The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-15
TO THE REPUBLIcANs OF THE UNITED
STATES.

A year has elapsed since we hTst issued our fIos-
pectus for the publication Of the MADlsoNiAN. Dur
Ing this eventful period we have been engaged in
severe conflict as interesting and important to the
Republic as any that has ranspired since its organ
cation. The cause, and our course, have attached
to US many interests which will not permit US 10 re-
tire as We contemplated.
period has arrived, therefore, when il has be-
come necessary in justice TO ourself and the public,
10 indicate our course for the future.
II Is well remembered that the MADlsoNIAN was
established in the conviction that the great character
and interests of the country as we'll as the success OF
the administration, required another organ at the seat
of the National Government. Born in the Republic
can faith, and nurured in Republican doctrines, We
were DESTROYS of seeing the leading principles Of the
party to which we were attached, preserved and car
ried out, not only in theory, but in practice. We
pledged ourself 10 sustain the principles and doc
rines Of the Republican party, as delineated by Mr.
MADISON and came here in good faith TO support the
present administration upon The principles which go
Ueraed the party Which elected Mr.. Van Buren, and
1pon the pledges By rhich that election secured
We have throughout strictly adhered TO those prin-
ciples. Had the Executive Of this nation done the
same; had he received in the spirit in which il was
offered, the advice Of his best friends the continu-
ance of this paper would not have been necessary,
nor should we have behed the distracted counSes by
which he is governed, or have seen the dsjonted
and defeated party by which he is surrounded.
No Chief Magistrate, since the days of Washing
ton came TO that high station under more favor
able auspices than MIR. Van Barren. 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
the very measures which would have established his
popularity. But ill-omened and evil counsels pre-
vailed, and the hopes of that political millennium
which many Republicans cherished as the fulhlment
ofheir creed were disappointed and postponed.
Whilst the MlpIsoNIAN and its friends were en-
deavoring to restore the prosperity of the country,
the Executive and his advisers were urging forward
measures directly calculated to destroy ito keep
the country convused and prostrate-measures,
49, 1E
ment and tending 10 the establishment Of an unmit-
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 Republi
cans. In that spirit of independence and love of
freedom which characterized the founders of
institutions, we resisted these nefarous attempts 10
depreciate 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.
II is an incontroyertible truth that every prominent
act of this administration has been open, une-
quvoca violation Of every principle and profession
upon which Mr. Van Buren, was elevated to the
Chief Magistracy by the people
In his upholding the specie circular which made
determinations unauthorized by law, and which
had been twice condemned by Congress; t-
In his recommending the Sub Treasury scheme,
contemplating union Of the purse and the sword,
and the subversion of the entire practice of the go
vernment, and still persistng in it, Notwithstanding
it has been four times condemned by the Represen-
tatives Of the people;
In his recommendation Of a Bankrupt law to be
passed by Congress- applicable only to corporations,
SO that this government should possess an absolute
control all the State institutions and be able
crush them all, at pleasure and taking all urisdc-
ton 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 R he as Rh0
an irredeemable paper money circulation;
In his effort 10 overthrow the State Bank Deposne
system established by President Jackson, and take
the public moneys into his actual custody and con-
uol;
In his attempt to divorce the government from the
interests and sympathies OF the people,
In his attempt to create multitude OF new Off
ces, and to send swarms of officers to harrass our
people and eat out their substances"
In his attempt to take away our charters, abolish
our most valuable laws and alter, fundamentally the
powers of our governments"
In his display of sectional partialityj
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 Office to 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 unbecom
ing magnanimous Chief Magistrate;
In his refusal to acquiesce in the decisions OF the
majority and
In the despoic attempt of his partisans in the U.
S. Senate on the I'd 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 obstnately persevered in
his erroneous course as to preclude all reasonable
hope Of his retracing 1t.
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 all preconceived opinions OF his character,
Mr. Van Buren, has rendered himself the most
inaccessible both to friends and adversares, of all the
Chief Magistrates that ever filled his station.
And from all these considerations, to what conclu-
sion can the nation come but that their Chief Mags-
rate 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 indiscriminae
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 perpetuy 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 greatdesideratum, a sound, uniform, and con-
venent currency, and system that VIII equalize as
nearly 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
preserve and regulate, the credit system Of the
country which this administration has attempted to
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