The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-09

regarded by any man as an ambassador TO the
great Congress Of the nation At Washington,
without full credentials as to his being, in point
of actual fact. the proud representative Of that
noble State. He had not the slightest intention Of
re-paying the gratitude which he owed his ever
trustful State, from whose breast he had derived
the political nutriment which had strengthened
him into proud political manhood. by refusing
to crafty her wishes, clearly expressed, much
less to oppose th cir consummation. We recon-
mend Mr.. Tyer's letter Of resignation, Of his
Senatorial office, TO the writer or writers for the
New World.
In the instance in which he is unfayorably
contrasted with Mr. Madison, we will remark
that in the first place, Mr.. Madison had changed
his opinions about the constilutonality of a Bank
before he consented to sign the bill. But for
this change of opinion, could any one have
been an apologist for Mr.. Madison's course D
Does not this change Of opinion, from long pre-
viously entertained and expressed opinions
than forty years, require sufficient argument to
prove the honesty of the change Of sentiment, or
an apology for the change, from Mr.. Madison
himself Certainly this distinguished man. him
self, thought so, and he accordingly gave his
reasons for his change of opinion. These rea-
sons, founded for the most part, in supposed
erpediency and the certain popularity of the
measure, in his day, do not prevail nop, in any
force. Mr.. Tyler has not, and declares he
cannot change his long cherished and Of
ten expressed opinions, upon the ques-
ton Of federal banking; and, certainly, in
rating a change in Mr.. Madison, could not
influence him to change of sentiment, but, or
the contrary must strengthen and rivet his pre-
viously entertained opinions. Since Mr.. Madi
sons change of opinion, the present President
has expressed the same opinions which Mr.
Madison formerly held, and it is entirely doubt
full question whether we shall most admire the
arguments of this distinguished man against Of
for bank. One fact is certain. For forty
years Mr.. Madison thought bank unconstitu
tional Afterward, and for reasons, the adverse
of which now exist in the country, he thought
differently. Was the President to consult the
mere fact Of Mr.. Madison's change of opinion
or the reasons of his change2 Doing this, ant
finding that no argument, which Mr.. Madison
urged, has now any strength, is it not fair t.
presume that Mr.. Madison, himself, in the posi-
ton of the present President, would have pur
sued the same course Mr.. Madison was ar
honest man. The President is an honest man
IL Jroyr
inference.
We must be permitted to close our article BY
remarkng that although Mr.. Webster may pos
sess "vast intellectual supremacy" and Mr.
CLAY may possess lordly will, !" and both o
these gentlemen may look like the disrobet
figures of heroes, naked of circumstance" (te
quote the writer's language,) yet in the fact tina
whatever the President has done, he has always
ably done, in the capacity of discerning RICH
from wrong and good from evil, which he emf
nently possesses, in the great self-commant
which he exercises, in his acknowledged sagaci
ty and in his knowledge Of men, in the lofty
courtesy Of his demeanor, which the highest in
tellect can only command, in the enjoyment 0
those virtues which fill us with admiration, an,
in the possession of an iron nerve, which neve
shrnks from any contest however perilous, if i
involves his love of country or his own homo
and dignity,-in this faithful picture Of his ma
ture we behold a character which we would no
be willing to exchange for any mere "intellectu
al supremacy" much less for the inflammation,
intellect the demagogical spirit, and the arrogan
and dictatorial intolerance of Mr.. Clay.