The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-29
communications.
WAsnINoToa, seplember a. ia.

Dsar sr-i hope you lave been 50 kind a. To 81.
esn, Wbia ns.in I; ,hl 81, tation 10 attend re-
meetings OF this kind unfortunately, 80 asu =
unnecessarily, TO denounce both General JE ''''iA
Mr. Van Buren,, and their elections and adm una
tions ia the gross Now sir | supported .nd ~ 'Istfa-
the elections and considerable part OF the ed
ton Of both Il have still among their adv ocat,.1
distinguished supporters, although their number
daily decreasing, many valuable friends. II would
therefore, be unjust Inconsistent and unbecomhg ii
me 10 participate in those violent and general proceed
inrs although cordially unite in the opinion Of The
necessity Of present change
As have been known, both here AMI in the State
of New York before left il, TO take active interest
upon political occasions similar TO the present and
have been repeatedly applied TO by my friends and
fellow citizens both here and al distance, for ny
opinion and determination in this case, II Is due u
those who have any curiosity on the subject as vel
to myself that in addition to my unTcseryedness
for some time past should txplan my self more fuy
this, with your permission shall embrace the present
occasion TO do, without entering into tedious detailed
discussion and without any vain idea of IT'S
quence, hoping 10 be pardoned for any unavoidable
appearance of egotsm or selfimportance in what
shall concisely say.
1t was, perhaps wise regulation that in the seaa.
ton and decision of questions of great public ImTor
lance, no individual citizen was permitted 10
neutral. however, do not desire to rest my ayoWal
upon the principle OF that regulation have no hch
tation on this subject, neither any wish for conceal
meDt
For my opinion Of the necessity of a change may
by the jealous partzans of the powers that be, u
indeed, they bestow any notice upon II, be denounced
apostate but such denunclation has no terrors
for My political maximis principal Ell homlnes
yet, although men with me are frequently great prn-
clpes supreme. | confess that when W ASKING
ton, Franklin a Jefferson, challenges my conf
dencc am slow to withhold il. When certain men
have been tried and found sterling, am not for pre-
erring others upon critical emergencies, until the
maintenance of principles requires IT, am not afraid
OF being called or considered party man; but the
party ! belong to is that which think pursucs and
promotes the public good Whilst, therefore, reject
the doctrine of blind adhesion to party leaders in de-
ance of principle, am still not nsensble 10 the pam
OF Indispensable political separation from old
and confidential associates. Ii chiefly under Tho
influence Of such feelings and sentiments that hcsl
tated about my in relation to the approaching
Presidential election. Dissatisfied and disgu,ted 81
have for time been, | still hoped thai sdmc
deeming change of system measures would tlsEe
the gloom that darkens our political horlst aud
awaken my slumberlng confidence IN our rulers Nut
Of that despaired when the spirit and acteno} out
Government more fully developed dunnG late
session of Congress and then con. dered chsngf
of the only alternative to arrive at changt y
measures, In addition, ! might rest my defence
against the probable charge of aposaey ~ even yer
satilty leyity, the anticipation OF winch justified
by the daily evidence OF party acerbty upon the wen
known fact that | supported Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe Crawford and Jackson; and il too late nov 10
plead guilty OF to be found so, because disappro,e
| a system and measures in Mr.. Van Buren, which no
other President, from Washington down weud have
proposed or sanctioned. after this explanation luust
there will not this late day, he any exception taken
TO my right to complain OF grievances, either from the
fact of former political attachment or from the want
OF genuine, mertorous, involved interest ACCORDING
to the true spirit and construction OF the constitution
and laws although the community OF which am an
immediate member has access to the ballot box M
parental Government may, it may not do its duty
towards its children = but at all events, the Amer
can people will not turn deaf unto OF the Dis
trct, and will not be silent.
The disastrous condition of all the business con-
Germs OF country, arising from the arrangement
and want of sound currency, not speculative or
imaglnary--it is real we have, the father OF his
country says, " the melancholy and unequyoca proof
OF 1t every mans experience tells himit eAlstsbeing
general fall in the price of property and proves TO
demonstration that something is amlss in The ruling
political polrer." 1t it falsely pretended indeed by
some that this state of things partial and all the
morbid and low preudices OF one part of the comru-
nifty stimulated and invoked by the authors OF the
mischief In order to protect themselves by false es
mony against the general odium and reprobaton. II
is matter of painful reflection that part of the
community easily be practlced upon and
rayed against the other favor the designs of those
who are the covert enemies of both. From the nature
OF man and all human institutions among every peo-
pie in civilized life necessarily to be found many
professions trades and occupations and IN every well
regulated society all made to harmonic for the
public good the interest OF each is Identified or mt
the proprietor, the producer the capitalist, the me
chanic, the abercr the dealer the manufacturer the
man of science and learning, all cooperate for the
good of the whole; and every attempt TO excite the
jealousy of one class against the Others thus pro
ducing dscord is to be ascrbed to motives of selfish
ambition, which, ayailing itself of the weakness Of
DIVISION, accomplishcs its unholy purposes at the OK
Pcnse OF the public interest 1t s the duty OF rulers 70
cherish and promote this harmony, tending to all
the benefits both moral and pecuniary, of the social
compact: and when they unwilling unablc TO
pursue those patriotic purposes, the governed owe II
to themselves and their poserity consttutonay to re
move them, and to substitute those in whose compe
tence and virtue they confde. All this is trite
matter, but cannot be too often repeated and incu
Gated repeat, ii is painful to witness the sudied et
fort now making for the perpetuaton OF power by ap
peals to passions and feelings hostile to that whole
some composure of society which constitutes and pro
duces the greatest blessings among free people We
know that mankind disposed to suffer whilst evils
are snherabe, as we are taught by an apostle of II
berry but beyond that they will not lgo except to
iorcblc resistance. Every practical man knows
that credit is the poor mans capital the hand
maid Of enterprise and industry in moderate clrcum-
stances And TO the currency it is as vital to the
political and social body blood is TO the body
natural 1t circulate freely from the heart TO the
extremties from head TO foot partial disorder ends
in general disease. There never were people at the
same time all rich all poor such is not the nature
of things and if the working will but reflect that
their employment, their comfort and independence,
result from the general prosperity essentially de
pendent credit and currency, they will not be
the dupes of crafty masters for the purpose OF
shifting responsibility and odium from their own
shoulders to others Craft is a weapon in the order
of Providence usually assigned to the weak and this
is the weapon employed by the dominant, though
sinking faction But the craft of man is short sighted,
and very different from wisdom The is pro
found fore-sghtful and extensive in scope the other
limited to narrow, selfish purposes, wanting the bo
raty, expansion and disnterestcdness, indispensable
to greatness.
Erpericntid docet. am addressing myself to you,
sir but with reference 10 all practic common sense