The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-17
OFFICIAL INSULTS TO THE PEOPLE

| OFFICIAL INSULTS TO THE PEOPLE.
The rabid defamation Of the Globe about the
election of General Harrison having been ac-
complished through the Instrumentaity of FRAUD
and CORRUPTION, is received every where with
unmeasured scorn. Candid, persons of every
shade Of political opinion-all ingenious men
who have any regard for the honor of the coun-
try, and the principles of our free constitution,
reprobate and repel the foul and atrocous
charge. Yet il is not original with the conduc-
tors of the Globe They have adopted il from
source not less distinguished than the Presi-
dent himself; and il might be imagined that the
present condition of that parsonage would be a
warning TO his partisans Of the impoicy (even
il they are insensible TO higher considerations,
the great iRelpediency Of repeating this fragrant
insult TO the American People. The country
will not speedily forget the circumstances under
which President Van Buren, first uttered the
imputation now so eagerly caught up and echoed
and re-echoed by his INSCRIPTIONS agents in
abuse and detracton. The Sub treasury scheme
that precious remedial measure offered by
Government to a distressed people-had been
passed by disarmed and subseryient Senate.
The public virtue of the peoples representatives
IN the more popular branch of Congress had,
however, laid it low; and the People had sus-
tanned the course of the House in the most de-
cisive and unequivocal manner. Instead of
yielding to the wishes and remonstrances Of the
peope--mstead of obeying the Supreme will
instead of relenting in his warfare on the best
interests of the Nation-the President again
urged the scheme, and hurled against the peo-
pie who had SO emphatically condemned il, the
base accusation Of having been BRlBED and COR
RuPTED by the banks The organ of Mr. Van
Buren, IS now animated by precisely the same
spirit which dictated this caumnv
But the exclamation that rises spontaneously
scenes OF the last few years, and the means and
materials Of party warfare employed by the men
who have the ascendancy in the Federal Admin
lstration, is, "What set to talk of fraud of bri-
berry, and corruption" A pleasant anecdole is
recorded of Sheridan once meeting an acquaint-
ance whose son had no great reputation for ho-
nesty. The man began woful tale of the mis-
fortunes of his son. s'Oh my dear Sherry ?,
said he, 'haye you heard Of his last piece of i'll
luck-have you heard ofmy poor sons robbery2n
"Not |, briskly replied the wit "Do tell me
mho has been robbed by him I" The clamor Of
the Globe men and their partisans about frauds
invites an equally ugly question.
A call is TO be made upon the partisans of the
Administration throughout The Union, we UNI
derstand, 10 use all exertions in getting up ana
forwarding to Washington proofs OF these pre-
tended fraudulent, and corrupt practices. Let
them come on urword for il, the spoilsmen
will have more than enough todo by way ofExouL-
PATTON before they can gracefully or compctently
undertake to be dccusers of others What spe-
cies of exculpation tker's would be, in such
case, we may imagine from the course they have
hitherto pursued. In their zeal to fasten upon
their opponents the most arbitrary and ground
less accusations OF illegal voting, have they ever
dared to attempt TO relieve themselves and their
yoke-lellows from the established facts Of fraud,
violence and corruption in their own ranks
No. The best Of their defences has been, that
there are many cases Of illegal voting besides
those that have been discovered among the pets
Of Government, and the proteges Of those pets /!
Their boldest plea has been like that of the cri-
mlnal in London who attempted 10 show, not
that he was honest, but by exhibiting the New
Gate Calendar that there were many unhanged
rogues besides himself. Such will be their de-
fence again.