The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-11
From the oaghkeepsie Jonrnal
TO THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS OF
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.

SOONl VI III
period has arrived in the affairs of the party,
with which we have been associated when II becomes
necessary in justice 10 ourselves and TO you, that
should resign into your hands, The trust which you
reposed in us at your last regular convention. We
were then in connexon with Col. Van Benthuysen
and others, appointed Central Committee, with
powers which unless we resign, require that we
should act in calling you together for the purpose OF
making nominations preparatory TO The coming cleo
lion. On your Central Committee, one OF us have
acted for nine successive years. and The other since
the fall of 1884. During the whole time OF your
thus honoring us with your confidence, we have not
been conscious OF pursuing course at variance
with your wishes, rof recommending measures lhat
did not meet with your appreciation. The landmarks
of the Republican party were SO DISTINCT and the
course Of policy proper to be pursued SO obvious,
that there was no room for difference, and We acted
with the more confidence, from conviction, mat
your views were views that your principles were
our principles, that your cause was our cause; and
that in promoting those views and principles and In
sustaining that cause, we we're acting in accordance
with The views and principles Of the democracy sus-
tanning The of the people, and forwarding the
best interests of our country.
Since we were thus acting in concert those whom
we have helped 10 elevate 10 high places and TO whom
we have entrusted power, have forsaken the friends
who elevated them, end abandoned the principles
which they protessed They have attempted 10 foist
into the Republican creed, doctrines both new and
dangerous, and are now using every exeruon 10 IN
troduce expedients which with us they have hereto
fore condemned and which they truly declared,
were subyersive Of the principles Of our Govern
ment." Not content with advocating these new and
dangerous doctrines with recommending them
for consideration as questions of expedicncy, they
have endcavored TO force them, obnoxious as they
are upon dissenting brethren and TO make them the
tests Of Democracy. Time was, when il was deem
ed Republican for public servants to ACT in conformi-
y with the wishes OF the people who are the source
OF all power; and time was, when i was deemed
anli-democratic Tor representative OF the people 10
set at defiance their clearly expressed will. Now,
hnty he ore OF
Instead Of emanations from the people 10 guide and
govern, we have servants greater Than their lords
we have Government not for the people, but one
which must be dtr0rCed from their interests, and
made not snbservient to their wants. but 10 the con-
venicnce of officials who impudcntiy declare that
"the Government has nothing to do but take care Of
itself" Intoxicated with power, they seem to have
forgotten their responsibilities and TO evnce settled
determination TO build up themselves, at the sacrifice
OF all those principles which dear TO Republicans,
and which ought TO be carefully guarded by people
Jealous Of their rights II has been truly said that
in whatever an individual unites in his person
the execution of the laws, the command Of the army
ard the management Of the repenpe, that state may be
termed monarchy" BY The Constitution of our
Government the execution Of the laws and The COM
mand of the army, are united in the person OF the
Executive; and now, we find that same Executive
aiming al The management Of the rereaae. The Con-
gressio al branch OF the Government had several
times condemned the Executives favorite project of
a Subtreasury and yet no longer ago than the I'd OF
July, find his partizans in the Senate endeavorIng
TO abolish all law for the custody and safe-keeping Of
the public MONIES that he might seize upon the
nue.. Condemned as this Sub-,reasury has been by
the Executives own friends find him still adj
herring TO it, determined TO force il upon the country
that there may be an "union Of the purse and
sword" To this union, we cannot, and we believe
you will not contribute. Our republicanism is not
republicanism that derives its character from men,
or that can change as men change but like The prn-
ciples we profess Is enduring and imnutable.-
What was repubicanism in 1884, is republicanism
NOR can lterb he n
fded, have changed their ground The servants
We trusted, have deserted us, and we have only the
one unfailing remedy, to dismiss them for others,
who will keep the bond unbroken We cannot fol-
low Mr. Van Buren, and his satellites in their wan
derings, and though we regret the necessity which
sewers old associations, we will not minister TO the
radical spirit that now governs him, and TO The gud-
Of which he seems to have entrusted his destiny
Such being our views, we cannot address you as
friends Of the present administration or recommend
its support fol the especial reason that has become
an administration totally different from the admins
tration we were wont 10 sustain II is now conduct
ed upon principles we condemn, and upon principles
WHICH both we and you most cordially opposed when
Mr.. Van Buren, came into power Principles with
us are OF more importance than men, and inasmuch
as the men who administer our Government do not
sustain the principles we profess; we leave the
TO be sustained by those who think better OF them
than we do, and adhere TO the principles that have
always governed us. In declining TO attach our
names 10 call for a meeting Of The friends Of the
administration, we are not TO be understood taking
new ground; but on the contrary We decline acting
in the character you have assigned us under the inn
PRESTON that ere long, and as soon as The servants
who have proved unfailhful banished from head
quarters we shall be found again acting with you, IN
favor Of such "honest and capable candidates, as
will most efiectually restore order In the Republic,
and transmit her recovered liberties unimpaired TO
posierity. -
SAMUEL b. BUTTON,
JOSEPH II. JACKSON.
Poughkecpsie July oath, 1888.