When the anti-federal party dropped the name of Republicans to assume that of Democrats, their principles underwent a corresponding metamorphosis; and they are now the most devoted and most obsequious champions of executive power--the very life-guard of the commander of the armies and navies of this Union.
Editor's note · Context
Quincy critiques the transformation of the anti-federal party's principles alongside their name change.
Share
More from Josiah Quincy
He regarded the constitution of the United States to be one of limited powers; and he declared that he could not reconcile it to his judgment that the authority exercised in this section was within the legitimate powers conferred by the…
Have we not tamely submitted for years to the daily violation of the freedom of the post-office and of the press by a committee of seal-breakers?
The question raised by Martin Luther involved the whole theory of the rights of individual man, paramount to all human authority.
But the first principles of morals and politics, which have long been settled, acquire the authority of self-evident truths, which, when first discussed, may have been vehemently and portentously contested.





