The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-19

the safety of Mr.. Van Buren's administration.
These have become the antagonist powers
that occupy the public mind, while their com
mon enemy, delighted with the varied phases
of men and measures which this contest is
likely to develope, stand aloof and upon their
broad protests that they are not in any wise
,sponsible for the consequences whatever
Sc may beg of the success of either side,
.iere and there some more excitable or am
,ilious partisans of the opposiiion-some wea-
nv and restless spirit, whose zeal has been dis
tinguished above that of some others in days
past, by the ferocity and instability of his
abuse of General Jackson, or of General Jack
sons administration and its supporters, may
be observed deserving the federal ranks
to join what may appear TO be the side pre-
ferred by the national administration, in this
family quarrel But the conflict itself, not
being one of abstract principle, and only
one of expediency, the motive of the de-
serler, may be, perhaps, as visible in the
workings of his long nursed hatred towards
some leading parsonage, an apprehended rival
in the opposite division of the democratic
ranks, as in any OF his loud professions Of pa
triotism, or seeming desire for the general
welfare. Such acquisitions, to whatever sub
division of the republican party they may be
made furnish no persuasive proofs to the mind
of the impartial observer, that the counter d.
vision is any less republican or less patriotic.
But as we remarked in the outset, these di-
visions of the republican party upon merely
collateral and comparatively immaterial points,
if permitted to grow and strengthen, will en-
danger the supremacy of the party, and ought
to be more studiously prevented from extend
ing themselves. II is TO THIS GREAT ISSUE
that all eyes should be turned; and TO this
one issue, all the efforts of the friends of the
national administration, steadily and unitedly
combined, should be directed. This GREAT
ISSUE is not, whether one local bank or many,
or none, or treasury agents, can be most judi
ciously employed in the receipts and disburse-
ments of the public money. But tits whether
the country shall again have National Bank,
or remain independent of such an institution.
The issue is, BANK or NO BANK, upon ma
tional scale. And this issue, and this only,
is the great test question of support, or of
opposition to the national administration
This is the issue sought by the opposi-
ton party to be made with President JACK
sons administration-upon this issue that ad-
ministration was sustained-upon it Mr.. VAN
buren, was elected to the Presidency, and
this is the issue again sought by the opposi
ton, and again rendered by the administration,
for the arbitration of the people.
Under this state of the case, is it wise or
polite, is it just to the great cause Of the gen.
eral welfare, that those who are the common
friends Of that cause should be diverted from
their contest with their common enemy, to
destroy each other in the nursing and pur-
suit OF differences upon points not at all affect
ing any abstract principle Will men, from
the opposition, who join either flank of the
democratic party, as they shall divide upon
these minor points, continue to act with either
flank, on the great issue to which we have ad-
verted, after such minor differences shall have
been adjusted by either compromise or con-
quest Will these new allies of either sub
division come out of their minor contests any
less reasonably disposed to a National Bank
than phen they enlisted in them "
No let no man be so credulous as to be-
lieve it of them. IT, for instance, Mr.. CAL
HoUN should fail of getting sub-treasury
system established, and divorce of the Co
vernment from the local banks-points to
which he is now represented as being welded
will he thereafter remain on the battle field
as compatriot with the republican friends of
the administration against national bank
Or will he turn upon his heel and return to
his first love, and contribute his whole strength
anew to the overthrow of the administration
Who does not perceive both the danger and
folly of such temporary alliance, to snbserve
an unimportant issue, with the known ene-
mics of the republican party upon the great
issue which is yet TO be fought over
We admonish the true friends of the great
republican cause throughout the country, to
weigh well the tendency of attaching so
much importance TO the new project of dis
cardng altogether the credit which, the notes
Of local Banks may be made to merit in the
transaction Of government business as to pre-
fer to place the administration Of Mr. VAN
buren, in state Of dependence upon the tenn
porary and conditional alliances of opposition
men, such as we have named. to an abandon
mcnt Of that project. We have heretofore de-
moustrated i'm otr columns nv nm anncal tn