The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-10-06

| Still another issue has been adroitly put forward
Though hardly one-third Of the official term of The
present chief magistrate has elapsed has been said
that the true issue is to be found in The next Pres
Dental election" Henry Clay and a National Bank
| or Martin Van Buren, and no National Bankf BY
| the joint terrors Of Mr.. Clay's name and National
Bank, it is sought to commit the people OF Virginia,
at this early day. to the fortunes Of Mr. Van Buren,,
and in him. by necessary consequence 10 the support
OF the Sub Treasury scheme so long that ill-iaed
project shall continue TO be urged by his friends and
But is possible that any sincere opponent of the
Sub. Treasury scheme any one who firmly believes
as We do, that IL Is obnoxious TO all the objections
that have been strongly urged against i-lhat IL
Justly characterized by The Globe and other lead
| ing Republican presses in lS3i-5, as dangerous TO
the public liberty by " enlarging the (already too
great) power of the Executive and putting in his
hands The means of corruption" with various other
terms Of political reprobalion not less foreibe and
true-s il possible we say that any one who is sin
cerey opposed TO the Sub-Treasury scheme on
grounds like these, (and many, very many such
there are) yet pledge himself to The support Of
Mr.. Van Buren,, while he is still using all the infu
ence of his Office TO impose this dangerous scheme
upon his country2 Is il not obvious that by acting
thus should give the most efficient support to the
very system of measures, which at the same time,
we protested to deprecate and condemn2
Are the freemen Of this republic, then so dwndled
into mere partisaRs the followers of men and slaves
power, that they will bind themselves beforehand TO
the support Of favorite individual in high Office
without regard to the merits of his conduct, and do
what he may TO The prejudice Of his country, Will
they convert all official responsibility into farce
and grant absolution, in advance, to public func-
onaries for whatever sins, moral or legal, they may
commit against the State 7 Will they reverse the
great maxim of our Republican institutions, which
teaches that public officers the highest but
trustees and servants Of The people" by making the
people instead the @ruantSof their public oficers2
Will they say to their chief magistrate who, as the
first officer of the Republic, ought to be an example
| for all the rest-"it is true We dsapprove, highly
disoPprore, your policy, and believe il will be most
mschievous to the country but go on-you the
candidate OF our party-do as you Please-we will
support you"
Into such political morality as this, we humbly
trust the free and virtuous people Of America can
never be indoctrnated Fo the body Of the Con-
servatves, we think can answer-ihat however
ardently they advocated the election OF the present
chief magistrate and however sincerely they have
desired the success of his administration they can
never consistently with the views they entertain of
their duties citizens and patriots commit themselves
to the support of his reelection while he persists in
policy they believe dangerous 10 the liberties and
fatal to the best interests of their country. They
| will say, with Cato in his reply to Caesar, when the
latter sent to know "the price of Catos friendship"
and babe him name his terms"
" Would he save Cato, bid him spare his country.
Bid him disband his legions
| Restore the commonwealth 10 liberty,
Submit his actions TO the public ceDsure,
| And stand the judgment of Roman Senate.
| Bid him do this, and Cato is his friend"
The Conservatives Will not, we are persuaded,
permit themselves TO be drawn aside from the great
interests of the country-from the vital question OF
public policy now depending before the people-by
the subordinate and remoe question Of who is TO be
President three years hence. They deem il mat
ter Of infinitely more importance 10 determine how
the country is 10 be governed than who Is to govern
it-wha measures are to be adopted for the veal or
woe of the nation, than what favored individual is to
enjoy Its honors. The former is paramount
tonal intereSt-the latter is or less, PERSONAL
or at best, a party concern. The Conservatives,
then WILL for the present, give their whole attention
TO the measures and policy of the existing admins
traion-heartily supporting such as are good-reSo-
ulely opposing those which are bad. The Presi-
dental election does not take place for, yet, more
than two years In the mean time, all the candi-
dates spoken of, for that office, may have dis
appeared from the stage In any case, their princi-
Piles, their policy, their characters will have been
more fully developed, and more thoroughly tested
power of human foresight to anticipate, may occur
before that time which would exhibit the compare
tive pretenstons Of each in different light from that
in which they now appear. Can there be conceived
a more bitter mockery Of elective governmental
perfect aDnihiiation practically of all official
responsibility in the first magistrate of the Republic
than for the people to be called upon, while yet
near twc-thirds of his actual term Of office
pired, and his conduct for that period, Of course
wholly unknown, TO pledge themselves blindy 10 the
support of his reflections
The Conservatives, instead of prematurey enoag-
ing in the business of making or unmaking PreSi-
dents, will address themselves to what they deem a
far higher and nober task--taking care Of the in
ereSts of the country they may be affected for
good for evil by the actual administration of the
Government When the time shall arrive for the
decision OF the they will cast their
votes in such manner as with all the lights then be-
fore them, they may conscientously believe will best
promote the permanent happiness and freedom of
their country. In the mean tiue, they will commit
Themselves TO OF the candidates for that elevated
trust, They will act independently, upon the mea-
sureS propositions which may be brought forward
by any Of them, according to their honest and most
deliberate convictions of the character and tenden
cies of those measures They will continue to resist
with unabating energy, the attempt 10 impose upon
the countrythe Subtreasury schenectady will, with
equal constancy, oppose themselves to the scheme of
National Bank. Standing on The solid basis OF
principle between the rival parties conending for
victory under these respective banners they will
operate with neither in measures they solemnly be-
lieve to be dangerous TO their country The Conser
vaives, in short, form sort OF armed neutrality
whose noble office will be TO protect the rights and
interest of the people from the encroachments of
both behigerents, whichever of them may in their
turn endanger the general security.
But we proudly told that no distinct or inter-
mediate position can be maintained between the
embaltled legions OF these two great contendng
powers We have a memorable example TO the con-
trary, on the most imposing scale Of human affairs,
in that very armed neutraittU TO which we have Just
referred, furnishing the true type of the position
and duties of the Conservatives. In 1880 when
England and France were engaged in war which
desolaled both hemSpheres, and in which our own
glorious Revolution was but an episode the rights OF
neutral powers while prosecuting the peaceful pur-
suits of commerce, were frequently disregarded and
violated by both belligerents Catharine Of Russia,
then but feeble power comparatively, especially
the ocean, conceived the lofty design Of organizinga
Confederacy Of the neural powers in the north OF
Europe, to protect, by mutual defence, the rights OF
neutras from the aggressions OF both OF the great
powers at war. The confedeIacy was speedily
formed under The title of the armed neutrality, con-
ssting at first, only of Russia and her two unas-
Stunning neighbors, Denmark and Sweden. But after