The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-21
"THE MISERABLE CONSERVATIVES"

"THE MISERABLE CONSERVATIVES"
II will be recollected, that Senator Niles
thus attempted to stigmatize those who have
had the moral courage to dsenthrall them
selves from the shackles of party discipline,
and to think and act for themselves. The
Albany Argus, Of the 18th inst, in accounting
for the defeat Of the Loco-foco party, inthe
State of New York, thus refers to the efforts
made, and the results effected, by the Hon.
N. p. TALLMADGE, and the Hon. john G.
CLARKE:
"The leader Of Conservatism-an apostate from
every principle of the Democracy and recreant TO
the friends who placed him in the high office, the
whole influence of which he has aimed with
malignant hostility against them-has literally
traversed the Slate-spreading Misrepresentation
in every direction; organizing treacheIy; per-
forming personal services in behalf of his new
friends thousand times more laborious than he
ever gave to the Democracy; and pushing all his
efforts with democratic zeal and bitterness, as il no
hatred could be too violent or relentless towards his
old friends for the favor Of having placed In his
hands the influence Of station and the power OF doing
them an injury. Another partizan of the Bank, a
resident in fact OF the city Of the Bank, returned to
his district and AFTER the grossesi betrayal Of his po
litical obligations TO his former supporters, threw
himself also into the arms OF those who had opposed
his previous election, traversed the county, giving
personal service, and organizing secret and open
hostility TO the democracy by every means and every
appeal that he could bring, regardless Of truth or
consistency against those who, confding in his po
ilical fidelity had placed him in position to wound
his former friends.
Such were the instruments and such the means
by which few active partizans in each county tor
feited their political integrity, and these operating
under disguise, or through misrepresentation, -
grounds Ildependent
Treasury.
How long since was il that the Argus af-
fectcd to despse the CONSERVATIVES through
out the State-and respecting Mr.. Tall
madge's Conservatism, said, "they could
well spare him." and considered it "good
riddance," il he should no longer act with
them!
1t is not surprising now, that the Argus
has changed its tone from careless Indifference
to the most bitter and malignant denunciation.
1t now feels, when it is too late, the influence
Of those whom it pretended to despise. 1t
calls one +" an apostate," and tho other SPAR
tizan of the Bank; !" and in its outpourings of
bitterness, wrath and SANDER, it pays the high
compliment TO the Conservatives Of having
been the sole authors Of the defeat of its
party.
The Argus and its kindred prints should
have recollected that the greatest defeats in
war have been sustained by those Generals
who undervalued the strength and sneered at
the character Of the enemy they were about
TO engage. The Argus has found this true
in politics.
Let us look at the influences exerted by the
two champions of the people, whom the Ar
gus stigmatizes, in their own districts or i'm
mediate vicinities.
Mr. Tallmadge resides in Duchess coun-
ty, and ULSTER county adjoins it, in which his
influence was no doubt nearly equally felt. In
1886, Mr.. Il. was a supporter of Marcy for
Governor; in 1888 he opposed him and the
ub-Treasury. Now mark the change.