The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-28
ADDRESS TO THE YOUNG MEN OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.

Fsiiop Citsms-
We are now approaching The final and decisive
trial OF the proiracted contest which has been main
tanned for the last ten yea, concerning Inc chafac
ter and principles Of our Tree institutions. Inc ~
sue ofthis contest involves consequences oil nealcu-
| liable importance. In our own country mole ihan
In any other the interests and welfare OF the people
/ are interviewer with the administration Of public
\ affairs.
The most successful period Of our couniry's his
tory forciby mparts 10 us the lesson, that the prac-
lice Of pure repub.icansn is best calculated 10 give
full effect 10 the benign intentions OF The authors OF
our political system II is the only political prinei
pie which is moi IN greater or less degree corrupted
1 by partially and fraud.
| During more than quarter OF a'ceniury subse-
quent 10 the accession Of Mr. Jefferson 10 the Pres-
| dency our Government was administered in the sp-
| rit Of genuine Republicansm MIR. Jefferson him.
sefcame into power upon the overthrow oil party,
whose principles and policy were directly opposite
70 his own The leading features discoyerable In
the policy of that party, were The design to perpeu-
ate political power in the hands OF few, To effect
| its Capitalization and consolidation In the Federal
lGovernment and 10 attach the fading spendors OF
monarchy TO our Republican institutions. These
tendencies and designs Mr.. Jefferson boldly COM
! batted and TO the success OF his exerons may we
Justly ascrbe the subsequent prosperity which dis
| tinguished our countrys career The immediate
successors OF that eminent patriot and philosopher
were his disciples They loo, devoted the best
gies OF their minds and used their authority and in
Iuence for the purpose Of giving iu'l effect TO the
Republican principle. Under such auspices The
country hourished beyond any former example
The foundations Of national greatness were laid
broad and deep. An enlarged and heightened pa
triotism generally governed our public funciiona-
ries, and by natural consequence the Government
was administered upon liberal and comprehensive
views of public policy Economy in the expendi-
lures and strict accountability in the officers Of
| the Government were phrases OF practical mean
ing.
political revolution occurred the fruits of which the
country Is now reapiRg. Under the mask Of false
and specious professions the mosi selfish and arsto
cratlcal principles were revived, and practically in
fused into the politics of the nation. The people
were deceived, and by means of that deception, the
country has been brought TO the verge of ruin.
II Is needless 10 expaate upon The nature or extent
OF the political disiemper which now the
nation II presses, with more less severity, upon
every citizen in the land The people are common
sufferers under general and deep-rooted calamity.
All the ordinary evils which flow from bad admit
nstration OF public affairs have in full force
upon them, 10 overshadow their interests cripple
their energies and visit them with embarrassment
and distress This isthe actual state ofhings al the
present time. And instead of INDUCING in despon-
dency and gloom, we should be up and doing II is
solemn du 10 investigate the causes ofhe evils
which press upon us, and IL possible apply the pro-
per remedy. The present, therefore, is most emf
nenty the time Of vigorous and well directed pot-
cal action for vindcatingthe character of our ins-
tutious, and for re-establishng old and approved
landmarks of public policy.
The true source of ali the evils which now op-
press the nation, is plainly in that bane of the
political system, the spirit Of party that oyerween
ing disposition to render the Government in all It's
functions and departments subservent to the inte-
rests OF a political minority
The present officers oflhe Federal Government in
the pursuit of object Of exclusive selfshnesS have
become unfit 10 administer the Constitution in its
genuine spirit Intent on extending and confirming
the power of the party 10 which they are attached
they altogether forget, or overlook the interests Of
the people. Their principles and practices have be-
come identical with those Of the corrupt and bloated
aristocracies of the old world No peculiar pry-
leges being conferred by the Constitution upon any
citizen or classes OF citizens they have sacriligeous
y seized upon the government ITSELF for the purpose
OF making the leaders of their party "pririiegcd
tew." Accordingly the sacred function OF the elec-
tive franchise has been perverted into the means Of
personal aggrandizement. The Offices of the govern
meni, from The highest to the lowest, have been
freely used as rewards, for partizan exertons Pa
trio;sm has been stied, and selfshness and avarce
have overspread the land. hepublic press hitherto
regarded as the most powerful bulwark of popular
freedom, has been converted into an instrument Of
party schemes, vehicle Of falsehood and calumny
and willing apologist Of political fraud and cor
rupton in every shape The sacred character Of our
coun,rys union has been grossly condemned some
OF It's provisions violated, and others FILTERED away
by narrow and ibcral construction, until in the
hands of the present administrations il stands beren
of all but the semblance of its original eficacy-
Experience has been disregarded and the great in
the uncertain Issue of speculation and experiment
The bitter evils which spring from such principles
and practices need not be told. They have already
been fully developed, and now stand in bold relief
before the gaze of the people, The glorious Inherit
ance bequeathed 10 us by our patriotic ancestors and
hallowed by their suferngs and blood, has been
permitted TO run to waste. An nordnate thirst for
personal aggrandizment has absorbed the minds Of
our public men. The interests of party have besoms
paramount, 10 the interests ofthc people The egis-
ation Of the nation, instead Of being governed by
proper sense of official accountability, and conducted
with reference 10 the wishes and welfare of the peo-
pie, has been controlled and drectedby narrow and
corrupt party considerations. Important measures
necessary for the public good, and founded well
established principles Of political economy, have
been rejected account of their tendency weaken
the political power Of minority Other measures,
pregnant with positive evil, have been Introduced
and in some cases driven through the Legislature
| by the force of party dctation.
| The prominent measures of the administration,
which Justly regarded the chief sources OF the
| present national embarrassment, and individual ca
lamity, originated in this same party spirit. A de-
termination early betrayed to unite The political
with the moneyed power Of the country; and in the
prosecution of this nefarious scheme the great in
| terests of the nation have been crushed
| When our public affairs were subjected to the
councils by which they are now controlled we had
currency OF unsurpassed convenience and credit
| The Domestic Exchanges were conducted with I'm
common safety, cheapness and ease The standard
| OF value was stable and uniform. Labor and enter
prise successfully employed in developing the
| resources oithc Country, augmenting its productions,
| and opening new avenues OF trade The increase
abSolving us from foreign dependence while the
commerce of the nation, extending itself in every
direction was pouring stream OF substantial wealth
into the bosom Of our country.
In the midst of the full fruton Of this unparalleled
state Of national happiness and prosperity, this
| scheme of uniting The moneyed with the political