The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-04
From the oxford (N Y) Times
LETTER FROM THE HON. }. Q. CLARK
wAspINoToN, June 30, 1870
WASHINGTON, june ~, ie4o'

WASHINGTON, June %, iof"'
Gan,emen Allow me, through you, TO ex-
press 10 my political friends, who may asselipie
al Norwich on the 18th proximo' my slhcs,e
gret that the continuance OF the SESSION I. IL IN
gress, will deprive me oil ihe pleasu'. ~, cas,;n
ties of the day a.. \, N.
II Is indeed bright and glorious day IN inc
American Calendar, and worthy oil being ceis
brated by every demonstration OF JOY anu s'"u |
ness Heretofore il has been consec'atu "
plrposes well calculated TO strengthen our pa
triotism, elevate our hopes, and conlrni oul con
yctons that men are capaDie vi sou
mon, Notwithstanding our blighted prosperity
our ruined commerce, our deserted worh- SHOPS,
and narayzed industry, the results oil the hostiie
action of The most corrupt and wicked admihis-
ration that ever afflicted the government OF any
couniry on the wide earth, we can yei ceiepiaie
The day with rejoicing, for there ~ yet spared
10 us by our cold -blooded, merclless rulers tha',
which they have not the power TO destroy-,ne
last soace Of the wretched-hope. pu' lo' 'ne
ouickeninp 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 nave
been set apart as day OF lasting, humiiiation
and PRAYER" than TO have been made vocal with
the songs and hozannas OF freemen. But lot
this cheering hope, the affairs Of our political
worship. should be shrouded with the emblems
Of mourning. rather than decorated with the
chaplets of flowers, entwined by the fingers OIL
beauty and patriotism. But tor this hope, our
citizens should clothe themselves IN sack clolh
and sit III ashes,n rather than be decked IN t9e
| garments Of praise and thanksgiving. But Tor
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 oil their III
lated country, to inspire emotions Of sorrow ana
solemnity, To summon around them their emil
dren the future champions OF liberty, and instill
into their minds, detestaion OF tyrants, whe-
| Their they may scourge mankind under the garb
| of Kings or Presidents. But Tor tins hope, the
matrons of our land, instead of sending forth
their fair daughters to gladden. the festive hall
with theiI sunny presence, would press them TO
| their anxious bosoms, and in accents which mo-
theirs alone can employ, prepare them to sustain
with foritude, a change of condition wrought
by their caous rulers, a change which from
competence and wealth, consigns them to des-
titution and poverty. But for this hope, the
farmer would leave his plough in the halt-turned
| furrow-the merchant would abandon his coun-
ter-the mechanic the shop-the manufactures
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 a miserable, animal existence, chained
down to the earth in hopeless bondage, the
''hewer of wood and drawer OF water OF some
purse proud aristocrat--every prospect oil m
proving his fortune and condition, vanished for
ever. But for this hope many patriot, view
ing the actual condition of the country, wasted
by the prohgacy of its rulers, crippled in her re-
sources her Constitution violated, her laws and
time haowed precedents set at naught, her
treasure seized upon by the strong hand OF Exc
cutve 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 subservien-
cy of packed and servile majority In Congress,
Of all power, both Legislative and Exec1nve,
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 a atrusslins asi r~iastant people
and in mockeIy of their sufierlngs, and by the
aid of men who have usurped the sacred seats
of the legislature, measure which leaves 70 his
discretion and tender mercy, the whole clrcu-
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
verely rebuked by the people Of the states the
denunciation, ostracism and outlawry Of men
ot'known patriotism for an adherence 10 the
principles of Constitutional liberty, and for de-
claring that they had a country to serve as
well as party TO obey;" but for this hope,
repeat, many patriot would, in agony Of spirit
say, in thelanguage Of one Disguised with The
world:
| +" Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness
Some boundess contiguity OF shade;
w here pppresslon and deceit,
May never reach me more
But thanks To the benefcent 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 misrue, there ishope-
a rich Joyous hope-a hope which sends the
blood in warm and rapid eddes around the pa
trots heart-a hope which will soon be swal-
lowed up in fruiton. The people are aroused
to a sense of the wrongs with which they are
afflicted, and have resolved again to be free
On this day, purchased by the toll, sufferings
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
fortunes and sacred honor" TO Danish from pow
er 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" lashed as it has been and now is, by
the desolating whirwind 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-
minating 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, exclam, Sic semper fyrdn-
MIS-" The Eagle towering in his pride Of
place. will summon the vultures to the banquet.
No friendly hand will bestow one poor shovel of