The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-07
From tie Hartford Patriot and Democrat
WHAT WILL THE CONSERVATIVES DO


WHAT WILL THE CONSERVATIVES DO 2
Theeyesofall parties, in thi State are now turned
towards me Conservatives The question Is con-
sianuy asked-what course will they pursue Will
they remain in their present independent unchanged
| position, or viii they leave the high and honorable
| ground they have SO nobly occupied and become
merged IN one OF the other two parties in the State
Before answering these inquiries II may be well TO
consider their present situation The Conservatives
were all The ardent friends and supporters Of General
Jackson and his administration, and most of them
assisted by their votes, 70 elevate Mr. Van Buren, to
be his successor Hardly however, had he taken
the Presidential chair be:ore he manifested dispo-
slion 10 turn his back upon the leading measures OF
Gen Jackson administration and 10 pursue course
oil policy directly In conflict with that OF bis prede-
| cessor, by waging an indiscrmnate and extermi-
mating war upon the Banking and Manufacturing
interests Of the country-by attempting 10 establish
| Treasury Bank, with an irredeemabe paper money
circulation-by attempting in the most despotc man
ner, 10 force disorganizng and revolutionary"
hard-money, Sub-treasury scheme "down the threats
of dissenting BRETHREN" thus dvorcing The govern
men from the interesisand sympalhies OF the people
and in permitting the patronage of his Office 10
come in conflict with the freedom OF elections
These measures, and this policy, the Conservative
Democrats believed were in opposition TO the princ
Plies Of Jefersonan and Jacksonian Republicanism,
and If carried out, would have most ruinous effect
upon the business Of the country and they therefore
boldly and independently declared that they could
not support them. II, therefore, the Conservatives
are now 10 change their ground and join the origina
tors OF these measures, II ought TO be either because
Mr.. Van Buren, and his adherents have abandoned
the federal schemes that alarmed the Conse
or because the Conservatives themselves have at last
come 10 be in favor Of these measures Are either
Of these suggestions true Has Mr.. Van Buren
and his friends abandoned any ofthe which
divided them from The Conservatives 7 Every man
of common Information knows they have moi. Their
warfare against Banks and the Manufacturing int
rests of the country, is as indiscrmnate and nnre-
lenting as overland the Sub-,reasury scheme, hate
full as II is TO every true democrat Is still the great
object of their efforts
II is obvious then that the Loco Focos have no,
abandoned their new tangled and odious doctrines.
How Is il with the Conservatives Are they more
favorable to the ub-Treasury now than they were
last spring Have they seen any reason for ap-
proving measure, which they then believed dan.
gerous to the best interests of the country and which
Gen. Jackson through his organ four years ago,
pronounced "diSorganizing and revolutionary 2"-
Are they any more in favor now than then, of rlac-
ing the purse and the sword in the hands oil the Pre-
sdent? We believe they arc not We believe
their principles do not fit SO loosely upon them,
TO be changed in the short space Of six months with
out any reason whatever.
| What then will TIE Conservatives do? The sup
porters OF Mr.. Van Buren, and his power grasping
schemes have held, during the past week, great
Convention in this city, which the leaders pretty
broadly intima.cd that the great body of The Con-
servatives would join their ranks 1.-THE only ques-
! ton in dispute were the manner Of nominating
state oihcers or The appointing OF County or District
Committees, perhaps the Conservatives nigh, be
easily satisfied But can they, while the Loco Fo-
cos still cling to their obnoxious measures, abandon
their own truly democratic and cherished principles2
For one, we are convinced they cannot. We see no
rev reason for throwing aside our own democratic
creed for the high toned federalism of the advocates
of the Sub Treasury. Notwithstanding the blusler-
ing Of the Loco Foco leaders are are Conservative
Democrats STILL and say to our friends throughout
the State STAND ny YOUR ARMS In other days you
| have been unawed by threats, and unseduced by
| nattery. Were you then made of serner stuff than
| nowl .
In conclusion, we have only to say that, SO far as
we know, the "miserable Conservatives" still ad-
here to their principles. They are men who have
no personal interest in the success Of any party
They seek no office, and they ask no reward They
love their country, and whatever others may do
they will pursue the path of duty, let the conse-
quences be what they may. They are sincere and
honest Republicans, however much their principles
may be beed, but they cannot believe that The course
pursued by MIR. Van Buren, is purely democratic,
or that John M. Niles is the greatest and wises Of
men. In short, they arc too firm TO be ajoed BY the
of federal deinagogues and too fearless and in
dependent 10 be terrified by noisy and clustering
| Convention. The Loco Focos tciH hear from them at
| the nert election. ... H..