AMERICAN REVIEW, No. XXII. FOR OCTOBER, 1849. A HISTORY OF PARTIES.* gy in the primer. A great many, indeed, of the class called politicians, are formed upon the labor-saving principle, and with some few, certain clever points of statesmanship may be developed on the basis of the science made easy; but most of these cases serve chiefly to reveal the distinction between the profession of politics and a political education. THE publication of the Statesman's Man- | himself with these, is like studying theoloual, which contains, besides the Addresses and the Messages of the Presidents, a memoir of each and the history of their administration, will probably have the effect in future to give a more solid and accurate character to political writings upon questions of the day. After giving our readers a brief review of this new and valuable work, and pointing out a few statistical errors, which have escaped the notice of the author and compiler, it is our intention to enter upon a brief history of the rise and progress of the two parties, which originated during the formation of the Constitution.. We believe that most of our political readers, if they will follow us in this history, will confess that the current opinions of the day, and which are studiously maintained by the opposition To understand fully and clearly the principles on which our government has been administered to comprehend the relations of the various policies with the circumstances of the nation-to trace their connection with later events, we must know not merely what has been done, but why it was done-must know what was thought by the actors: to know this, and to make the lesson of experience available to the pres presses, in regard to the origin of the present, we must resort to the cotemporaneous ent Whig Republican party, are false opinions; and they will have the satisfaction of finding that the line of policy at present taken by the Whigs is an unbroken line, transmitted to them by their republican founders from the time of the origin of the Constitution. exposition from the voices and pens of the statesmen who conceived, who debated, or who executed, the systems that have prevailed. A compilation the most important of any which could be made, in a selection of American State papers, is given us in the work of Mr. Williams. The Messages of the Presidents are dignified and intelligent treatises on the national interests, contain A first want in every nation in which politics is a profession of free choice, is a collection of the documentary history of the government. Politicians are, no more | ing, generally, sound definitions (in the abthan scholars, made by the study of epit-stract view, at least,) of the theory of our omes. A narrative history of the admin- Republican system, and so far as they istration of public affairs may answer very reason debatable points, make use only of well the purpose of those who seek nothing | dispassionate and logical arguments. At beyond general ideas; but for one who is the same time, they contain better expresin search of a political education to content | sions of the sentiments of the parties by * The Addresses and Messages of the Presidents of the United States; Inaugural, Annual and Special, from 1789 to 1846. BY EDWIN WILLIAMS. New York: Edward Walker. VOL IV. NO. IV. NEW SERIES. 22 |