The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-07
From The Cincinnati Republican
A SENSIBLE ARTICLE.

Gle, from tnat Slerlfng demOcrauc paper tne ONO
Eagle, and recommend II 10 the perusai OF every
friend Of the administration or who entertains any
affection regard for democratic principles. To the
editor of the Phenix, and the Kentucky and Ohio
Journal, and to all OF those who have denounced us
for the independent, open and honest expression of
our opinions, upon the Sub Treasury question, we
most especially recommend it. The article is ably
and eoquently written, and is well timed. There
is much truth in the following sentences -:
IF WE CONTINUE OUR PRESENT Pc
Icy, WE SHALL BREAK DOWN ALL
FREEDOM OF OPINION, AND DRIVE ALL
INDEPENDENT MEN FROM OUR RANKS"
NO PARTY WAS EVER HELD TOGE-
Their BY THE STRONG ARM OF FORCE;
AND POLITICAL FEDERATION, CQNCES-
SION AND COMPROMISE, WILL SWAY
MEN WHOM POLITICAL PRESCRIPTION
OR DENUNCIATION CANNOT MOVE"
The article from the Baltimore Republican re-
ferred to by the Eagle was recently re-pubshed in
this paper.
POLITICAL TOLERATION
The following article from the LiHborougA Ga
=ette, is ofthe number ofparagraphs ofthe same
import, that meet our eyes in the democratic pa
pers:-
speech Of Mr.. Buchanan, ofPennsylvana on the bill
imposing additional duties as repositories in certain
cases, on public officers. The way he uses up the
great lion" Mr.. King of Georgia. and Mr. Rives
OF Virginia, is caution 10 all apostates from demo-
crazy"
We beg leave, even at the risk of being branded
as apoStates from democracy" to enter our protest
against this species of political denunciation. As
matter of policy it is Of the most suicidal character
One by one we have thus Topped off the members of
our party, until the induces of the times have given
fearful warning that the limbs are gone and the
work OF amputation approaches the trunk itself. But
in this case there is manifest injustice in applying
the charge of apostacy to Messrs. Rives and King.
We have narrowly watchedther course--and though
on many important points we have sided with the
great mass OF our party against them, yet we have
seen nothing which has induced us to doubt their
honesty or that has seemed to call Tor denunciation
OF them as apostates from democracy What is
democracy Is it the voice-the will--the recon.
mendation-the measure-of any one mani Is it to
follow in unconditional submission the measures of
the Executive? to approve his every act without in
vestigation merely because we elected him. Why,
then, reason and judgment thrown away upon
us; Tor the only necessary qualification of poi-
clan IS the ability to cover his file leader We hold
no such doctrine. We have been SO fortunate as to
be able to agree, in the exercise Of our Judgment
with the President in the principal measures of his
administration yet we do not hold ourselves bound
TO support every act, because we gave him our sup
port-hough we should dislrust our own Judgment
when brought into such a competition
We regret extremely the adoption ofhislG.e course
BY Mr.. Rives; but we look upon that course as in
volving mere difference of opinion upon question
of political crpcdiency and moi one Of principle He
is certainly at variance with the great mass of his
political friends, yet we cannot believe him an
"apostate" from the democracy whose first great
principle he has asserted in manner at once noble
and brilliant; and by sacrifice which no other man
has ever made. What democratic press has denounc-
ed the venerable editor of the Richmond Enquirer as
an "apostate from democracy" And yet that pa
per- with large portion of the press in Virginia. is
sustaining The position of Mr.. Rives.
Virginia does not deserve this taunt at her favore
son. Virginia. that gave to Mr. Van Buren, the first
electoral vote she ever gave TO Northern man. and
IN that act displayed sacrifice ofpreudice upon the
altar OF the public good, worthy of all imitation
tn NOR her, aa,lx, Il
whole Of her leading differ from the remainder
OF the party upon mere question of political policy
She has not abandoned her integrity, nor her demo
cracy-though we much fear, from present indca-
tions, that she is about to be eompecd to abandon
those In whom she has so magnanimously reposcd
her confidence.
We are not apologists or defenders of Mr. Riyes
in his present course; we would say as much as we
have said in this paragraph for any other man under
similar circumstances. We only arguing against
this species of political denunciaon that is daily
weakening our ranks and wasting our strength and
to regain which We are running after strange gods"
IL is time for some one to speak out. The evil is
serious one, and il must be corrected Wemust drop
this species of elimination and recriminaion: we
must cease to sit in judgment upon the motives of
those who may differ from u.s. When we disagree
upon any question Of policy or expediency "let us
reason together and thus restore broken friendships
instead of making implacabe enemies. Let us bear
in mind, that every member we cut off makes the
number Of our strength less-and that continued
dropping will wear away the hardest marble.
We make these remarks in the kindest feeling 10
our contemporary Of the Gazate as well as our demo-
cratic friends generally We feel what we say, and
are honest in the expression of our views we con-
tinue our present policy we shall break down all
freedom of opinion, and drive all independent men
from our ranks. Let us, then change our course,
and, in this important particular, learn wisdom OF
our enemies. To adopt the principle of concession
and compromise, is only TO believe others as honest
and possessed OF as much feeling, as ourselves
Then why not practice it II brother editor or
distinguished member of our party, differ from us
let us convince him of his error il we can Let us
reason with him. but never, until he has renowned
some radical principle of our faith, let us put him
without thepah ofthe political church. and denounce
him as an "apostate" No party was ever held toge-
her by the strong arm of force and political tolera
ton, concession and compromise will sway men
whom political prescription and denunciaon cannot