THE WHIGS AND THE DEMOCRATS.
A. D. 1821 TO 1827.
1821.
In the decade following the enactment of the Missouri Compromise
there was prodigious material growth in every section of the
American Union. In North Carolina the real prosperity of the
people was imperceptible, by reason of the heavy emigration to
the South and West. Not only population, but wealth, was
continually withdrawing to more profitable fields of labor and
speculation.
2. While the Northern and Western sections of the Union were
receiving the thousands who came every year from Europe and
elsewhere, there was no such accession to our numbers. For a
century past there has been little or no immigration to North
Carolina. The stream of settlers that once poured so steadily
into the hill country had ceased even before the Revolution.
3. After the overthrow of the Federalists by Mr. Jefferson, in
the year 1800, there was no national party struggle on the old
issues, but in every portion of the country were individuals who
adhered to the views of Alexander Hamilton as to the proper
construction of the Constitution of the United States. Many of
these were men of great social and professional eminence.
4. Under Mr. Madison and his successors there was, in fact, no
party but the Democratic-Republicans. Every one who hoped for
political promotion professed the faith of that organization.
There was no party division as to the Bank or the United States,
or the tariff of duties on foreign imports.
5. In the year 1825 the State was graced by the visit of General
La Fayette. A half century before he had left his wife and all
the charms of life in Paris to do battle in behalf of the
struggling American colonies. After acting a distinguished part
in the French Revolution, he had returned as the Nation's guest,
to receive the thanks of another generation for the great
services he had rendered in the past. He went from State to
State, every where greeted with the utmost love and veneration.
He soon returned to France in the United States ship Brandywine,
after receiving princely recognition and rewards from Congress.
6. In this year, also, a considerable excitement was created on
account of an extraordinary advance in the price of cotton. In
a few weeks the price went from twelve to thirty-two cents per
pound. This great rise was only temporary, and many people were
ruined by the sudden and unexpected fall.
7. In 1825 the election of John Quincy Adams, by The House of
Representatives, to the Presidency, resulted in giving a new
aspect to political matters. General Andrew Jackson, who had
received the largest popular vote, and was then a Senator from
Tennessee, became the leader of those who were called
"Democrats." Those who were opposed to him assumed the name of
"Whigs."
8. Mr. Adams, though elected as a Democrat-Republican, soon
found that party arrayed against his administration. Henry
Clay, and all of those who had been Federalists, supported the
President. In North Carolina many prominent men arrayed
themselves with the new party. These Whigs, as they were
called, advocated a continuance of the United States Bank, a
tariff for protection on importations, and a distribution to the
several States of the money realized by the sale of public lands.
9. General Jackson and the Democrats favored a tariff for
revenue. They contended that the National Bank was not only
unauthorized by the Constitution, but also dangerous to the
liberties of the people. They were likewise unfriendly to the
plan of making the States pensioners of the general government,
as proposed in the policy of distribution.
10. Soon great rancor developed between the two parties, both of
which had lately been included in the Republican ranks. Henry
Clay and John Randolph inaugurated animosities by a duel; and
soon, in North Carolina, as elsewhere, social amenities were but
little regarded between the Whigs and Democrats.
11. This was very absurd. All were citizens of a free country,
and were entitled to hold and express opinions as to what was
the best policy for the government to pursue. God has so
constituted men that, of necessity, they must differ in opinion
on all subjects. How weak and wicked, then, is the man who
hates his brother because of the failure to agree on
matters that are, after all, involved in doubt.
12. It was not always so, however, for when the Constitution was
framed in Philadelphia, in 1787, all the States but
Massachusetts recognized the legality of slave property. Very
soon afterwards, however, the "Society for African Emancipation"
was formed, with Dr. Benjamin Franklin as its president. This
body petitioned Congress to abolish slavery in the States and
Territories, but was answered that the Constitution left this
matter to the States, and that the Federal authorities had no powers.
13. The Northern States finding slave labor unprofitable, had
all abolished this institution in their midst, and their slaves
had been sent to the South and sold. Southern men, also, had
been divided as to the policy of continuing a state of society
so opposed to the general liberties of mankind; but this liberal
spirit in the South was checked by the violent and unreasonable
criticisms and denunciations of the Northern reformers.
QUESTIONS.
1. What growth was noticed in the Union during the years just
considered?
2. What is said of immigration to North Carolina?
3. In what condition were the political parties of the country?
4. What is said of President Madison's administration?
5. What distinguished Frenchman visited North Carolina in the
year 1825? How was he everywhere received by the people?
How did Congress treat him?
6. What is said of the extraordinary rise in the price of cotton? How did it affect many people?
7. What was the effect of the election of John Quincy Adams? What two political parties then existed?
8. What troubles did Mr. Adams find? What party was led by Henry Clay?
What were some of the Whig principles?
9. What did General Jackson and his party advocate?
10. What results were produced by the violent assertions of these opinions?
11. What is said of political animosities?
12. How was the question of slavery viewed? What State refused to
recognize the legality of slave property? What society was organized?