The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-14
aFOREIGN INFLUENCE. /"

1
Of General Harrison in the concrete, for which,
when made applicable to particular individuals,
il has been held to answer in the tribunals of
justice.
| For years Mr.. Van Buren, has been sacrifc-
ing the rights of America TO his affection for the
courtesies and Establishments of the British.
! Flattered by the attentions he received while
Minister at the Court Of st. James, and which,
to this day, he delights to magnify in his con-
versation he seems, in his infatuation, to be in
sensible TO the insults of her Minister, or the
growing claims and encroachments of her mill
tary power. This weakness is only concealed
| by his Praorian guards who make feint Of
opposition TO the influence he secretly loves to
cherish. In vain have the friends Of Harrison
| repealed the charge OF being in any manner ia
vorable to the assumption of the debts of the
| States-in vain have they discaimed all politi-
cal connection with the interests Of moneyed
cabals at home or abroad-in vain have they
| protested against the purchase of State stocks,
as practised by Mr.. Woodbury-in vain have
they demanded vigorous action in the demand
and maintenance Of our rights and honor before
all nations-in vain have they demanded set
dement, Of the Boundary Question, and an ex-
PLANTATION Of the capture of an American steam
boat in American waters, and the murder of
American citizens upon our own sol-in vain
have they demanded that the subjects Of Euro
pean monarchs, penetrating our land in every
direction, shall subject themselves to the laws
before they shall enjoy the rights Of citizenship
all, all is forgotten in grateful revere about
the splendors of the British Court, which Mr..
Van Buren, may have imagined was in reality
transplanted into the American palace, while it
was only aped.
In his message, in his official journal and its
affiliated presses he has pointed the attention of
foreigners to the harvest they might enjoy if
they were disposed, and at the moment he was
temporizing with the British Government in re-
gard to the rights and honor Of the U. S., he has
endeavored TO delude the people with the idea
that his opponents were sympathizing with TO
reigners, while he only was exclusively patriotic.
When he was accusing the American people of
bribery and corruption by foreign gold, he was at
the same time concentrating upon this Republic
the tyrannical money system of % rotten mo-
marches, and, in almost the same moment,
Great Britain, by a new survey, was laying claim
to large portion Of our Northeastern territory
setting on fire the property Of American citizens,
and perchance taking permanent possession OF all
the lands to which the U. S. have any pretensions
on the western coast of this continent, including
the territories Of Oregon and California. Where
was the sagacity, where the watchtulness, where
thepatriotism OF Mr. Van Buren, his ministers, and
supporters Engaged in a sordid and patry di-
vision of the spos of oflice-purring over petty
schemes, to catch the vote of acounty-charging
the American people with crimes which, if true,
would forever disgrace them in the eyes Of the
civilized Notwithstanding his pratoran cohorts,
and cudgeling Congress into acquiescence with
his party measures While the American Pre-
sdent is employed in these humiliating Offices,
our Navy falls into neglect and decay-the pub
lie service languishes in every department--the
savages overrun our southern borders--the Bri-
fish take possession of our Northeastern and
Western territory-our commerce is interrupted
setted-and we are running down as nation on
every side.
Other nations mIro the opportun tiles af-
forded by our stupidity and mbecility. France
takes for herself what Mexico would not grant
by negotiation Russia extends her empire in
the east, and enlarges her power upon the sea-
England tries to teach some of her 200 millions
of Indian subjects the culture of cotton, opens
trade with Texas and, under pretence of pre-
serving the balance of power blows up two or
three thousand Egyptians the ancient
Ptolemais, and receives for her warlike per-
formances, the island of Cyprus-while with a
similar pretence of preserving the balance of
trade she forces the opium drug down the threats
of the Chinese, and for daring TO resist her ava
ricious DEGREES, visits them with war and blood
shed, and makes conquest Of Chusan. Her
next acquisition may be the whole Celestial
Kingdom-her next the growth of her own cot
ton-her next belt Of territory hemming in the
entire United States. And are we to sit quiet
under the charge of being purchased by this
grasping power, while its authors are trucking
to il, and by their temporizing policy, actually
subscribing its arrogant claims, and widely ex-
tending interests
We trust higher destiny is in store for the
American PEG, lie, than an ignominious submis-
sion to the devices of domestic traitors, and
foreign foes. Let them keep their eyes on the
Van Buren, federaists and the government of
Great Britain, and until they forget the differ
ence between liberty and despotism, all, we
hope, will be well.