The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-08
TO THE REPUBLIcANs OF THE UNITED
STATES.

pectuS for the publication OF the MADisoNiAN, Dur
ing this evenfa period we have been engaged in a
severe conflict as interesting and important to the
Republic as any thai has ranspred since its organi
zalion The cause, and our course, have attached
to US many interests which will not permit us 10 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.
his well remembered that the MAprsoNIAs was
established in the conviction that the great character
and interests OF the country well the success of
the administration required another organ at the seat
Of the National Government. Born in the Republic
can FAITH and nurtured IN Republican doctrines we
were DESTROYS of seeing the leading principles Of the
party TO which we were attached preserved and car
ried out, not only in theory, but in practice We
pledged ourself to sustain the principles and doc
MADISON, and came here in good faith 10 support the
present administration upon he principles fchieh GO
rsynsd khe party soAicA elected Mr. Vaa Buyea, and
apos ae pledges By rAie1 taat election 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 II 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 favor
able auspices than Mr. Van Bnren. A combination
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 counses pre-
vailed and the hopes of that political millennium
which many Republicans cherished as the fulfment
oftheir creed were disappointed and postponed.
Whilst the MApisoNIAN and lis 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 10 the establishment OF an unmi-
tigated despotism. Accompanied as they We're by
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 Republic
cans. In that spirit OF independence and love Of
freedom which characterized the founders of our
depreciate and destroy them, with the best Of our
ability. The same spirit which prompted us to do
this, finds justification in supporting the men who
made Ii necessary,
Il is an inconiroverlibe truth that every prominent
act of this administration has been an open, une-
quvoca violation Of every principle and profession
upon which Mr.. Van Buren, was elevated to the
Chief Magistracy by the people
In his upholding 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 10 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 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 ruinous practice
of deprecated government paper money for circu-
lating medium; thus exercising power derived
only from loose construction OF the Constitution,
and rerudiaed by the best Republican authorities;
In his attempt 10 establish Treasury Bank with
an rredeemable paper-money circulation;
In his effort 10 overthrow the State Bank Deposite
system, established by President Jackson, and take
the public moneys into his actual custody ana con-
In his attempt to divorce the government from the
interests and sympathes OF the people;
In his attempt TO create multitude OF new OH
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 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 permitting the patronage of his Office TO 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 to cram obnoxious measures down
the throas Of dissenting brethren by unbecom-
ing magnanimous Chief Magistrate 80. e -,
In his refusal to acquiesce in the decisions OF inc
majority and
In the despotic attempt of his partisans in the y.
S. Senate on the ID July, inst. 70 scise The public
treasure, by abolishing all law for lis custody ana
He has abandoned the principles by which be came
into power, and consequently, the duty which they
prescribed and he has obstinately perseyered IN
his erroneous course as TO preclude all reasonapie
hope of his retracng 1t.
And finally, TO this long catalogue of grievances
we may add, what may be considered minor Oh
fence but certainly very obnoxious one INA. 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 concu-
sion can the nation come but that their Chief Magis
trae is either wanting in integrity, or wanting IN
capacity?
We need not say that we expected different things
of public servant bound by his sacred pledges, to
regard the national will as the supreme law of the
Republic That blind infatualion which has needed
not this rule of the American people, must and
ought to NEE, its reward and sink in indiscriminate
and everlasting overthrow
The financial policy of this Administration cannot
be sustained upon any principle Of necessity, expe-
diency, utility, practical philosophy, or sound econo,
my. Its plain object the perpetuity OF power, ana
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 as practicable the domestic exchanges is de-
manded by the practical wants of the people, and,
sooner or later in form another, will be OBJ
tanned by them. To accomplish this end, and TO
preserve 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 to continue our labors.