The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-24
THE MADIS0NIAN.
THOMAS ALLEN.
EDITOR AND PROPHET
TO THE REPUBLIcANs OF THE UNITED


Republic as any that has ,ranspied since its organi
zation. The cause, and our course have attached
10 us many interests which will permit US to re-
tire as we contemplated.
A period has arrived, therefore, when il has be-
come necessary in justice to ourself and the public
to indicate our course for the future.
II is well remembered that the MADrsoNi.N was
established in the conviction that the great character
and interests OF the country well as the success OF
the administration required another organ the
of the National Government. Born in the Republic
faith, and nurtured in Republican doctrines we
DESTROYS of seeing the leading principles of the
party to which attached, preserved and car
red out, not only in theory, but in practice. We
pledged ourself to sustain the principles and doc
trnes of the Republican party as delineated by Mr.
MADISON and came here in good faith 70 support The
present administration upon the principles ichch go
uerned As party ichieA elected Mr.. Van Buren,, and
upon the pledges By phieh that election secured
We have, throughout, strictly adhered to those prn
cples. 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 connu-
ance Of this paper would not have been necessary,
nor should we have behed the distracted counsels by
which he is governed, or have seen the disointed
and defeated party by which he is surrounded
No Chief Magistrate, since the days of Washing
ton, to that high station under more favor
able auspices than Mr., Van Buren, A combination
OF circumstances, which seldom transpire, clearly
indicated the way the affections Of the people, and
gave him the power to have dsarmed opposition by
the very measures which would have established his
popularity, But, illomened and evil counsels pre-
vailed and the hopes of that political millennium,
which many Republicans cherished as the fulflment
oftheir creed were disappointed and postponed.
Whilst the MADIsoNIAN 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 convulsed and prostrate-measures,
subversive of the principles of Republican govern
ment, and tending to 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
prescriptions Justice could not have required nor
honesty expected support from consistent Republi
cans In that spirit Of independence and love Of
freedom which characterized the founders Of our
institutions, resisted these nefarious 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 incontrovertibe truth that every prominent
act Of this administration has been an open, une-
quivocal violation of every principle and profession
upon which Mr.. Van Buren, was elevated to the
Chief Magistracy by the people.
In his unfolding the specie circular, which made
determinations unauthorized by law, and which
had been twice condemned by Congress;
In his recommending the Sub Treasury 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 Represen-
tatives 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 all the State institutions and be able to
crush them all, at pleasure; and taking all urisdic
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 a power derived
only from loose construction of the Constitution,
and repudiaed by the best Republican authorities
In his attempt to establish Treasury Bank with
an irredeemable paper-money circulation;
system established by President jackson, and take
the public moneys into his actual custody and con-
troll; ~
In his attempt to divorce the government from the
interests and sympathies of the people; 49,.
In his attempt to create 81 multitude of new Off
ces, and to send swarms of officers to harrass our
people, and eat out their substance"
In his attempt to stake away our charters, abolish
our most valuable laws and alter fundamentally the
powers of our governments"
In his display of sectional partiality H.
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
tuay, to crush the State banks through the revenue
power of the government, and embarrass the re-
sumption of specie payments; ...."
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 acquesce in the decisions of the
majority and
8. 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 obstinately persevered in
his erroneous course as to preclude all reasonable
hope of his retracng 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 alYreconceived opinions OF his character,
Mr. Van Buren, has rendered himself the most
inaccessible both to friends and adversaries 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 Magis-
trate 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 infatuaion 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 eape
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 greatdesideratum a sound, uniform, and con-
venent currency, and system that will 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
"prcscrve and regulate the credit system of the
country, which this administration has attempted to
impair, will be one of the great objects for which
we feel constrained 10 continue our labors
No Administration of this Government can pros
per none deserve to succeed, that is not CoNsERvA-