Alexandria Gazette

REPUBLICAN DOCTRINES.

The adverse factions of the present day have each and all, we believe, denominated themselves, par excellence, the "Republican party."

Let a definition be asked of this Republicanism, however, and the various answers to the question will show that no one of them agrees with the other,-and, hence, that the mere name is adopted without any reference to principles.

One party proves that the essence of Republicanism is devotion to Jackson: the nullifier tells you that he only is a Republican who supports his doctrine, &c. &c.

When the South Carolina disturbance divided the nation, we took occasion, at an early day, to state our views on that question, as well as on secession, &c., by quoting and adopting the opinions of Mr. Madison, as expressed in his letter to Mr. Everett. Those opinions, thus quoted and adopted, we desire to be considered as our own creed and doctrine with regard to those matters.

We desire now, also, to state our opinions as to what are now Republican doctrines, and who are now Republicans;—and this we do in the language of Mr. Janney, one of the delegates from Loudoun, in his recent speech on the nomination of Mr. Leigh to the Senate.

Mr. Janney said:

" We have been amused with a discussion as to which of the two candidates was the better Republican; but this is a controversy which never can be settled, until we can agree upon some common standard by which to try the legitimacy of their titles. The member from E. City (Mr. Jones) claims to be a Republican, and maintains that the States retain undiminished their entire original sovereignty, and that his is the only true Republican doctrine. The gentleman from Isle of Wight (Mr. Holleman) considers the President of the United States a supporter of his measures the best test of the true genuine Republican, and seems to think a supporter of the present Administration might be safely trusted; while I, on my part, also claim to be a Republican, and yet differ from both. The gentleman from Isle of Wight, who is an ardent supporter of the present Administration, might, one would suppose, be perfectly satisfied with either of the candidates, on the score of their political orthodoxy, when we see that Louis McLane and Roger B. Taney have been admitted into full membership and placed at the head of the communion table. The theories of the present day are too fluctuating and fleeting to be relied upon. I want a practical test, and in this case I can find it. Ours was intended to be in practice, what it is in theory, a government of laws, emanating from the people; but now we behold our destinies bound up in the will of one man, and the enterprise and the energy of a free people, palsied by one of their public servants. That man is, in my judgment, the best Republican who, whatever may have been his former party designation, is now most willing to devote himself to the service of his country, and to rescue her valued institutions from the perils which surround them."

This is our doctrine. We want no better evidence of Republicanism.