The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-09-01


longer 10 Office would therefore giving up all wish
for those improvements in public affairs which
believe the interests Of the country pressingiy re-
quire
not now thonght Of candidate. holding political OPT
mons similar to my own, may be brought before the
public with reasonable prospect OF success In that
even, he should have my cordial support.
Although much has been said during the last session
Of Congress on the subject Of the next election yet
have taken part in il, either directly Indirectly
and TO Of those spoken Of as candidates have
in any degree committed myself | now free TO
make my choice as any Of You can be.
/ have, however. reflected on this subject in all its
bearings and contingencies, and am free to state, that
from present indicsiions think il most probable Mr.
Van Buren, will be candidate for collection and that
he will be opposed by only OF the old opposi
ton Very probably Mr., Clay In that event have
asked myself the question what course ought to pur
sue
For Mr., Van Buren, have already said never and
never will vote for i he pursues the course pursued for
the last few years My motto is not words but deeds"
Judge Of him by what he hss DONE and caused TO be
done, and not by what he has prolessed
Ii is true he has protested at times TO belong TO the
same political party to which have ever adhered but
his practice has on no point coesponded with that
profession
He is tariff man and voted for that most odious Of
all our tariffs, that Of 1928 against all tariffs for
protection merely
Is lot internal Improvements Dy Inc Federal Go-
vernment where the object is what he calls national
and actually voted for the erection Of toll gates the
Cumberland Road
deny that the Federal Government possesses any
such power within the States
He is against National Bank, and am i but
then he goes for Treasury Bank, which think much
worse than National Bank by Incorporating stock
holders. t
He is for increasing Executive power and patronage
! am for diminishing and limiting them
He is in favor Of the Federal Executive and officers
under him using their power influence public opinion
in elections. I decidedly opposed TO any such
practices.
He is in the favor Of The Chief Magistrate in office
selecting his successor, and using all his influence to
have him elected. +. ..s.. Il.
think such practice calculated to convert oqr Re-
public into Monarchy, and therefore believe no man
ought to be President who holds such doctrine
1t is useless to pursue this contrast any further
You will readily perceive that Is entire mistake to
suppose belonged to the party yet 1t IS
true we nominaly did He came into il, and
gave his support at rather late day, when possibly he
believed we would succeed whether he joined Us or
not
To him have still another objection. He did no.
come into Office upon any character Of his own, and
fit for the station he occupies, unless he
atains it upon the strength Of his principles and
character He is nothing but uft Of political
mislcoe having no root Of his own, adhering to and
supported by the limb Of distinct trunk altogether.
and must nlbly perish whenever that trunk ceases
to nourish him. as the tuh yonder oak, whenever
that oak shall have decsyed and fallen.
The question then recurs should Mr. Clay be the op-
posing candidate, what ought to dol
In answer ought to exercise my right Of suffrage,
as most to promote the public welfare. am entirely
opposed TO following tho example Of throwing away
my vote, because the community will neither select
me- nor the man of my choice. II is my duty de'ibe-
ratey and impartially to compare the principles and
characters Of those between whom the choice is TO be
made, and to vote according to my best Judgment
Permit me then, for few moments, draw your aten
| ton TO contrast between these two gentlemen.
Mr., Van Buren, is in favor Of protective tariff, and
voted for that Of 1928
Mr. Clay is also in favor Of protective tariff but
did not vote for that of 1928 He the author Of the
compromise act of 1892, which settles the question to
the satisfaction Of the country at large and which he
believes ought not to be disturbed
Mr. Clay thinks the Federal Government has the
power to make Internal Improvements wtha tho States,
but ought not TO exercise the power except upon OBJ
ject Of general national utility and that now as the
States have taken the business OF Internal Improve
| ments, the Federal Government ought not TO NEEDLE
with it. but rather aid the States with means by DIS
trbuting. when funds viii permit u.s. the proceeds
| OF our public lands. .ah
| Mr. Van Buren, thinks the Federal Government can
| and ought to make Internal improvements when the
object is national; but has such power where the
| object is local
! The opinion think more exceptional than that Of
of Mr.. Clay because under il the President has dis
cretonary power to make improvements where he
pleases, by calling tho objects national, and refusing
them at pleasure, by calling the objects local.
Mr. Clay thinks we have the power to charter Ma
tional Bank, and that we ought to exercise it.
Mr. Van Buren, is against National Bank, but is in
favor of Treasury Bank.
This las. is in my judgment the most dangerous
opinion. -.. ~. ... ..:... r.....
One great objection to Incorporating National Bank
is fear that the Directors and President might co-ope
rate in elections, and il they did, that the moncyed
power united with the Executive patronage would be
overmatch for any power in the hands OF the people
Now in case Of National Bank owned by Stock
holders this union might or might not take place but
in Of Treasury Bank tho union is certain, and
every thing is in due form Of law put into the power of
the President
Even upon these great leading points, | think Mr..
Clay greatly preferable Mr. Van Buren, but the con.
trast ought not to stop here. .... ....
Mr. Van Buren, is in favor Of Executive power and
patronage in its very worst forms and notifications
Mr. Clay is in favor Of reducing and limiting them by
law W.
In few words must state that think the great
difference between the two men Is. that Mr. Van buren,
will profess any opinions which will gain him most votes
in an election and that when elected he will practice
on whatever principles will give to himself and his par
tzans the money, without any regard to the great
interest of the country.
That Mr. Clay is bold ambitious, frank and talented
man. That If in office he would be ambitious so to
administer the Government as to make Tor hmse, inc
reputation OF great in the estimation Of enghen'
ed men in his own day, and Of poserity in all time TO
come ...t ..-
have thus frankly stated to you my opinions in re-
laton to these men. have done so the more willingly,
because under no obligations to either, nor nave
I any thing to hope from them.
II has been the fashion with you and with me, to en-
deavor to put down and keep down Mr.. Clay in time
past In turn he has helped put and keep me down
His third candidate for the Presidency furnished the
only argument which enabled the late Chief Magistrate
to transfer the Southern States to his candidate. For
| all this I care not had no claims on Mr. Clay. On