The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-05

u. S'' so"oa SouserpdllVeS-with this ASSOC
ciat,on am proud, justly proud. That party
mas been. and still is, the subject ofmuch bitter
persecution, and Of wanton and unproyoked
attack. That the venal Globe should pour up
on u thez2hals of its wrath and vituperation,
ana assan<s with its usual bilingsgate, excites
no surprise" tits his vocation" The Exc
cutlve pensoned slanderer must perform his
daily task Of calumny and abuse to earn his
daily bread. The Conservatives are charged
with venality. They have been " bought and
sold" Yes, sir, they have been " bought and
sold" That is the accusation.
Sir, gentlemen who can so far forget what
is due to their high station--to this House-to
themselves-to decency--as to become the
retailers of the ribald and stale slang Of the
official organ" can excite in my bosom nc,
feelings OF anger, no, nor Of contempt. carl
only yield to them my pity, mingled with dis
gust.
/ lnvective, elimination and personality aro
often used to supply the place of reason and
augmentation to unburthen a bosom heay-
ing with passion and bursting with malignity.
How far gentlemen on this floor deem the use
OF Vituperative and accusatory language, con-
sistent with the dignity Of their places and of
the respect due to the feelings of others, i am
unable to say. If they could be persuaded to
take counsel from the admonitions Of wisdom,
and the suggestions of benevolence, they
would, in the use Of language temperate and
courteous, add much to their reputation as par
liamentary debaters, and, at the same time, i'm
prove the qualities Of their hearts. A good
man, in preierring charge which he believesto
be true, and which duty alone compels him to
make, will do il in a manner, convincing the
accused, that it is the crime, and not the man
assailed.
If the use of harsh language, in preferrng
well founded complaint, meets with our dsap-
probation, in what terms of indignant reproba-
ton shall we not condemn him who not only
makes false charge, but outrages propriety
and decency in the manner Of making it !!
Shall this place be converted into an arena, in
which political gadiators shall combat, with
weapons stepped in poisonl God forbid
Here should be the abiding place of eloquence,
Of genuine polished eloquence, an eloquence
which rests its claim to admiration on the
display of its fascinating charms, and not on
the exhibition Of its revolving deformities.
Sir, the Conservatives ask no man or set of
men for license to do what, to them, seems to
be just and patriotic. The tenure by which
they hold" standing in the Republican Vine
yard, and breathing in its air, is the Consti-
tuition, which guarantees as well to them, as to
the American people, freedom in thought,
word, and deed. In that freedom they proud
y stand. Persecution and bitterness, reviling
and prescription, either here or elsewhere, will
not drive them from their position. 1t has
been deliberately taken from high considera-
tons of duty to their country. They have
gone out into the battle field ofprinciple, armed
with the weapons Of truth and patriotism.-
Never will they, craven like, ask at the hands
Of their political adversaries, the terms on
which they shall enjoy their political princi-
Piles, or continue their political being. AS their
conduct, thus far, merits the good opinion of
all, so will they be cautious to do no act of
political baseness to incur, justly, the contempt
of any
Sir, am not ignorant Of the deep hate which
certain gentlemen bear towards the Conserya-
tives. 1t surprises me not. Indeed, it is quite
natural. The Conservatives act from noble
and patriotic impulses, which never throbbed
in the bosoms Of their revilers. They are stub
born in honesty, unyielding in purpose, and
independent in action. They spurn dictation,
come from what quarter it may, and claim and
exercise the right to think and act for them
selves. Too proud in principle to be the
fawnine, cringing slaves and sycophants of
power, they have burst asunder the degrading
shackles which bound them to the vile earth
of party, and they walk erect in the conscious
dignity of freemen. Too selfrespectful to
crawl along the filthy cutters and search in the
sewers of party for the miserable crumbs
which fall from the Executive table, they soar
into the regions of patriotism, breathe its pure
and bracing atmosphere, and feed on its rich
and tempting viands. Why will not gentle
men Of the administration repent them Of their
political sins, be in charity with their fellow
men, and come to the banquet Why will they
continue to "batten' on the agraran " moor,"
when patriotism points them to her :" fair and
fertile plains and bids them enter!"
The alliance between the Wings and Con-
servatives to oppose the administration in its
mad and visionary and destructive projects, is
characterised as a I" bargain and SALE" No,
sir, it is an alliance of high and noble purpose,
prompted by love of country and hatred Of
Executive dictation. What was the specta-
Gle presented to admiring patriotism, in the
State of New York, during the late election 7
One on which good men might have gazed with
delightful admiration. Men engaged for years
in warm political conflict, emerging from it
WIN All the Dltter leelngs winch sucn conilicts
usually engender; in pure devotion to their
country, nobly laid upon its altar all personal
considerations, all their party feelings, and all
eirpolitical prejudices and antipathies. TWAS
peace offering to offended liberty. The fire
of patriotism kindled the sacrifice. Its in
cense has assembled, grateful to the guardian
angel of the country.
Had the Conservatives stoo by, indiffer-
ent spectators of the fght-had they mac
lively, viewed the revolutions of the Jugger-
naut wheels of agrarianism, crushing be-
meath their desolating weight, business, credit,