Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-09-14
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
WAR AT HOME.

FOR THE SPECTATOR.
WAR AT HOME.
| A party Of politicians. it seems, are
rapidly springing into existence, with Mr..
Crawford the Secretary OF The Treasury
at their head, who are striving TO get IN
to power BY gradually undermining Mr..
Monroe, the present Chief Magistrate OF
the Union. With men, who have not
merit of their own to sustain their high
professions, il is an old, and sometimes
successful trick, to endeavor to excite
the prejudlces OF the community, against
those whose virtues they cannon initiate,
and upon those prejudices 10 ride into
power. Shall this scheme succeed IN
the election of a President oflthe United
States Merit and virtue have hitherto
conducted those ilnstrioas men to that
office, who have filled it. Shall others
succeed to it upon different principles +!
When men attempt TO carry amy point
by the ruin of others, the opposition TO
them is too often levelled at their motires,
without fairly vindicating the conduct of
those whose destruction they mediate.
| The man who is conscious of the purity
of his own conduct and is thus assaiied,
! Gas is, we venture to say, the case with
Mr.. Monroe) is not satisfied with mere
development of those motives, but
wishes also to show that the Cause Of
complaint against him is unfoundeds
when he does this he fights with a two
edged sword, and must eventually tri-
| nmph.
The motive with this new party, cor
sisting IF the restless and diScoatented
| Of all Parties, is, however, the attainment
of power. This is legibly written on the
| forehead of every man who has entered
its service, and in the Accomplishment
OF this object, they seem to rely upon
| shelving an abuse of that power on the
part ofthe President and his constitutions
al advisers-one only excepted. Dofhey
she7u il !? In SO vast and extensive a
country as the United States much of a
|pub'ic nature may transpire of which the
private citizen must almost of necessity
be ignorant. We Shall therefore be con-
tent with expressing our opinion of the
degree of confidence due by the people
of this section of the Union to the man
whose closing days of public life are
now attempted to- be embrtered BY these
selfish and ungenerous attacks.
In doing this we are naturally led back
to that gloomy period Of our history
when the desolalion Of this country SEEM
ed to be hourly threatened by the savages.
For long period of the late war, it is
known, that we were almost entirely
abandoned and neglected by the govern
ment-the blood of our defenceless from
tier settlers ran profusely, and we were
without the means to prevent it.--At
last Mr.. Monroe came into the War De-
partment, and although be had the du-
ties of the Department of State devolving
upon him, which were both numerous
and difficult, yet he adopted such prompt
n and efficient means for the defence OF our
helpless settlements, that the country
thereafter was but little disturbed by
their incursions.
For this we all said at the time "well
done thou faithful servant" In this we
all agreed that he neither misused nor
abused his power.
But as if resting upon better ground in
making the accusation, he is boldly
charged with wasting and sqnandering
the public money since he became Pre-
sident. Forgetting the gross abuses Of
trust on the part of their leader, in the
mis'nanagement Of the moneys derived
from the sale OF the public lands, and de-
posted in the insolvent banks, alias
szvindHn.g shops, in the different states
where those lands were sold, they come
forward with their assertions against, the
President without deigning to furnish a
particle Of proofin support Of their alle-
cations. In repelling.this attack, unsup-
ported as it is, by any proof whatsoever,
it will not be necessary to rely upon ma
ked assertion, the proof that the contra
ry is true, being so ready at hand
What evidence could be more satisfacto-
7ry? In speaking Of the state Of the
Treasury, in his message to Congress- Of
4 the Ath Of November, 1920, the Presi-
dent says !" A few prominent facts will
place this great interest ina Just light
before you. On the SOth Of September,
1878, The funded and floating debt ofthe
United States was estimated at one hum
bred and nineteen millions six hundred
and thirty -fvethousandt five hundred and
fsty-eight dollars. Iftoihis sum be add
cd the amount Of five per cent stock SUBJ
scribed to the Bank Of the United States,
the amount Of Mississippi-stock and Of
the stock which was issued subsequently
to that date, the balances ascertained ,a