The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-01
From the Eastern Argus.
ERROR CoRREcTED.

! From the Eastern Argus.
ERROR CORRECTED.
The l1adisonian of the l4th inst has not been re-
ceved al this ofcea copy Of the paper Of that date
has, however, accidentally come under our observa-
| ton, and in il we find the following paragraphs
"a second letter from the Hon. F. o. J. Smith,
| member of Congress, from Maine, will be found in
our columns, commencing on the first page. A ma
| jority of the people Of Maine we have no doubt,
will sustain the sentiments of Mr. Smith, and we are
happy to enrol so able reasoner among those who
sustain the views il has fallen to our lot humby to
advocate
We perceive that the Eastern Argus, dssens
from his positions, without however attempting TO
refuie them"
We can assure the JEzdisonian that il never made
greater mistake in relation to public opinion than
in the presen, instance. We do not deem it neces-
sary say any thing in relation to the opinions of
the federaists, whom the Madisoniaa undoubtedly
includes in the "pcopLe" that il has no doubt TiH
sustain The sentiments Of Mr.. Smith, but SO far as the
democratic party is concerned, those sentiments"
have.met with but an extremely feeble response
We have heard Of but five six individuals claim
ing to be democrats who approve OF all OF those let
tiers in all their length and breadth, and they without
an exception, we believe are either anxious for an U.
Shank or least unwilling totake very strong ground
against one. There were those who had their
doubts about some Of the features of the Subtrea-
sury scheme and who would have amended it in
some particulars, who arc very far from approving
the sentiments" Of apparent general hostility 10 the
Administration which characterize certain portions
of those letters" sentiments" which will never be
Sustained by the democrats of Maine, very large
majority Of whom were, and unquestionably still
in favor Of the bill in the shape in which ii was
laid on the table.
We are somewhat at a loss to account for the cir
cumstances which have made it SO clear to the Ma
disonan that !" majority 81 Me people Of Maine nil
Sustain the sentiments Of Mr. Smith" All the real
evidences Of public opinion tend to different re-
suit Every democratic paper in the State-(the
u from uhi ch he
quotes, read out of the party months and months
| ago, BY universal consent)-have condemned those
sentiments with more or less severity, and every
democrat whose opinion we have learned either
verbally or by letter. with the half dozen exceptions
have before alluded to, has expressed his dissent
| from them. Where, them does the Madisonian look
for evidence which TO sustain It in the positions 1t
| has taken 4 We pause for reply.
| We hope the 1fadisonian will not think too much
Of the fact that did not attempt TO reute the post
tons' Of Mr. Smith. His principal position, !" that
the Administration had proved itself inconsistent,
appeared to us carry its refttation nth IL
| and OF the remaining positions" those which were
not of personal character having been SO success
fully refuted, (when previously advanced BY others(
| in the able speech of Mr., WRIaHT, which we had
just laid before our readers did not deem il
cessary go again. length, into their consdera-
| ton. We did not think "Me game acas acorth the
candle" a.t... .@I s..
We founded our evidence to support us in
the expression we made, in the history of the
late contest for Governor in that State where
in gentleman of excellent talents was de-
feated by the voice of the people in conse-
quence of his support of the Sub-treasury
scheme, and his supposed leaning towards the
doctrines of the Loco focos. If this evidence
that Mr.. Smith would be supported by the peo-
pie OF Maine were wanting, we should have
felt justified in making the remark, with no
other criterion than faithful trust in the vir-
tue and intelligence of the people, which we
believe will prove every where adequate to
the defeat of that fatal scheme, and re-or-
ganization of the old Republican party within
the landmarks established by Jefferson and
Madison.
We could have found it also in the fact that,
although the Argus has thrown all its in1u-
ence in favor of the Sub-treasury scheme, and
against the sentiments of Mr.. Smith, and he
has sought and challenged the instructions of
his constituents, yet the people Of Maine have
neither sanctioned the scheme, nor have Mr..
Smiths constituents instructed him. Cumber-
land District is reputed to be one of the
most intelligent influential and purely repub-
lican districts in that state, and lis citizens
would be most likely to instruct, ifinstructions
were needed to secure an expression Of their
will.
We could have found it also in the fact that,
the Argus has played such avacilating game
as TO prove TO us that its editor was not sails
fled in regard to the current eff public opinion
in that state, and therefore quite likely to be
against him. We have observed, that it has
sworn its allegiance to the Sub-treasury
scheme, as a favorite measure Of the admins
,ration-we have observed it seeking mid
die ground" and again flying back to the Sub
treasury. We have observed it sustaining the
local banks with excellent ability and good
sense-and again we have seen those much
abused institutions denounced by it as Of little
or no consequence or utility. One day the
Madisonian has been honored by a column Of
denunciation-an anon the Globe comes in
for moderate share Of its admonition
All these circumstances we deemed suffi-
cient justification ofthe opinion we hazarded,
| and we have seen no reason urged by the Ar
gus to change the sentiment we at first ex-
pressed
THE TRuE Policy Waterfront IN. ~ Ed
| gle and Standard publishes the commentaries OF 'he