The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-22
Iyou the Neyc yo,k Times

We have been the ardent and sincere supporters Of
Martin Van Buren, through the different stages of his
elevation up his present distinguished station and
felt for him all that warmth Of attachment and gene
rous confidence which are engendered by long and
feryen support through periods Of great excitement,
opposition and strife Atthe time Of hsinaugura,ion,
we retained these feelings in all their glowing fresh
ness and proudly and confidently predicted for him
apopuar and eminently successful administration in
advancing the interests honor, prosperity and happi
Welded Well him support looked upon The contest with
Indifference believing that his reputation for tact and
sagacy at least was well founded. II had been the
pride of his biographer, and was often claimed as
merit in advocating his claims, that Mr. Van Buren,
was of humble and lowly origin springing from the
common mass and therefore deeply imbued with
their feelings, impressed with their wants, and in
clined TO regard their wishes from feelings OF sympa-
thy well as from dictates OF duty Al the close OF
the former administration, his illusrious predeces
scr" had published address, in which he declared
"that he left this great people prosperous and happy
II was evident to ALL at the time Of The appearance of
this extraordinary paper that great mistake in fact
had been made in the statement above quoted: but II il
not true, il wasan admission Of It's distinguished
signer that such ought 10 have been the case, ard
that such was the end and aim Of the station he was
then leaving. As Mr. Van Bn<en stood pledged TO
walk in the footsteps" we understand him as de-
signing to follow the honest intentions Of President
Jackson, to make this nation great, prosperous and
happy :" and we looked for an immediate correction
at his hands of some Of the heaviest evils the country
was then suffering which we're created by and under
the exclusive control of the federal government.
The specie circular had been repealed by vote Of
singular unanimity in both Houses of Congress, and
was universally condemned by both party and c1un-
try. This was well known and strongly urged upon
MIR. Van Buren, He turned deaf ear to the entrea-
ties Of his friends; he openly and contemptuousy
disregarded the expressed will of the people through
their representatives and the obi rescrpt standsn
full face, monument of executive ,eurpaton and
executive power, triumphant over, and defying popu
lar opinion, and the whole representative govern
ment. This conduct was certainly not n favorable
omen, from which TO draw high hopes of future ex-
hibitions Of either principle or patriotism.
The mode Of transferring the public funds by the
specie drafts of the Secretary Of the Treasury was
complained of with great reason and justice BY all
parties, and represented to Mr. Van Buren,, as de-
structive Of the interests Of the people He was adj
moniShed that these dema,4t,5 II the Treasury, added
TO the deuand for expectation, then indicated by the
high and increasing rate of foreign exchange, must
lead to suspension OF specie payments by The banks;
and he was implored TO avert the degradation and
the curse when il was in his power, and b. changing
the most ruinous and suicidal policy TO have accom-
plished the object He deaf TO all that could b,
urged, coldly saw The nation standing on the verge
Of the precipice, and the executive arm helped TO
plunge them down into the abyss of ruin There
was neither democracy, repubIicaniSm, statesman
ship scnsbiliy patriotism, or humanity his course
on this subject.
A COMMITTEE emanatiug from public meeting of
class of our most valuable and mcroroui citizens,
visited Washington with view Of calling upon Mr..
Van Buren,, and representing to him the caamities
Wnlcn Inc people were suffering, ana inc common
conviction that the course of the executive had pro-
duced or was aggravating these evils, and that
change Of policy would avert the dangers oil the
crisis. A President, elected as democratic repub-
lican, chosen originating from the mass of the.
people, and supposed 10 be free from all arstocratic
sentiments, by birth, education, and political profess
sons, could not deign TO hold converse with these
citizens, but required them 10 address the plain
publican President in writing! This was the first
instance in the history Of the republican in which
any respectable citizen had been debarred Of perso
nal access TO the Chief Magistrate OF the nation, on
subject of vital importance 10 the government and
the people
These events of The few first weeks of Mr. Van
Buren's administration, greatly surprised and stag
gered the confidence of the great mass OF his friends
in every part Of the Union Their expectations
mos, sadly and Unexpectedly disappointed. Many
of them, from strong personal and political devotion
to MIR. Van Buren,, had given their time and aiten-
ton TO the promotion Of his success during the sum
mer and fall of 1885, TO the great neglect of their per-
sonal affairs, and became involved in the revulsion
which ensued without having around them these
safeguards and supports which their sagacy and
prudence would have framed, if not occupied for
him; and too many of those generous and devoted
friends and supporters have seen, with hopeless de-
spair the whole fruits of their lives Of industry en-
terprise and toll, swallowed up in this whirlpool of
destruction, turned and kept in connection by the