The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-07
LETTER OF MR.. JOHNSON.

LETTER OF MR.. JOHNSON,
Member of Congress from Maryland, called by the
people In his own district, the Cofocton Sprou
10 the Central State Committee Of Wing Young
Men Of New Jersey
WAsnIssros, April 6, 1870
Gentlemen--i have had the honor Of receiving
your kind invitation 10 attend your State Convention
OF the Democratic Wing Young Men of New yer-
sey The compliment Is greatly enhanced by the
catering language used, which | could wish that
deserved
Nothing would give me greater pleasure than TO
attend on so interesting an occasion but debility
from severe indisposton, and the accumulation Of
much important public business my hands, will
deprive me Of that pleasure.
| am rejoccd TO know that the Young Whigs OF
New Jersey are stirring with such zeal and power in
opposition to the misruIe of our weak, vicious and
corrupt Administration hope they will bring their
powerful aid and zeal to rescue the government from
me hands OF our present rulers l could hope that
tncy would meet in town and county, AZ well MS in
State Convention, TO expose the focs Of the Admi-
mnistration to all the peoplethat they would ADOPT
the plan Of public addresses, oral well as printed
The country is fast going to ruin, and the young
men OF the nation can do much. They can do enough
TO arrest It's downward course, il they will embody
As they are doing themselves together, with frmness
perseverance and zeal.
The vicious politicians who have now in their
hands the administration Of the Government ,remblc
with terror at the power of the people who are NOV
ing against them.
Mr.. Van Buren, has disappointed the peoplc--he
has disappointed his friends His attempt to improve
has destroyed the currency--instead of making mo-
ncy more plenty he has made it scarce--instead of
ncreas ng prices, he has decreased them-nstead of
augmcning wages, he has diminished them He has
Jailed to effect what he vainly attempted; and his
friends como out now openly in the Senate and
that they think il would be great blessing To have
wages of all kinds reduced.
MIR. Van Buren, said that because the crown CO.
vcrnnents of Europe had the Sub Treasury system
therefore this Rpu Jic should follow the royal exam
pie. His Senators say from that hint that as wages
are low in Europe, they should be low here
such are the monstrous doctrines which Mr. Van
Buren, writes in his message and his disciples declare
on the floor of the Senate.
VIII the people respond TO it They will ] trust
in voice Of Indignation The farmer and mechanic
will hope reprobate it. and will at the ballot box
send such men from their high places and elect other
and better men.
If an evil genius had had absolute dominion over
the nation it would have placed Just such men in
power as are now in place to scourge the people
They tortured with distress, bankruptcy and pow
crty-and things are gett NC worse every day, and
will continue so until Gen. Harrison is elected.
The men who govern the nation arc both ignorant
and vicious
Mr.. Van Buren, never had more capacity than a
third rate Lawyer-a fifth rate Statesman--and a
first rate intrguer of low cunning.
The Secretary of State was good off-hand deba
ter IN the Senate, but possessed capacity 10
make an argumentative speech A $3.50 Minister at
Spain, he may now have the opportunity to make
skiliul dpomatst but it remains to be if he has
the capacity.
The Secretary Of the Treasury is too great fool
TO be more than shallow kn,ve Failinyto be made
the President Of the Branch Bank Of the United
States in New Hamrshire he is wing hard to be
President Of q Treasury Bank, which his friends and
Calhoun with them (who is now too weak to be at
tacked) are trying to establish
The Secretary Of the Navy had capacity enough to
be Clerk to the Board Of Navy Commissioners, and
should never have been removed from the only place
which suited his talents
The Secretary of War has but little public virtue
and less capacity Iwould rely upon promise of his
with the same fidelity that would upon q wild In
dian IN time of war. once complimentcd him in a
speech in Congress, before knew him. If Heaven
will forgive me for that folly will offend in
that way again.
The Postmaster General has as much virtue and
patriotism as any Of them, and his nearest friends
smile at the creduty Of those who think he possesses
either
When Lord Chatham Premier, he asked a
friend to recommend lawyer to him for an office
because said Chatham, !" want person oflcgal
knowledge about me, that we may ACT coSsrITu-
rIoNALLY;" and the able Camden recommended
and appointed For the opposite reason Mr. Van
Buren, has selected his Attorney Generals The
present incumbent of that hi H. important and dis
tnguished Off &c never heard of until his appoint
ment and his obscuriiy of intellect will protect him
from crit ism, it will shield him from public noto-
rety. Was ever a nation cursed before with such
men in high office Selfshness and corruption con-
troll all their movements-their whole ambition is to
hold their places, and make much money out of
them as they cam and have really boarded into their
pockets and those of their political retancrs and
dependents most of the gold and silver Of the nation
even to the bankruptcy Of the Treasury.
Defend us mighty Providcncel
What would these madmen have
First, they would bride us without pence
Deceive Us without common sense
And without power, enslaveV
Yes the energies Of whole people have been
paralyzed by empire governmental experiments, and
the industrious and most enterprizing have been
duced to poverty, whilst the Office holders have all
made fortunes and in their high blown PRIDE dcspise
the poor; aye, denounce and rdicue General Har- |
rson as poor man, who lives in a log cabin. But
the scoIers will find that Harrison though poor is
honest and if he gets the vote of every honest poor
man who lives in cabin he will be elected by such
majority as no President had before. That this
will be the happy result | am confident in belief
every day is bearing testimony TO the conviction.
The public mind is awakened and alive to the i'm |
portance Of the coming contest. The Harrisburg
nomination has met the expectation of the nation,
and has not only been received with popular accla
nation, but il comes back strengthened with every
reiiuent wave OF inc popular voice In WORD, the /
people to rub out old scores, and to begin aresh
with Gen. Harrison. Throughout the country-in /
every State and in every county let the rivalry be
who shall do mark with signal reprobaon the
conduc, of those who have tempered with the rights
and privileges offrcemen and in such cause, and at
such crisis, New Jersey, il alive to the memories Of
the past the hopes Of the future il to herself
and to her sister States TO make erery Effort. She
has been outraged and insulted-ct her show how
deeply she feels the inlignity which has been done
her and prove her power to resent it, at the ballot
box.
| have the honor to be gentlemen, with great re-
gard and esteem, your obedent servant