The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-31

POLITICS OF THE DAY.

rRATios--Ihe Tory journals have attempted Of late
20 assign variety Of reasons. which induce great
many good democrats" 10 connect themselves with
the opposition. We had supposed that these Journals
were aware OF the absurdy Of their pretensons
elusive Democracy. Governor Marcy set the matter
right IN letter which he wrote some months since
The Iammany Committee 10 which he assumed very
justly that both parties conceded the Democratic cha
racer OF our institutions, aud advocated the introduce
ton Of Democratic principles into their administration
Equal rights and equal laws are the foundations Of
publicanism.
We think that in the catalogue OF their reasons the
Tory Journals have not gone far enough. There are
many reasons besides those enumerated, which have
not only induced many good Democrats to abandon the
administration, but which must prevent them from
renewing their connection with It, The first OF these is
the fact that they find liberal principles Of govern
mcnt principles more conducive to the greatest good
Of the greatest number, IN the creed and policy OF the
Wings.
This alone would be a very sufficient reason Let
US see il there are other Many sgood Demo-
Gratis are well persuaded of the truth Of the old asge
that acts speak louder than words. They do not admit
Democracy Of profession, to be better Of public
men than Democracy OF practice What faith can they
place in men, who violate in Office all the promises and
professions by which they obtain power Many 'sgood
Democrats" for instance believe that the expenditure
Of Sl2 100000 per annum by Mr.. Adams was extraya-
giant and unnecessary The opponents Of his admins.
traton told them so. They promised to reduce ihese
expenditures. They obtained Office, and in few wears
raised the expenditures OF Government from l2 OOO.
900 to $40 100000! Nov here was original false
hood and subsequent bad faith The fact proves that
they willingly miseprescnted; and that far from be-
ing prodgal administration, that OF Mr. Adams was
proydent aud economical. But the men who believed
the former disbursement anti democratic, are not fools
enough TO believe the present expenditures republican,.
They cannot figure out the facts, as to convince
themselves tina. il is cheaper to expend fifty millions
han a,ni IhauCa AL hat hal ham,
cheated, and that they are now abuses.
Many good Democrats also. were well persuaded
that the appointment Of members OF Congress to Office
only impaired the character and dignity OF the To-
gisatue, but destroyed that responsibility TO the People
which is the very life Of representative government
They believed that introduced corruption and dcpen
dencc and was calculated to subvert in its very strong
hold the true constitutional sovereignty. General
Jackson and his friends told them so, and they believed
il, and they believed that under and more demo-
cratic order Of things, this great evil would be correct
ed. How was 1t coHectedi BY the appointment to
Office Of members Of Congress during the eight
years OF General Jackson than had been appointed
during the whole forty years of his predecessors -
How is this to be defended under any circumstances
Least of all, how is il TO be defended in the teeth Of
positive pledges Mr.. Van Buren, is continuing tho
same abuses. The catalogue Of Congressional pen.
soners under his administration, compares very well
with that Of Gen. jackson, and redeems his promise Of
following in his footsteps.
Again, many good Democrats believe that the Sena-
tors of the United States should represent the wishes
and feelings Of their constituents, and yield them
least IN all matters OF mere opinion where sacrifice
is involved of honor principle So General Jackson
thought So his official and semoficiaI organs thought
For months together the Globe filed with denun-
cistisns OF Wing Senator's who misrepresente their
constituencies Day after day, it called upon these Sc
majors TO resign their seats and threatened them in the
case Of refusal with popular vengeance. Even Mr.,
Butler went SO far as TO incorporate in the protest.
that famous manifesto Of executive absolutism, and
Original porers left unchecked by the Constitution
an appeal to Wing Senators based upon this very
principle The protest did directly call upon those
Senators to resign but intmated in pretty broad
that it would be proper for them mend their man
vscate their seats And what do we see now,
in that Senate Eight Senators, in opposition to
the will of their constituents, voted session after
sion, in favor Of tho SubTreasury. Without their
It would s. have sssa n n minority Of sa in The
refractory gentlemen to vote their constituents would
have them, or resign Does the official journal now
read its daily homily the duties Of representative
TO his constituents Does teal on the Senate to obey
the will OF the people! Not word of all this We
doubt if the Globe has styled the Senate the "astocra-
tic branch-the irresponsible branch"-for the last
three years We never agreed with the Globe in its
understanding Of the duties of Senators it evidently
does not agree with ITSELF but the administration
be surprised that the men who agreed with it's princi-
regard of those principles in the present practice Of the
administration?
Still again, there are many good Democrats who be-
ieve that the will OF the people, consutonslly ex-
pressed, should be the law Of the land This they
learned from Mr. Jefferson, and they still reverence the
principles and the memory Of that grea, men, How can
such Democrats support the present administration =!
They have seen measure presented by MIR. Van Bu-
rem to Congress, and condemned by the popular banch
presented to the people, in the fall elections Of 1887,
and condemned They have seen IL again presented to
Congress, at a second session, and again condemned
once more presented TO the people, at the spring and
fall elections of 1885, ard still rejected In The face of
all this condemnation they have seen il again urged by
the Presldent-and when it had become universally
odous, that though It was driven through Senate mis-
representing its constituents the friends of the Pres
dent could not find time TO bring up in the House.
And still we find the President--our Democratic Chief
Maglstratewho has always proessed such extreme de-
ference to the will Of the people, and who has described
the infraction OF that ,ciH lander any preicnee,"
as fatal blow at the great cause Of republcansmwe
find this same President, adherng with blind faulty to
this bold bad measure, denouncing its opponents ode
luded" and interested" bringing them all into the
comprehensive catalogue Of knaves fools, and pro-
claiming that this thrice condemned Sub Treasury must
become the law Of the land ITO know when to yield
IN government" said distinguished English statesman
"is at least as necessary to know when to lose in
trade and nc who do the first is so lie hkeiy
TO g0ocrn nation tce thai ii is more than probnbc
he ,couid gopern shopil."
These specnlatons we beg the Post to add, by way
Of appendix. to its catalogue Of the reasons which pre-
vent many good Democrats from sustaining the ad.
ministration II they based facts they are con-
elusive. II not based on facts, the Post can show
wherein they are false Ifproved false, still other rea
sons may be adduced even more cogent If admt-
ted to be true, what good Democrat could wish fur
ther reasons for Withholding his support from the ad-
ministralionl
From The Washington Globe