The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-07
THE DESTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLE DE
VELOPED.

When, in 1887, we prefaced our establish
ment here with delineation Of the course we
should pursue, we saw and declared that "the
necessity also appears of the adoption OF more
conservative principles than the conduct OF
those seems 10 indicate, who seek 10 remedy
abuses by destroying The institutions with
which they are found connected" This was
the first newspaper demonstration Of the Con-
sentative party. In the very first number Of the
Madisonian, issued August l6, 1887, we affirmed
shat the occasion had been improved by one
party to clamor for the destruction Of all banks,
and the entire eradication of the system from
the policy Of the Statesn These declarations
soon brought us into conflict with members of
the party with whom we had heretofore acted,
and they were denied by one section, and as
boldly met and avowed by, at that time, the
small faction Of loco iocos that infested the
purlieus Of Tammany Hall. Not, then, believ
ing il possible that a faction so contemplate
this great country and having, indeed assn
rance from high authority, that the b-Trea-
sury scheme, then only advocated by Mr.. Gouge,
Clerk in the Treasury Department, "would
find very few advocates and Mr. Van Buren,
not among that number, we were encouraged
TO denounce doctrines and measures, which, if
carried out, we foresaw would bring destruc-
ton, ruin and distress, upon the whole country.
And il was not until the message of the extra
session of 1887, that we could be induced TO be-
lieve that Mr.. Van Buren's administration was
to be given up to the wild and destructive theo-
ries of oco-focoism and the visionary and i'm
practicable schemes of a hard money currency
That message was, therefore the epoch of the
declaration of conservative hostility TO destruc-
tive administration. For awhile, and especl-
ally by the elections Of the ensuing IL months,
Mr.. Van Buren, had reason to feel that he had
made false step, which the people seemed
likely neither to tolerate nor forgive. His re-
commentator Of a Sub Treasury, met with
little favor. "The dark days Of the democracy
ensued, and there seemed no hope for Mr.. Van
Buren,. But feeling like Macbeth that,
Slept in so fan, that should wade no more,
Returning were tedious ~ 20 DER"
he continued to urge his Sub-treasury scheme in
an apparently hnmbled spirit and with very lit
tie improvement in strength. It. however sud
denly struck him that double game might pos
sibly succeed He accordingly gave the cue in
subsequent message, and his friends as sud
denly broke out into a general reputation of the
idea that they were in favor of metallic cur
rency, opposed to the credit system, and aiming
at the destruction of all banks. This policy sue
ceeded better Many began to believe that the
Opposition had done Mr.. Van Buren, injustice,
and permitted themselves TO be quietly seduced
into the support Of a scheme which, as they first
understood it, they abominated. The effect of
all this was so palateable to Mr.. Van Buren, that
whole batch of recantatons were afterwards
made in the Senate by his friends, as many OF
our readers well remember.
When, however, through this double-aced
policy, Mr.. Van Buren, came triumphant out of
the Western elections in 1889, the confidence
of himself and advisers grew apace, and the
monster with all his hydra heads of destruction,
was again dressed up and presented with the
JOY of a parent at baptism to the new and
more friendly Congress. The fact that il had
been four times rejected by that body did not af-
feet the modesty Of its godfather But his
majority not being large enough for safety, he
conspred with his friends TO evct an entire
State, and force into Congress, five members
who, they dared not declare by their votes TO be
"idmtuHy" elected BY series of outrages
that have scarcely been paraeled in the history
of the Government, the certified members from
New Jersey were prevented from taking their
seats, and thus majority, for the first time in
was secured, and the passage of the Sub-trea-
sury of course rendered certain.
No sooner had this result been reached than
Loco-focoism began 10 deveope itself fully, like
the wild buffalo just unbridlcd The rules of
Parliament were instantly thrown aside with
contemplate Speakers decisions invariably re-
versed, if they did not suit the majority-and vo-
lence and all sorts of indecences ensued II
was then that the advocates of the Sub-treasury
came forward, and avowed its purpose TO be to
bring down wages and prices, and to destroy
the credit and banking system Of the country
a purpose which they had not previously the
bodness 10 alow.
The deed was accomplished was
done TO the peoples will, and in the boastiu
language Of Mr.. Van Buren's official organ, "a
Rerol,tion" was effected
Now then we may look out for the conse-
ouences and the corrollaries
The ink was scarcely dry upon the infamous
lar. enacted by infamous means, than the first