The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-08-25

!. ng,inarv battle Of Queenstown he received M
wounds from his countIys foes Well, what Is ny
reward? After having spent the flower Of his youth
and the gor Of his manly prime IN the service OF nus
country as a soldier, he was called by the American
people TO serve them in eivii capacity lie obeyed
the call with thankfIness of heart But he has been
cruelty driven out Of the servise by the AdmnislIa
ton and why Because, iellow-citizens, he was the
friend of.the companion OF his youth because nc
would not forsake fellow soldier; and because thr
emoluments Of his Office wanted TO reward the
partisan services Of supporter of my political com
petitor. All there's the rub" But you, my
friends, am confident will not long permit such
wrong 10 the who righted your wrongs IN
oden times
Fellow citizen, you know that my opponents call
me Federalst But deny the charge am not
never was Federalis Fcderalists are IN favor oil
concentrating power in the hands Of the Executive,
Democrats are favor of the retention of power by
the People. ] am, and ever have been democratic
republican My former practices will bear me out IN
what say. When was Governor OF Indiana Ter
ritory ! was vested with despotic power, and had
chosen to exercise1 might have governed that peo
pie with rod of iron. But being child Of the Revo-
luton and bred its principles, believed in the fight
and the ability of the people to govern themselves,
and they always permitted to ENJOY that high
privilege. had tho power to prorogue adjourn, ana
dissolve the Legislature TO lay of new. eountes anu
establish seats OF Justice TO appoint sheris and DINER
officers But never did interpose my prerogatiye TO
defeat the wishes of a majority OF the people Inc
people chose their officers, and Invariably con
frmed their choice; where they preferred To- have
their county seats, there | located them they made
their own laws, and | ratified them, Inera refoea
bill IN my life.
But have been denounced as a bank man. Well,
let it 90 am so far bank man as believe every
rational republican ought to be- and no further The
Constitution of the United States makes it the duty OF
the Government TO provide ways and means for the
collection and disbursement of the public revenue. II
the People deem it necessary TO the proper discharge
tional Bank properly guarded and regulated shall
be the last man if elected President TO set up my au-
thorty against that Of these millions Of American free
IL is neediul to have larger money circulation
in land Of liberty than in an empire OF desPotlsm
Destroy poor mans credit, and you destroy his cap
tai The peasant who tolls necessarily to MAINTAIN
his family household in the hard-money countries OF
Europe, rarely if ever, becomes the noble lord who
pastures his " locks upon thousand hills. There
are necessarily difficulties connected with every form
and system of government but it should be the aim
and object of the statesman to form the best insttu-
tons within his power to make, for the good OF his
country
Fellow-citzens | cannot forbear TO invite your at
ention to the concerns of your Government, in the
welfare of which all good citizens feel deep interest
| warn you to watch your rulers. Remember
" Eternal vigilance is the price of ibery" When
look around upon the dangers which seem to be sus-
pended as by hair this People, trembe for the
safety Of this republic. In evil hour has the Chief
Magistrate of this nation been transformed into mo
march and despot at pleasure To show that this
the case need but refer you to the philosophical
and profound historian, Gibbon, who says, 1.-The OBJ
vious definition of monarchy seems to be that of
state in which single person by whatsoever name he
may be distinguished is entrusted with the execution
of the laws, the management Of the revenue, and the
command of the army" Is not Martin Van Buren,
entrusted with these functions Most assuredly he
is. Call him by whatsoever or title you choose
President Executive Chief Magistrate, Consul King
Stadtholder does not alter the nature Of his power;
that remains the same, Unchanged and the President
therefore possesses all the functions necessary to
stitute monarch "You have often heard the moneyed
influence Of the country denounced, while it yet re-
NAMED in the hands of the people, as dangerous to
public liberty.
Have you, then, no apprehension, no fear of mo
neyed influence, equal TO that of half the nation con-
centrated in the hands of single individual at the
same time possessing two other of the most potent
powers that belong to our Governments The great
Julius Cgsar-thc conquering Julius--has said,
money and will gel soldiers The public purse is
already confded to the hands Of the President re-
spectacle army Is also under his control, and it Is in
contemplation by the Administration to add to the
present military force of the United States army of
100000 men. American freemen, pause and reflect.
Mediate before you act. Matters of the highest mo-
ment depend upon your action and await your deci-
sion. There may be no ambitious Cesar among us
who will dare to use the ample means now combined
the hands of the President for the subverson of
liberties but the exceptions to ambitious so in
cned are few that they but fortfy the rule. Look
around you, tellowcitizens. Are you gir with your
armor, or have you surrendered it to another The
'ssentnels upon the wach-tower of berty"--havc
they been true their trusts, have they slept
warn you my countrymen, against the danger of ne
gectng your duty. Power is always stealing from
the many TO the few. Beware how you trust your
rights to the keeping Of any They are never
secure when protected by your shield, and de-
Tended by yourselves with your own weapons,
General HARRISON adverted to the interference Of the
officers ofGoyernment with elections, and pointed out
its improperly in clear manner. " If (sad he in
conclusion upon that subject) should be fortunate
as be elected President would deem it my duty to
prevent, far possible the practice of Government
officers using their official influence and patronage for
elcctoncerng purposes but, at the same time those
officers should be allowed the freest exercise of the
elective franchiseat perfect liberty to vote for and
against whomsoever they pleased without the fear OF
being prescribed removed from office account of
their political preferences
In conclusion, fellow-citizens indulge mo in a few
remarks in regard to my old fellow soldiers. small
number of them are here by my side They stood by
me in battle, firm and invncibe, in by-gone days
Some of them are remnants of the Revolution--sol-
diers with whom | served under the gallant Wayne.
Where my brethren, companions in danger
on the field of strife Alas many Of them are taking
their final reposc in the calm and peace of Death
" Let them sleep on sleep on,
In the grave to which kindred have borne them,
And blest be the Braves who are gone
And tho friends who survive but to mourn them !"
The old soldiers, one BY one are dwindlng away
gliding as il were down the river of Time into the
haven OF a long sought rest But few of them even
remaining to sorrow in gladness for the in
gratitude of their country. When this country
dismal bowling wilderness, those warriors
posing themselves to danger and disease in the
wholesome swamps and morasses of the West, by
guarding and defending frontiers Many Of them
became present victims to the malaria of the marshes
and the Insalubrity of the others IN
their houses with disease engendered in their systems
but TO linger for time, and perhaps waste away with
consumption! while yet smaller portion still remain
among us, though generally shattered in constitution