The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-03
From the Ledger.
DEMOCRATIC CITY AND COUNTY MEETING,
AT PHILADELPHIA.

Josep6 s. Riley, Chairman, aud T. William l.. Free
man, Secretary the Committee appointed at a former
meeting made report that they had published, IN the
American Sentinel the letter addressed to DAVID X
PORTER, Esq, respectfully soliciting from him his OPT
Mon OF the leading measures Of the National Admins
traon and the policy he would pursue in the event Of
his election
Resolved, That David II. Porter, having failed TO
the letter referred to, is not entitled to our sup
port.
Resoiped That we consider the American Sentinel,
by unfolding the Democratic principles OF Jefferson and
other Fathers Of Democracy, and opposing the dogmas
and new doctrines OF men who, with the name OF De-
mocracy their lips have nothing but the love OF Office
and power at their hearts, justly entitled to the support
OF the Conservatives.
Resoieed, That the able and patriotic address pre-
senied to for our APPRECIATION by L William l..
Freeman contains our political principles, and we be-
eve will meet the appreciation OF all those who consider
patriotism and love Of country paramount to all other
considerations.
RcsOlued, That the proceedings Of this meeting bo
published
To The Democratic Citizens Of Pennsylvania
Fellow Citizens-We are upon the eve Of cleo
ton, pregnant with consequences more momentous IN
our opinion, than any which has hitherto occurred We
have felt, therefore, universal anxiety We have
thought carefully and deeply the subject and do
not disguise from you that have yielded to the inu-
ence OF our feelings with great reluctance, because we
perceived that they must finally lead TO position, in
regard to Of brethren Of the same party, at
painful and responsible. Such, We are too sens-
BILE, is the gIound we now occupy,
But we have no choice. The duty OF patriotsmas
of constant and paramount obligation Its lessons can
not be dsrcgarded Every citizen owes II to himself
TO his country, his fellow throughout tho woru,
obey its dictates when they are plain ana peemPory
whatever sacrifices they may require at his hand We
stand all times, and under all circumstances as
ancestors did, when they made the glorious deca-
ration. We have counted the cost, and find nothing
intoerable but slavery"
Need we explain to you more particularly the nature
Of the alternative which forced upon us! We are De-
mocratc Republicans. You know we are. We are
Democratic Republicans by principle. We ale Demo
| cratic Republicans by association we have always
been OF the Democratic party. With that party we
have labored with have faithfully commended, to
preserve its pre- emnence We have not been acuated
in this by any selfish purposes We chose that party
account of its principles. and we abored and con-
tended for its prc-eminence because ITS ascendancy was
in our best Judgment important to the true interests OF
the country, and essential to the fair development OF
that system Of equal rights which desire, by our ex-
ample, to recommend to the imitation Of the world
And we freely and thankfully admit, that long as
true Republican principles by which We mean the en-
ghtened principles Of many who sought for nothing but
the welfare Of the country, were allowed to prevail and
have full scope best hopes were entirely realized
There exhibited the highest degree Of freedom,
with the most prosperous and successful industry and
both nourished and fed with Of security never
surpassed citizen Of the United States had reason
to be proud Of his titlea Democratic Republican could
rejoice that he had contributed to strengthen and adorn
it. Wherever he cast his eyes, he behed the smiling
growth, from the good Of freedom, planted by our
foefathers sustained by wholesome laws and wise and
stable constitutions
1t is because we are Democratic Republicans-be-
cause sincerely attached TO Republican princi-
pes-because desire to hold fast to the great bless
ngs they have produced and capable of preserving,
that find ourselves reduced to the necessity Of
addressing you, We are compelled to make choice
between principles and those who style themselves
party to abandon the former or to incur the fierce
deaunciaons Of the latter TO give up our country and
the Of Repubcanism dear they are TO US, or
expose ourselves to the lash employed by the Federal
Government and its officers and organs, TO scourge
every who will not adopt their dogmas and submit
their demands. We say, with the patriots of the re-
voution, whose example we, would, in this respect,
humbly endeavor to initiate, % We have counted the
saA e4a shA6 H tss course We Intend to pursue
and earnestly to invite your active cooperation at once
and forever, to put down the unholy league that, with
Repnbcansn forever on its lips but with only tho lust
OF office and the lust of power their hearts, seek
ing to bring upon US the affections OF anarchy to open
through them, the way Of despotism
| We will not at present (for there is time for )
invite your attention to the political earthquakes tha, for
several years past have been made to agtate the coun
| try Successive shocks have been prepared in the
Treasury, at Washington, which, for years have been
shaking and SCATTERING with their explosions the pursuits
OF trade and industry until there neither trade nor
industry left nor any money in circulation but shnpas-
tiers These astounding performances called ex-
permens They were carried on at the heavy expense
OF the citizens, without any sympathy for the suffering
they produced, until the very life blood seemed to be
exhausted, and the whole body pale and palsied Every
limb OF industry was tremuous and contracted At
length the Treasury was reached. Where, at the be-
ginning Of the year, there surplus Of than
forty millions of dollars before the end there was not
dollar to pay the expenses of Government What was
promised to the States the amount Of nine millions
could not be pad, and has not yet been paid, and in
addition debt OF twenty millions Of dollars has been
contracted by the issue Of Treasury notes.
The relief which had been coldy refused to the peo-
ple was promptly conceded the Treasury-a dstinc-
ton, we may remark in passing, characteristic OF the
administration of Mr. Van Buren,. A special session
Of Congress was called The Secretary of the Trea-
sury informed the members that they should be paid
with gold and silver and Mr. Van Buren, recommended
to them the Sub-treasury scheme OF this will say
a word hereafter.
| In the mean time we would seriously and earnestly
invite your attention to inquiry in our opinion of the
greatest importance-What the Republican princi-
pies OF the present day. and who are the leaders more
properly they might be called the ruers) of the so styled
Republican partyl
The princplcs-if it be not debasing to make such
an application Of the word-are not the GOOD old IA
shoned ones, founded in nature and in truth which, in
former times bound together the Republicans of the
United States, and finally placed in their hands the
power OF the Government. They not the principles
upon which tho Government administered by real
Republicans. The creed is made up Of dogmas
IRON time TO time announced by authority" like the
chapters OF the Koran, which every one is enoined to
give his assent under pain Of being condemned for inf
deity OF being for debarred of the rewards which
belong to the faithful and subject the persecution
and torments oil an enemy Of the faith
1t matters not that these dogmas are repugnant TO
common sense-that they shock every mans under,
sanding-that the whole nation out against them