6415. PARTIES, Amalgamation of.—
What do you think of the state of parties at this
time [1822]? An opinion prevails that there
is no longer any distinction, that the republicans
and federalists are completely amalgamated, but
it is not so. The amalgamation is of name only,
not of principle. All, indeed, call themselves by
the name of republicans, because that of the
federalists was extinguished in the battle of
New Orleans. But the truth is that finding
that monarchy is a desperate wish in this
country, they rally to the point which they
think next best, a consolidated government.
Their aim is now, therefore, to break down the
rights reserved by the Constitution to the States
as a bulwark against that consolidation, the
fear of which produced the whole of the opposition
to the Constitution at its birth. Hence
new republicans in Congress, preaching the doctrines
of the old federalists, and the new nicknames
of “Ultras” and “Radicals”. But, I
trust, they will fail under the new, as the old
name, and that the friends of the real Constitution
and Union will prevail against consolidation,
as they have done against monarchism.
I scarcely know myself which is most to be
deprecated, a consolidation, or dissolution of
the States. The horrors of both are beyond the
reach of human foresight.—
To William Johnson.
Ford ed., x, 225.
(M.
Oct. 1822)
