The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-19


and beaten2 Il has been well said that '.Histo-
ny is experience, teaching by example"
That the Wing party was last year every
where triumphant, and that il is now eyery
where defeated, is recorded history There
must be some cause for this, and il becomes the
People, especially those who approve the princi-
pies on which the Wing party lately iriumphed,
TO ask, why is this
IL will be remembered that in the summer of
1889, Mr.. Clay made his electoneering tour
All remember his progress through Ohio New
York, and Pennsyvania-that at Buffalo he
boosted of what he had done, of the services he
had rendered, of the dangers he had encoun-
tered, and that he plead the cruelty and injus-
tice of superseding him as the head of the par
tv. He went so far as to declare, that every
soldier who had fought the battles of his country
was entitled TO an honorable discharge" and
more than intimated, that to overlook his claims
and to put Harrison, or Scott, or any one else,
IN nomination, would be to deny him that to
which he was entitled. The consequence was,
that Mr.. Clay was considered and treated as
the candidate Of the Wing party, and behold
the result. In $780, the election every where
ran against them. The Wings were defeated,
routed, horse, foot, and Dragons 4!
WE'LL let US turn TO the next page Of history.
The Wings met at Harrisburg. After delibe-
rate consultation, they nominated Gen. Harri-
son. The result of 1899 was reversed No
sooner was it ascertained that Mr.. Clay was not
the candidate of the Wing party, than the peo-
pie rushed to the Whiy standard-and the cleo
lions Of 1910 were carried by overwhelming
majorities. No sooner was the flag Of "Tippe-
canoe and Tyler too" unfured, than the People
came forth in the majesty OF their strength, and
in despite of the power and patronage OF the Go
vernment, bore them on by triumphant, over
whelming majorties. This is the second page
Of history. The third is present-1s41.
No sooner was he elected, than Gen. Harri-
son went to Lexington-there in concert with
Mr. Clay he arranged, in part, his Cabinet; and if
the late Cabinet and Mr.. Clay are to be believed,
he arranged the measures OF his administration
resulting in the Extra Session. Congress met,
and Mr.. Clay again appears as the leader Of the
Wing party. The party caucus-the party
leaders, and the party press, are all regulated by
his impulse. Mr.. Clay is the burden of Wing
praise-and such prominence is given to his
pretensions and his merts-such is the language
of the Wing Congressional Circular, and of the
indignation meetings, got up at Syracuse and
elsewhere, that the determination 10 make Mr.
Clay the candidate OF the Wing party, is ma
nitest-and what follows? The same party
which in 1889 was every where defeated, when
ii was believed that Mi. Clay was to be its can
didate, and which, under the banner of 'sTippe-
canoe and Tyler too" were every where trium-
plant in 1910, and now, in lS4l, every where
routed, overwhelmed again =!
Is this accident or is it because the People of
this country are SO much opposed to Mr.. Clay,
that they cannot be driven to support him Tor
the Presidency If it be true that .History is
experience teaching by example," we would ask,
why it is that these Lessons do not admonsh the
heated partsans Of this asprant for the Presi-
dency, that his pretensions have been already
passed upon, and that he never can reach the
goal OF his ambition
1t is admitted that the Wing party was trium
plant in lS40. 1t is admitted that Mr. Clay
was the leader of the Wing party in Congress
and it is admitted that the party are now routed
and overthrown. If Mr.. Clay cannot preserve
power when he is in a triumphant majority,
how can it be expected that he can work up
minority into majority. We have seen ma
jorities sink before the magic influence Of his
name. How, then, is it to be expected that any
party can triumph under his lead 2
Was there ever any thing so truly despicable
rs the course of the WhigCay newspapers
and especially that of one of the mos, scurrilous
among them, the Richmond Wing Itwould now
have the " family quarrel to cease;"-" they have
proved their honor and independence" quoth it,
and that is enough. And then il quotes and
adopts an article from the Warrenton Times,
full of most sage saws. These editors now
offer advice 10 the President, and desire to coun-
sci him as TO what his honor and fair fame re-
quire Was there ever impudence so unblush
ing They advise him, forsooth as to what his ho-
nor requires, who have zealously set themselves
10 work to strip him of all claim TO honorable stand
ing among men who have sought to backen
his heretofore unsullied name and who have
prosecuted him for months past with malignity
untirng and scarcely equalled Traitor
wretch" treason" Infamy'-these are the
ephets with which they have attempted to ter
Iliy and destroy him, because he would not in
Tact become infamous by the commission of the
crime Of perjury The President, without
doubt, fully appreciates the motives which now
prompt these unrelenting foes, reciprocates their
scorn, and spurns their profered advice. They
owe the ruin of the Wing party TO their own
blind and perfdious course they made the issue
with the President of Bank or no Bank, and the