The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-07-17
MR. EDMoNDs' ADDRESS TO THE PREsI-
DENT.

~ N"S A'~~s~~''"'
'Tis no, our duty to discuss,
In such public place as this,
Things which have gone from bad 10 worse,
Or those which only 90 amiss.
But, as free citizens, we feel
IT'S due to our own party veal,
To introduce, and here express,
Our faith il your high mightyness;
In whose long gilded train we see
The love Of pure democracy.
Your history, sir, will form page
T. enlighten every after age.
Unless some Wing shall hold the pen,
And turn to ridlcule tho story,
Or place before our mental ken
The whole unravell'd skein OF glory.
But let the rogues say what they will,
The world will give you credit still,
For GOODNESS that no zeal could heat
For art no talent could defeat
For prudence and for tact display'd,
That cast some nobler names in shade.
Though young as We, in power and station,
You have so energtsed the nation,
That great revulsions, once sd rare,
Arc now common place affair,
And usefulness Of government.
You have, by low financial diet,
Kept trade aud commerce calm and quiet;
And by sort OF treasury farce,
Made bullion mos, Internal scarce.
For these. and things TO Wings so hateful,
Your humble servants feel most grateful
The power, sir, we have most to fear
Is private wealth and public cheer;
Prosperity, we hold, is bad
Aud though there's nothing in it sad
II tends to make the nation mad.
il brings shout strange revolutions,
And generates those false conclusions
That undermine free institutions.
In short, prosperity. we feel,
Is adverse to the public veal
Aud hence our system should be made
To check the natural course Of trade
To tread upon the toes Of wealth,
Aud thus insure commercial health.
The statesman that would gain renown,
Must break the nations spirit down
As did your FIRST communication
Which met our cordial appreciation.
Glitter as pill Of qnsck physicisn)
Would meet with damning opposition.
Sir, we behold with pride and pleasure
Your efforts to dispense the treasure,
And rather than IN Banks to lock it,
To put il in Tom N0kess pocket,
Or in some Treasury sub OF State,
Where it might chance to circulate.
This measure, sir, we viii sustain;
BY il alone we can maintain
That large and influential class.
Whose useful labors none surpass-
Who carry things, as 'twere, by storm,
And aid in every great reform.
In them, abundant virtue lies
Obedient, active, crafty, wise,
With feelings Of inveterate hate
Against the rich, aud would-be great.
Such men, we must support aud pay;
By office, or some other way.
And 'twould, we think, show moro address,
To tax the office.holders.
To you, sir, and our friends at court,
We all look up for strong support
While we, meantime, to party true,
Will give firm support to you.
This Is the upshot Of our story
Our interest, principle. and glory,
And so, without more idle prate,
You're welcome to your native State
That is, if we can fix and fit it,
So that your EIcellency can get it
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
NV worthy friends. I'm much Affected
This welcomes more than expected
For some of you have been neglected
Though not through want Of will or grace,
But merely for the want Of place.
Democracy to office leans,
To Office looks for ways and means;
And thick as scslps in Indian nations
Are office .hunterss applications
Do what will, when all is done,
One office will but serve for one
No vacancy exists an hour
Few die, and none abandon power.
Unless, perchance, with view TO vex US,
They rob the till,-and run for Texas
Or speculate ard play the fool,
Aud write Us notes from Liverpool,
But with these ills there's something kind
Comes flashing Der the troubled mind
NJ 4 raeant office left behind!
mention these things not as new.
Dut 70 excuse nyscll 10 you,
And show you're not Of hope bereft
While rogues are still in Office left.
But to return from whence we started.
IT'S long, my friends, long since we parted.
Long may YOU live to hear aud see
The trumphs Of Democracy.
Your praise Of my great fiscal measure,
Affords me the slncerest pleasure;
Nor less your cordial APPRECIATION
or my attempts at reformation
For sure no statesman in tho land
Such matters better understand.
Your views would cen the learn'd surprise,
They're 50 profound judicious, wise
In par,y's purest light you see
All thlngs--and hence agree with me.
The Democratic sense is sound,
And TO the sub is coming round.
On that the nations fate depends
And If il falls, our freedom euds,
For twill be one Of those solutions
That sweep from earth free institutions.
But have failh-It must succeed
Il cannot die, so CAM has said.
Bnt CAM may now more Justly doubt il,
Since he's no more to say about il.
The bankrupt law, recommended,
Somehow or other got suspended,
Tho States, ssgscious, saw The snare,
And would not touch single hair
but let that pass. And let me here
Once more return my thanks sincere.
r, For sll you've said. and yet may say,
VN..v,- al. n