The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-01
ron THE MADusosIAs.

ron THE MADIsoNiAN.
Ever since have been able to discriminate
between the principles and objects of the oppo-
sing parties, which in some form have always
prevailed in our Government, | have been an
ayowed member of one Of them. | have al
ways been member of party, not because !
approved all the measures proposed by my poll
teal friends, but because their principles APP
peared to me TO approximate the nearest TO the
pure doctrines of democracy. | have always
been member of party, but not bound to II
by pledge, either implied or explicit, that
would, under all circumstances and at all ha-
yards, sanction and support every proposition II
might choose to promulgate, without inquirng
farther than, was il an article OF party faith or
party disciplined When became member OF
party, | did not become its serf. Ii would be
presumptuous in me to assert or think that my
judgment has not often been misguided by pre-
possession, or biased by passion but in honest
sincerity, to the best of my ability, have al
ways endeavored TO preserve in the ranks OF
my party, the same independence OF thought
which first led me TO enlist in them. lay no
claim to anyspecial irreverancy or impecablllty.
A large number within the circle OF my ac-
quaintance, seem to me to be no more shackled
by party ties, than fatter myself am we
may be ranged in opposing ranks, but we are so,
because our judgments have reached contradlc-
tory conclusions, with regard to fundamental
principles Of public polity.
am democrat. Irepeat that as such am
prepared to support the present Administration
provided the future but faithfully fulhls the pro-
mise of the past. True, there are many points
| on which differ in opinion from the present
Chief Magistrate: but the disagreement ex-
These questions of secondary value on which
our sentiments cannot be brought TO coincide,
need not enumerate But little sagacity is
needed to discover them. For the attainment
of great and valuable ends, plain sense incul-
Gates the necessity Of conceding something in
non-essentials, and for one, am willingto make
some concession on minor points, for the secu
rty of the great questions.
l have said that am prepared to support the
present Administration, because concur with
it on the most important measures which it has
| already proposed. The merits Of these mea-
| sures may discuss on another occasion But
! their character is not the only, nor even the
| principal motive for my decision. | think the
present an suspicious moment to bring back the
doctrines of Republlcanism to their pristine pu-
rty. No one can deny that during the lapse Of
so many years, by the ingenuity OF aspiring
statesmen, and the irritation OF party conflicts,
the simplicity of the old Jetlersonian Republi-
canism has been complicated by many ideas of
constitutional doctrine and Of Governmental
expedency. These excrescences should be
Topped Off, and every true Republican, every
true friend of his country should lend his ener
gies at once towards effectng the good work.
| Now is the propitous time. The President is
| Identified with neither of the two great contend
ing parties, and therefore he is not pledged TO
the advocacy Of any peculiarly of doctrines
which either may have engrat'ed on the simple
principles which we have inherited from the
days of pure Repubcanism. OF the Republ-
can school he has always been an avowed dis
ciple. Though he may at times have strayed
from the path Of strict orthodoxy, he has now
not only every inducement TO return to first
principles, but he must of necessity retrace his
steps, and commence his new career at the old
starting place. Such is his position, and hap
by one is for the country. All its friends have
now the farest opportunity Of abjuring their he
reses-the only opportunity with which they
can for years be blessed.
/ for one am inclined to seize the opportunity
of eliminating every article of political faith,
whose orthodoxy is dubious
This letter has exceeded the length proposed,
and here stop for the present shall probably
return TO this subject at another time.
A DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE.