aud
placed those burdens upon the poor This
brought about the revolution in Pennsyl-
Vania and came very near disruptin9 ,he
new Republic. Thomas Jefferson forced
the bill of rights into the Constitution as
al amendment. As minister to France hs
succeeded in defeating the purposes of tue
Jay treaty with England. Hamilton Ia.
vored and Jefferson opposed the granting
States bank aud the assumption of the
State debts by the Federal Govern ment.
Associated with Jefferson were Madison,
Monroe. Samuel Adams, Albert Gallatin,
Georgs Clinton and Benjamin Franklin
Associated with Hamilton were John
Marshall, John Jay, John Adams and
Pinckney. The Democratic party has been
In continuous existence ever since the
adoption of the Constitution. while the
Federal party. of which the Republicans
number OF changes. The Federal party,
at hrst successful finally committed sui.
eide by carrying their doctrine of a ecu.
trslized government 30 far ~ to pass the
alien and sedition law. Under this law
the President was authorized upon his
own volition to eXpel from the country
any alien whom he might suspect as dan
gerous to the peace and liberty of tue
country, etc. This radical measure crea-
ted q powerful reaction.
The Democrats then remained In power
almost without interruption until 1860.
During this time all of the territory &C
quired by the United States up to 1893
was secured except the Territory of Alas
by the vigorous denunciation of the Re-
publicans.
During this entire time the Democrats
were the progressive men. They held to
the principle that the people should rule,
but that the General Government. while
sistcnt with good government, should ex-
pend the fund thus derived for the good
OF the whole people. In 1853 they favored
subsidizing the Pacific Railroad. About
tuo bSuuo Lihc tnoy btAIUtO Tue ouO0lQy
the Collins Line Of steamships b~tween
the United States and England. Based
upon the principle of the Jeffersonian
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 1t excited the wonder and admiration
Of the entire world. Tney had, under
General Jackson, stopped imprisonment
for debt. They had fought two successful
war: with foreign nations. They had es-
tablished . credit throughout the world
second TO 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
concern the leaders Of the party differed
make reciprocity treaty. The next reci-
Prooity treaty was made by President
Pierce John Randolph, acting against the
leaders OF his party, voted against the
Embargo Act, and was finally successful
In defeating that legislation. Clay, Cal
houn, Chsves and Lowndss actively op-
posed Pres dent Jefferson in the matter of
decreasing the army. The first proposition
OF protective tariff for the purpose of
protection came from James Madison. and
son In its favor. The Fedsralists opposed
protection. Clay and Calhoun favored
measures of internal improvement, and
Madison vetoed them. Our great distino-
tive foreign policy known as the Monroe
doctrine was q Democratic policy. The
Democrats defeated the scheme of the
Republicans to turn over Oregon and
Washington to Great Britain.
The Democratic party has never yet de-
MED to any man within it's lines the privi-
le&e Of free thought and free speech. It
has never yet failed to correct mistakes
when it has made them. IL has lost no
opportunity to build up the merchant
marine and open up our trade with foreign
ports. It opened up the Japanese ports
failed,