The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-17
THE MADISONIAN.
THOMAS ALLEN,
EpIroK AND PRoPRIEToR.
TO THE REPUBLICANS OF THE UNITED
STATES.

STATES.
A year has elapsed since we first issued our Pros
pecus for the publication of the MApsosiAS. Dur
ing this eventfu period we have been engaged In a
severe conflict as interesting and important 10 the
Republic any that has ranspired since its organi
cation. The cause, and our course, have attached
TO us many interests which Will not permit us TO re-
tire we contemplated
A period has arrived, therefore, when Il has be-
come necessary in justice to oursef and the public
to indicate our course for the future.
Ills well remembered that the MADIsoNIAN was
established in the conviction that the great character
and interests of the country, well the success OF
the administration, required another organ al 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 10 which were attached, preserved and car
ried out not only in theory, but in practice. We
pledged ourself to sustain the principles and doc
trines Of the Republican party, as deneaed by Mr.
MADISON, and came here in good faith to support the
present administration upon he principles which GO
veraed the party ,cAich elected Mr.. Fan Buren, and
upon the pledges By phieh that election ras 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 disjointed
and defeated party by which he is surrounded
No Chief Magistrate, since the days of Washing
ton, ever came to that high station under more favor
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, 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 MADsoNAN and its friends were en-
deavorng to restore the prosperity Of the country
the Executive and his advisers urging forward
measures directly calculated to destroy ito keep
the country convulsed and prostrate-measures,
subversive Of The principles of Republican govern
men and tending to the establishment of an unmit-
tgated despotism Accompanied as they were by a
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 our
institutions, we resisted these nefarious attempts TO
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 II necessary. 1
1t is an incontroverble 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 subveIsion of the entire practice OF the 60
vernment and still perssting in it, notwithstanding
it has been four times condemned by the Represen-
tatives of she 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 over all the State institutions and be able to
crush them ALL at pleasure and taking all jursdic-
tion over them from the hands the Stale tribunals
In his breaking faith with the States by recon-
mending repeal Of the distribution law;
In recn mo dali IF he If
Treasury notes, to supply the place of legal money,
recurring thus to the exploded and ruinous practice
OF deprecated government paper money, for crcu
lating medium; thus exercising a power derived
only from loose construction of the Constitution
and repudiated by the best Republican authorities;
In his attempt to establish a Treasury Bank with
an irredeemable paper money circulation;
In his effort 10 overthrow the State Bank Deposite
system, established by President Jashsoi, anu ZANE
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;
In his attempt 10 create a multitude of new Off
ces and to send swarms of officers to harrass our
people and eat out their substance;
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 partially;
In his cold indifference to the interests and wants
of the people during period of extreme sufering;~
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 permitting the patronage OF his ONCE 10 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 10 cram obnoxious measures down
the Threats of dissenting brethren by means unbecom-
ing magnanmous Chief Magistrate;
In his refusal to acquiesce in the decisions OF The
majority; and
In the despotic attempt of his partisans in the u
s. Senate on the ID July, inst. TO seize the pabfc
treasure by abolshing 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 to preclude all reasonable
hope of his reracing it.
And finally, to this long catalogue OF grievances
we NAV add what may be considered minor Of
fence but certainly very obnoxious one, that con-
trary to all preconceived 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-
tate is either wanting in integrity, or wanting in
capacity?
Of public servant bound by his sacred pledges, 10
regard the national will as the supreme law OF me
Republic That blind infatuation which has needed
not this rule of the American people, must ana
ought to meet its reward aud sink in indiscriminate
and everlasting overthrow.
The financial policy OF this Administration cannot
be sustained upon any principle of necessity, expe
dency utility, practical philosophy or sound eeono,
my. Its plain object, the perpetnity OF power, and
its nlain effect the destruction of the banking system,
require, of course, TOO great sacrifice from the
American people 10 be, for moment, tolerated.
The greatdesideratum, a sound, uniform, and con-
venient currency, and system that will equalize as
nearly as practicable the domestic exchanges is de-
manded by the practical wants of the people, and,
sooner or later in one form or another, will be OBJ
tanned by them. To accomplish this end, and TO
"prcscrve and regulate" the credit system OF the