The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-15

the national republican party. 4 national re-
publican party !l-represeDted by Iaiimadge, IN
New York, Riyes, Tyler, Gilmer, Leigh, Gar
land. Wise, in Virginia, Dawson, Gilmer Ha-
bersham, Berrien, Crawford, Dougherty, Floyd,
Toombs Smythe, in Georgia, and Legare'
Thompson, Preston, Petigru, in South Caro-
lima. A national republican party, which now
embraces two-thirds of all the nullihers in the
United States, and has nominated John Tyler,
the only Southern man out Of South Carolina,
who voted against the Force Bill, for the Presi-
dency! Were you and Mr.. Calhoun, who act
ed but Yesterday with this same party, ma
tional Republicans 2" Is il Just TO the eminent
men whom have named to suppose that they
have surrendered at discretion, TO any other sci
Of men, and that they would concede anything
without corresponding concession? That they
would consent 10 be swallowed up" merged
and annhilated2 Is il not the juster opinion
and is il not the truth, in point OF fact that they
have tempered the opinions and modified the
measures of the common party, with which they
now act2 Take an illustration. The National
Republican portion Of the present Opposition
party like the greater portion of the old Northern
Jackson party, was friendly 10 high tariff.
new party has arisen in the place of the Nation
al Republican party composed OF Northern and
Southern men. How can they act in harmony
and reconcile their conflicting principles by
mutual conc ession-neither surrenders at dis
erection, and Mr.. Clay's Compromise is the com
mon ground upon which they can meet and
agree, with perfect self-respect, and with entire
fidelity TO their different sections. They have
selected, as a candidate for the Presidency, one
who is pledged to the Compromise. Is this
carrying out the principles OF the National Re
publican party? And is it either true or just TO
say, that the party nominating, the man noni-
mated or the measure agreed upon--is " Ma
tional Republican 2" If so, then are Mr.. Cal
houn and Mr. McDuffie pledged supporters of a
National Republican measure! think, sir, up
on regarding the present relations and principles
of eristing parties more attentively, you will
admit that when you wrote the sentence upon
which have been commenting, your mind was
engrossed too entirely with the past
But, sir. he is not only National Republl-
can, nominated by the National Republican par
ty-but he is to be the .'fooP' Of Clay and Web
ster-he will reflect Mr.. Webster's constitution
al doctrines. and carry out Mr.. Clay's measures.
One word in passing, upon the harsh epithet
sstool'-which you have felt yourself authorized
TO use towards General Harrison, because of a
general coincidence Of opinion between himself
and Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay | would ven
ture to suggest, with great difiidence, that this
is hardly courteous, and not altogether in the
tone of our State. 1t suggests the question,
when did you ever differ from Mr.. Calhoun, eli
Their as TO men or measures? What measure
has he proposed that you have not supported
What principle abandoned that you have not re-
pudiated to whom has he been enemy, tc
whom you have not been enemy, and TO whom
been friend, TO whom you have not been friendi
1t is alone in your military career that you have
acted part separate from Mr.. Calhoun-and
YOU will admit that, as soldier, General Har-
rison has equal claims TO be considered indie
pendent of Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Webster. Thus
far the parallel holds But when, sir, did you
oppose Mr.. Calhoun? When have you stood up,
in your own strength, and in friendly rivalry
asked from your State and the nation to decide
between yourself and Mr. Calhoun? Can we
suppose that General Harrison, who has had
sufficient self-respect and independence to COM
pete with Mr.. Clay and Mr. Webster, for the
highest Office in the gift Of the nation possesses
the spirit of subordinate, and that he will sink
into tool as soon as he is elected Sir, ii is
an unphilosophical, as wen as an ungenerous
imputation.
Now, sir, as to Mr. Webster's "Constiht-
tiondl doctrines ~ as you have distinguished
between Mr.. Clay's measures, and Mr.. Web
sters doctrines we are left to infer that bv this,
you mean his principles as to the general cha
rdcter of the Government in connection with
the notification controversy. We will readily
admit, they are not those of South Carolina,
though they are those of the present admins
tration We would respectfully submit, that as
long as Mr.. Poinsett is in the cabinet, and the
Force Bill on the Statute Book, put there and
retained there, by the party in power, that it is
at least idle to talk of what any one man of the
other party may believe or teach. Especially
too when the party, to which Mr.. Webster is
attached, had prored their respect for consci-
entious opinion, by supporting for the Vice
Presidency, Nullfer and an Anti-Force Bill
man. When Mr.. Van Buren, denounces the
Proclamation and recommends the repeal of the
Force Bill we will regard professions, on this
topic, worthy of reply and entitled to respect.
Mr.. Clay's measures-though we would re-
sent as an imputation the term tool, as applied
to General Harrison, in connection with Mr..
Clay, it is but reasonable to suppose, that he
would possess great weight in determining the
policy of the Government. If he did not exercise
his influence in the councils of the nation, under
General Harrison, il would be less than he has
done under the Administrations of Mr.. Madison,
Mr.. Monroe, and Mr. Adams, and we might
Justly add General Jackson and Mr.. Van Buren,.
General Harrison, if he possesses the spirit of
General Washington, will rejoice TO share the
momentuous responsibilities of Government, and
will gladly avail himself of the profound wisdom
and varied experience of the great statesman
anu patTlot. he Would Naturally seek tue au-
visement of one who possesses so deeply the
confidence of the country. He would safely
lean upon him to whom the country has always
turned in her hours of greatest trouble and great
est alarm. The country reposes with pleasure
in this expectation--and has the South Just
cause for regret in it? believe, sir, that the
South does share, and has reason to share the
cheerful hope of the country as to any influence
Mr.. Clay will possess, in tempering the spirit or
controlling the policy Of the coming Admnistra-
ton. lfyou have read his mastery speech, re-
Gently delivered at Hanover, you will have seen
that, on the most exciting question that ever
planted anger between the North and the South
the Tarf-he abides by the compromise.