The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-18
ULTRAIsM.

ULTRAIsM.
Wild and extravagant political measures are
generally designed to produce excitements that
can only be beneficial in their operation to GER
tain favored classes (termed exclusives by some J
and the aspiring men that originate them New
systems and projects of public polity are made
to assume promising aspects in the eyes Of the
people, (who are not always competent to ana
lyze measures of vital import on the instant, J
and when urged by the fascinating powers of
oratory, the cry is frequently, alas too frequent
ly, "Change-change And when the change
is resolved on, of course the originators of the
new systems or measures are called upon to set
them in operation. Then comes the trial and
the disappointment. The clique of politicians
having obtained their object, (heir posts-not
the contamination of their beneficial Inventions.
are content to let the interests of the people
take their chance" and set about concerting
the means Immediately to maintain their stations
and preserve their power Other fallacious
schemes are proposed, and when they too fail to
produce the good effect expected, 'others in quick
succession rise" And so il runs on to the end
OF the chapter-or rather it has run so TO the
present time-when it is TO be hoped there will
be an end Of such cajollery.
In all the wild schemes Of political economy
the people, the COUNTRY PEOPLE, (who are the
bone and sinew, and the majority of the Ameri-
can people,) are the losers, while none but dem
agogues are Notwithstanding the ''exclu-
sives," who, TO put money in their pockets
are content that their heads shall serve as blocks
from which their patrons may climb to power
Thus it was during the existence of the late
US. Bank The overgrown capitalists and stock
Jobbers who could at any time obtain loans TO the
amount OF millions, could very complacently APP
plaud the trainers Of such an institution They
could either monopolize the purchase Of govern
ment lands in the west, and compel the emf
grant and laborer of moderate means to pay them
several hundred per cent. advance on the acre
or cut of the supplies from the cities in the east
by purchasing all the beef and -four themselves,
and force the poor mechanic to pay double
price for his food.
On the other hand, the ultra anti-bank men in
their attempt to make an exclusive metallic cur
rency, were likely to produce dismay and confu-
sion in every quarter.
of the country bore excessive burdens, while
another reaped the benefit Or no tariff at all
(whie all other sources Of revenue are cut Off
and resortlng to heavy taxation to supply the
Treasury, or, what is worse, public debt.
Ultra measures, in time of peace, must always
be detrimental to the public interest The fe,e
may reap golden harvest, but the many will
be impoverished If no other injury resulted to
the productive classes, the successive and eter-
nal excitements produced by these ambitious
politicians, should, it seems to us, have ere this
opened the eyes of the people. If they become
active laborers in behalf Of partisan leaders and
embark in the insane speculations growing out
of their apparently plausible measures, nine
tenths OF them are in the end disappointed and
ruined. II they pause to discuss all the ITO
plan doctrines of skilful orators and writers,
they must lose time and neglect their business.
How many farmers and mechanics at this mo-
ment willing TO acknowledge candidly that
they are sorry for having devoted so much time
to useless political discussions We do not con-
denim the habit Of nquring into the merits of
candidates, or advocate REIMBURSEMENT of the
sacred right to judge measures for themselves
God forbid But we insist upon it that much
time is unpro6tably spent in listening to idle
declaimeTs, and in pursuing exciting political
controversies.
We want moderation and repose But, (be-
tween ultra bank men and ultra ant-bank menu
having lost our currency altogether, our first and
greatest need is some moderate and stable fnan-
cial reguation-and then an entire cessation of
political warfare. The American people must
become prosperous again, when they resort again
TO the labor of their hands for prosperity-and
not till then. If they only do this-as they did
of yore-and freely confide the helm Of State in
the hands of those on whom they may rely with
confidence for the honest discharge of patriotic
duties, they will not only prosper as their fore
fathers did, but they will be far happier than
they can possibly be while mingling in the strife
and turmoil of party factions. Let them give
their rulers fair trial, and wait patiently for the
fruits of their wisdom. We say patiently, be-
cause "new tangled" things have been engraft-
ed on the simple fabrics of our patriotic fathers
which must be dispensed WITH for the purity of
ancient systems must be restored-and time will
be required to effect these only true REFORMS.
CLERKS IN THE DEPARTMENTs-W have
hpen infnrmpd hv several narcons tho, ~.