The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-11
POLITICS OF THE DAY.
From ihs Hartford tci) Parrot and Democrat
Mr.. RivEs MR. CLAY-THE PRESIDENCY.


hspuoiicsns 10 different parts of the country dis
covered disposition on the part Of those entrusted
whh the reins OF government 10 abandon ihe prin-
ePes o. 1enefsonian democracy, and 10 follow only
me dictates of their o,ca DiA however much u
hicled wan the feelings of the people Almost every
act oi the government, II appeared 10 ihem parook
o. an anti-Iepubcan character, aud seemed design
ca no, ony to dsappolnt the public exPrcalons but
actually 70 carry out The old and Oh repadiaed poll
cy OF The irderasis BY tending 10 concentrate all
me political power u The country In the hands of
fhs head ~ hs party. Ia this State small band OF
sterling Republicans In common with their bfelh-
Ten elsewhere, became alarmed at The arisocratic
policy and measures Of The General Government,
and It's entire disregard oil The popular will, and
deliberately came 10 the conclusion that they could
no longer give their support 10 party which had so
completely and recklessly violated all its promises
andpledges. They could mol consider an adminisira-
ton deserving Of the support Of honest and dsinlc
Tested Republicans, whose policy aimed deadly
blow at The very foundations Of popular sovereign.
~, and the character vi which could mol better be
described than By pronouDciDg Il "dtsorgaatEiHg
and reroiutioaary| As lime passed on, and the old
federal and eealraiissng policy of President Van
Buren, was more and more developed, aud The OH
cial command Of subsidized corps OF offce-hoders
had gone onh thai this man must BE- reelected TO
the station which he had so much disgraced, it be-
necessary for the llle band referred to- which
had now become known by the name OF C0RHrra-
ttres, 10 avuw their preferences and express their
opinions as TO whom they should wish 10 have ill
y and With The spirit VI ireemen, and this class Of
politicians throughout our country, with few ex-
cepions, turned their eyes upon that h,gh-minded
aud talented aaesman-that pure and disinierested
patliot-that distinguished Son VI the Mother OF
Statesnen"-that worthy pupil Of the immotal JET
iefson, the Hon. WILLIAM G. RIvEs OF Virginia. Ii
was 10 This man that the Conservatives OF The coun
try looked as the individual who, more than any
one else could bring back the Government TO the
old Republican lfack--who would prolec, thai free.
dom Of thought anG Independence Of opinion so me-
ceSsary in tree goyerDment---who would never
sacrifice the principles OF justice aud Republican
generosity 10 a selfish aud blind obedience to parry
leaders--and who would never jeopardiZe the great
and permanent interest OF his country 10 subserve
the temporary purposes OF party. la the support of
such man, we called upon The yirluous and the
patriotic IN every section Of our common country TO
unite, and by That means efiecinay drive from the
high places OF our government, the modern Gulhs
and Vandals, the sole object Of whose official lives
appears 10 be 10 plunder The public aud amass wealth
But the Conservatives soon learned the unpleas-
ant fact that great majority Of their fellow citizens
who were opposed 10 the alarming and increasing
abuses ihe braZen faced dishonesty and corruption
oil the reigning dynasty, looking in another d.
recton for political Moses TO take the reins OF 60
vernment from the hands Of modern Pharaoh
and his hosts"-to the veteran Orator ane Statesman
of the West and that they could not be persuaded 10
yield up their predictions and utr in support Of
The purest public man OF the agehe noble and uss-
corrupted Earmer0t Virginia! This state OF things
the CONSERVATIVES idHcblcu, Uut COuiu hoi SHdH5t'
They well knew, TO be sure, that Henry CLAY was a
great man, and perfectly familiar with The egisia-
tive diplomatic and executive affairs oil our cOun
try-ihat he had rendered signal service, IN war as
well as in peace to our common country but they
knew equally we'll that he had, as public man,
done some things OF late years which had dispeas-
ed large masses OF the people, which they did not
seem inclined either 10 forget or for5ive--hal the
prejudices Of the Conservatives particularly were
50 strong against him, in consequence Of some OF
his political and opinions, that should his name
be pressed upon them, very many would either re-
fuse TO vote al all or would vote against him-that
in some of the States the views Of Mr.. Clay upon
the subject OF the Public Lands sound correct and
patriotic though they may be, would be an nsur-
nouHtabe obstacle TO his receiving the votes Of the
peoplein others that his opinions upon the subject
Of masonry had upon The subjec,
OF Slavery had estranged the feelings OF many con-
scientious men from him, who al the same time
looked with feelings Of adherence upon the corrup
iion and radcalism Of the present administration,
and therefore that was utterly impossible for him
TO unite the jarring feelings and concentrate the
whole force Of The opposioni
Every intelligent man appears to be aware that
the opposition comprise majority OF the voters in
the U. States, IL they could be unified LII relation 10
them the old adage United we SLANG, divided we
rALL," is strictly and literally true, and under the
circumstances 81 the country 1t is hardly necessary
to say to the shrewd and discerning reader, that II
some individual more acceptable TO The different
tions of the opposition than Mr. Clay is not brought
forward, certain and ngurious defeat awaitSthem.
IL is thing but pleasant task for US 10 speak out
thus boldly honest convictions on this great sub
ject but the position in which are placed, and the
Immense importance Of the approaching contest,
renders II a duty which we dare not forego. For
ourselves, personally, We should infinitely prefer
The Kentucky Orator TO The intriguing and selfish
political fortune huater that now occupies the Chair
OF Stale. We certainly honor and respect him Tor
his ranscendent talents and great public services
but still quite certain that he cannot receive the
"A ha.r i..f II. tn
the corrupting and debasing doctrines OF Van Blu
renism. II is for this reason that we would urge
the influential men in the opposition ranks-if they
would triumph, and bring back the Governmental
the policy OF Jefferson, Madison and Monroe--the
importance Of feeling and acting upon the principle
that there is choice OF erls and Of exercising spirit
OF conLiiation. Ii this is not done confident
all Is lost Indeed, al the present time il is believed
to be positively certain that the party or class OF cit-
zens which are known Aboiions,s, although
uron principle opposed To Van Buren, and his whole
policy, will not support Mr.. Clay under any cicum-
stances. If this be so, that party can prevent Mr..
Clay's receiving the electoral vote of New York,
Vermont, Rhode Island, and probably Connecticut.
Other sectional and local difficulties exist in rela-
lion to Mr.. Clay at the South and West, as demon
straled by the result Of the recent elections in that
section Of the Union. In Tennessee, Indiana, Ala
blma and North Carolina where the names of Mr.
Clay and Mr.. Van Buren, alone were presented to
the people in ion with the subject Of the next
Presidential election, they have spoken out their
feelings plainly and unequivncally against The f0s
mcr, although are assured that the people of those
States do approve of the measures and policy Of
the latter. Two years since before il was supposed
that Mr. CLAW was TO BE- the opposition candidate for
the next Presidency, these States gave upwards of
twenty-five Thousand minority against Van Buren,,
but they have now manifested their preference for
him over Mr.. Clay. Such is the actual condition
OF things, and II is folly 10 disguise il. Wise men
should not shut their eyes upon 1t, but rather set
themselves to work TO overcome The difficulties in
their way.
Thus situated in regard candidates for the highest
Office in the gift Of the American people, the question
arises 10 the mind OF every candid and dsnteresed
as 10 be dong? Notwithstanding many
of the old and veteran politicians Of the country will
tell that The only thing 10 be done is to press the
CLAIMS OF Mr.. Clay, rejoiccd to discover that