The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-11
TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE UNITED
STATES. IT.

severe conflict as interesting and important 10 the
Republic any that has transpired since us organ-
cation. The cause, and our course, nave atlached
TO MS many interests which will not permit us to re-
tire as we contemplated.
A period has arrived, therefore, when il has be-
come necessary in justice TO ourseli and the public,
IN indicate our course for the future.
his well remembered that the MADIsoNIAN was
established in the conviction that the great character
and interests of the country as well as The success OF
the administration required another organ al the seat
of the National Government. Born in the Republic
can faith and nurtured in Republican doctrines we
DESTROYS Of seeing the leading principles OF the
party 10 which we were attached preserved and car
red out, not only in theory, but in practice. we
pledged oursef to sustain the principles and doc
trneS Of the Republican party as delineated by Mr.
MADISON and came here in good faith TO support the
present administration upon the principles ichieh go
peraed The party pAich elected Nh. Yam Buren, and
upon TIE pledges by snaieh tat election ioas secured
We have, throughout, strictly adhered to those prin
ciples. Had the Executive of this nation done the
sane had he received in the spirit in which it was
offered, the advice of his best friends the continu
ance of this paper would not have been necessary,
should we have beheld the distracted counses by
which he is governed, or have seen the disjointed
and defeated party by which he is surrounded.
No Chief Magistrate, since the days Of Washing
ton, ever came 10 that high station under favor
able auspices than Mr.. Van Buren,. A combination
of circumstances, which seldom transpire, clearly
indicated the way to the affections of the people, and
gave him the power TO have disarmed opposition by
popularity But, illomened and evil counsels pre-
vailed, and the hopes of that political millennium
which many Republicans cherished as the fulfment
oftheir creed were disappointed and postponed
Whilst the MAplsoNIAN and its friends were en-
deavorng restore the prosperity of the country,
the Executive and his advisers were urging forward
measures directly calculated to destroy tito keep
the country convulsed and prostrate--measures,
subversye of the principles Of Republican govern
ment, and tending 10 the establishment of an unmt-
tigated despotism. Accompanied as they were by
war upon the CREDIT SYSTEM OF the country, and an
unusual spirit Of intolerance, denunciation and
prescription, justice could not have required nor
honesty expected any support from consistent Republic
cans. In that spirit Of independence and love OF
freedom which characterized the founders of our
institutions resisted these nearous attempts TO
deprecate and destroy them, with the best Of our
ability. The same spirit which prompted us to do
this, finds no justification in supporting the men who
made il necessary ,..
1t is an incontrovertible truth that every prominent
quivocal violation of every principle and profession
upon which Mr.. Van Buren, was elevated to the
Chief Magstracy by the people.
In his upholding the specie circular, which made
determinations unauthorized by law, and which
had been twice condemned by Congress-;
In his recommending the ub-Treasuay scheme,
contemplating union of the purse and the sword,
and the subverson OF the entire practice of the GO
vernment and still persisting in it, notwithstanding
it has been four times condemned by the Represent
atives of the people;
In his recommendation of Bankrupt law to be
passed by Congress, applicable only to corporations
SO that this government should possess an absolute
control over all the State institutions, and be able TO
crush them ALL at pleasures and taking all jursdic-
ton over them from the hands of the State tribunals
In his breaking faith with the States, by recon-
mending repeal of the distribution law;
In his repeated recommendations of the issue Of
Treasury notes, TO supply the place of legal money
recurring thus to the exploded and runous practice
OF deprecated government paper money, for circu-
lating medium; thus exercising power derived
only from loose construction of the Constitution
and repudated by the best Republican authorities;
In his attempt to establish Treasury Bank with
an irredeemable paper-money circulation;
wsem established By President Jackson, and Jake
"o pOO''' i''A@ NV A'' ~ eN' snN GU
In his attempt to divorce the government from the
interests and sympathies OF the people;
In his attempt TO create a multitude OF new OIL
ceS and to send swarms of officers to harrass our
people and eat out their substances"
In his attempt to I" take away our charters, abolish
our most valuable laws and alter, fundamentally the
powers Of our governments;
In his display of sectional Partially;
In his cold indifference to the interests and wants
of the people during period of extreme suffering;
In his attempt to throw discredit upon, and even
tually to crush the State banks through the revenue
power of the government, and embarrass the re-
sumption of specie payments;
In permitting the patronage OF his once 10 come
in conflict with the freedom of elections;
In his open contempt of the will OF the people as
expressed through the ballot box;
In his attempt to cram obnoxious measures down
the threats of dissenting brethren by means unbecom
ing magnanimous Chief Magistrate;
In his refusal to acquiesce in The decisions OF the
majority; and
In the despotc attempt of his partisans in the u
S Senate on the ID July, inst TO seize The public
treasure by abolishing all law for its custody and
safe keeping.
He has abandoned the principles by which he came
into power, and consequently, the duty which they
prescribed; and he has SO obstinaely persevered in
his erroneous course as to preclude all reasonable
hope of his retracing it.
And finally to this long catalogue OF grievances
we may add, what may be considered minor Of
fence but certainly very obnoxious one, that con-
trary to all preconceved opinions of his character,
Mr. Van Buren, has rendered himself the most
inaccessible both friends and adversaries, OF all the
Chief Magistrates that ever filled his station.
And from all these considerations, 10 what concu-
sion can the nation come but that their Chief Magis
rae is either wanting in integrity, or wanting IN
capacity?
We need not say that we expected different thing
of public servant bound by his sacred pledges, to
regard the national will as the supreme law OF the
Republic. That blind infatuation which has needed
not this rule of the American people, must and
ought to meet its reward and sink in indiscrimnate
and everlasting overthrow.
The financial policy of this Administration cannot
be sustained upon any principle of necessity, expe-
dency utility practical philosophy, or sound econo,
my. its plain object, the perpetuity Of power and
its plain effect the destruction of the banking system,
require of course, too great sacrifice from the
American people TO be, for moment, tolerated.
The greatdesideraum, a sound, uniform, and con-
venien currency, and system that Will equaliZe as
nearly as practicable, the domestic exchanges, is de-
manded by the practical wants Of the people, and,
sooner or later, in one form another, will be OBJ
tanned by them. To accomplish this end, and TO
"prcScrve and regulate" the credit susten of the
country, which this administration has attempted TO
impair, will be one of the great objects for which
we feel constrained to continue our labors.
No Administration of this Government, can pros