The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-04
From The Oxford IN Y) Times
LETTER FROM THE HON, @. CLARh'
WAsnINoToN, June %, I54U.

WASHINGTON, June % io4o'
Gentlemen Allow me, through YOU 10 ex-
press 10 my political friends, who may assemble
al Norwich on the 4th proximo, my sincere re-
greet that the continuance OF the session oi ION
Sress will deprive me Of the pleasure had an
Iicipated, Of minging with lhem IN the iestiyi-
ties of the day.
Ii is indeed a bright and glorious day IN the
| American Calendar, and worthy OF being cele-
brated by every demonstration OF Joy and glad
ness Heretofore il has been consecrated 10
purposes well calculated TO strengthen our pa
lriolism, elevate our hopes, and confirm our con
yctons that men are capable OF selt-goyern-
ment Notwithstanding our blighted prosperity
our ruined commerce, our deserted workshops,
and paralyzed industry, the results oil the hostile
action OF the most corrupt and wicked admins
tration that ever afflicted the government Oh any
country on the wide earth, we can YET celebrate
the day with rejoicing, for there is yet spared
10 US by our cold -blooded, merciless rulers that
which they have not the power to destroy-the
last soace of the wretched-hope But for the
auckening and animating confidence IN the pa
| triotism and intelligence of the people, giving
the gladstone assurance that the days OF our de-
graduation and calamity, are rapidly approaching
their end, this anniversary would better have
been sci apart as day OF fasting, humiliation
and PRAYER" than to have been made vocal with
the songs and hozannas of freemen. But for
this cheering hope, the affairs of our political
worship should be shrouded with the embems
Of mourning, rather than decorated with the
chapets of flowers, entwined by the fingers of
beauty and patriotism. But for this hope, our
citizens should "clothe themselves in sack cloth
and sit III ashes,n rather than be decked in the
garments Of praise and thanksgiving. But for
this hope, the old men, rather than throng the
public assemblies, would draw close the shut
tiers, commune with their household gods, and
in the gloon Of retirement so well calculated
from its resemblance to the condition OF Their ILL
iated country, to inspire emotions OF sorrow and
solemnity, TO summon around them their chill
dren the future champions of liberty, and instill
into their minds, a detestation of tyrants, whe-
ther they may scourge mankind under the garb
of Kings or Presidents. But for this hope, the
marons of our land, instead of sending forth
their fair daughters to gladden. the festive hall
with Their sunny presence, would press them TO
their anxious bosoms, and in accents which mo-
theirs alone can employ, prepare them TO sustain
{ with forntude, change of condition wrought
, by their calous rulers, change which from
competence and wealth, consgns them to des-
titution and poverty. But for this hope, the
farmer would leave his plough in the half
, furrow-the merchant would abandon his coun-
ter--the mechanic the shop-the manufacturer
his loom and spindle, and yield themselves up
to despair. But for this hope, the young man,
rich only in good name, an honest heart and
willing hands, would view himself doomed TO
drag out miserable, animal existence, chained
down to the earth in hopeless bondage, the
"hewer of wood and drawer of water" OF some
purse proud arstocrat-every prospect OF I'M
proving his fortune and condition, vanished for
ever. But for this hope, many a patriot, view
! ing the actual condition OF the country, wasted
by the prohigacy of its rulers, crippled in her re-
sources her Constitution violated her laws and
time hallowed precedents set at naught, her
/ treasure seized upon by the strong hand of Exe-
cutive power, hel very liberty threatened by
100000 bayonets pointed by Executive COM
mand, viewing the concentration in the person
! Of the President, through the abject subseryen-
! cy of a packed and servile majority In Congress,
Of all power, both Legislative and Executive,
the utter corruption Of the public morals, as
evinced by the foul slanderers, uttered by men
high in official station, the building up of strong
and splendid central government to the destruc-
ton of the rights of the states, the contempt Of
, the popular will, as shown by the President in
; forcing upon n atrasslias a.i --laasaat people,
and in mockery of their suferings, and BY the
! aid of men who have usurped the sacred seats
of the legislature, measure which leaves % his
discretion and tender mercy, the whole circu-
, lating medium OF the country, and consequently,
the value Of the entire property of the country,
and in appointments to high official stations of
,, men who have recently been solemnly and Sc
verey rebuked by the people of the states; the
denuncaton, ostracism and outlawry OF men
principles Of Constitutional liberty, and for de-
caring that they had country to serve as
well as party to obey;' but for this hope, /
repeat, many patriot would in agony Of spirit
say, in the language of one disguised with the
world:
ooh, for lodge in some vast Wilderness
Some boundess contguity of shade
+ Where rumor of oppression and deceit
May never reach me more"
But thanks to the benefccnt author of all
good, who has implanted in the bosoms Of the
people, an attachment to order and law, and a
horror OF oppression and misrule, there as hope
rich joyous hope-a hope which sends the
blood in warm and rapid eddies around the pa
triot's heart-a hope which will soon be swal-
lowed up in fruition. The people are aroused
TO sense of the wrongs with which they are
afflicted, and have resolved again to be free
On this day, purchased by the toll, suferings
and blood of their fathers, will they kneel before
the altar of liberty, and in the language of the
deathless Declaration of '76, will pledge their
4 fortunes and sacred honor" to Danish from pow
or the men who disregard their Just complaints,
who eat out their substance and lash them with
scorpions.
We may not only indulge the hope, but the
confident belief, that the stormy wave of the
multitude" ashed as it has been and now is, by
the desoatng whirlwind of power into fury and
madness, will dash the authors of their suffer
ings, and the degradation of this once fair Re-
public, TO swift and inevitable destruction
| Their doom is decreed Soon the stranger ru-
mnatng on the folly Of power-loving and pow
er-abusing man, will wander along the rugged |
strand, strewed with their rotten carcasses, and
in the language of the armorial bearings of the !
Old Dominion, exclaim, g Sic sen,per fvran-
MS" The Eagle Towering in his pride of
place. will summon the vultures to the banquet |
No friendly hand will bestow one poor shovel of |