The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-08
From the Old School Republican.
AN ADDRESS m .
TO THE REPUBLICAN, CITIZENS or ONO.


of January last, by meeting of their fellow citizens
held al the city of Columbus, composed OF those
friendly to the existing Administr alton of the Gene
raj Government, with the duty Of addressing YOU
They, under whose instructions We act, on this
OCCASION came together for inquiry and consultation
They had been soemnly convinced OF the crltical
condition of public affairs. They believed the high
est interests of the country to be fearuy involved
in peril They came, therefore, and conferred to-
gether as il their right to do and endeavored TO
ascertain the of the difficulties, embar-
easements and oppression, which weigh down the
industry and prosperity of the fairest land upon
the wide earth and also, to assure themselves oil
what ought to be done to recover it from the des-
pondency and ruin which pervades threatens IT,
and restore it once more to hope and happiness
They did look for the sources of this widespread
disaster and they did satisfy themselves of the only
safe and efcacious remedies by which the mschiets
that have supervened may be repaired, and the
greater calames before Us averted. To these deep
iy interesting topics they directed the undersigned to
call your attention, fellow citizens SO that If you
shall concur with them in opinion, in respect to the
production Of national troubles and the means by
which they may be removed, your patriotic co-oPera-
ton may be promptly and seasonably contributed TO
deliver the people from the gries and burdens which
they have borne until patience and orbearance are no
longer commended to them az the dictates of wisdom
and virtue.
1t would be waste of words, fellow-citiz MS to
coate and offer you the proofs of the pecunIary
distress of the country. They are obvious to ALL
They are around and about US every where. We
all see them-we all feel them. No class of men
is exempt from Them save that of the few trafckers
in money and currency, who thrive in proportion
as the multitude suffer, and grow richer as the
honest and laborious are impoverished The hller
of the earth longer rewarded for his annual toll
The bountes of heaven ure not withheld from him,
indeed, the earth yields him her fruits, and he
gathers in the plenteous harvests but his surplus
wall him tittIa he
trous mechanic gives his cheerful hand to his daily
pursuit. whose profits We're wont to gladden. his home
with plenty and to his dependent family con-
tnuous blessings and JOYS but the fountains OF his
recompense dried up, and want, with its cares and
an Kettles stands out the prospect before him. The
honest and hardy laborer who day by day, has
his bread in the sweat of his brow finds himself often
without employment-dened the hard privilege OF
earning subsistence, while grim penury stares him
in the face. Go where we may-look where me may
and are met by the evidences of an alpervadlng
depression universal adversely. Business stagnant
commerce crippled money scarce-prices of pro-
perty and labor prosraedcurrency deprecated, and
In state of" confusion worse cOnfounded." What a
contrast presented between the features which dis
tingush this, day Of gloom and those which be-
longed to our periods of prosperity! A few years
only have gone BY since this happy Republic exhibit
ed scene Of activity successful enterprise and rapid
progression rarely, if ever equalled, and never sur
passed in any age clime-now stagnalon or decay
or retrogression-is associated with all interests,
and accompanies all our efforts and operations.
Without referring to details we appeal to all ntelll-
gent men for confirmation of this melancholy picture.
We desire to exaggerate nothing which we discuss
before you, citizens nor yet to extenuate aught
which patriots becomes US 10 grappe with and
overcome. You know whether these grievances ought
longer to be borne If justice to ourselves, duty to
our country and all the considerations which mpart
value life and liberty call upon you to consider the
which surround you, it is pertinent to
ask, why have these extraordinary evils come upon
this people, From what prolific source of Ill have
they flowed in currents so full and rapid And how
shall they be arrested and turned back in their chan
nes7 These, felow-citzens, appear to US to be the
questions which must ofnecessty engross the thoughts
of every patriotic mind and which must continue to
occupy them until they definitely settled and this
generous, but abused people, are rescued from the
grasp of that power by which these evils have been
brous hit upon them.
We affirm, with the confidence inspired by the re-
suit of anxious investigation, that 10 the wild ex-
of party spirit and consequent reckless party
legislation to be justly ascrbed the present unhap
py condition of the country. This is no new doc
trinenor is the principle upon which it Is founded,
now for the first time developed. To say nothing OF
the experience of all the generations of men-of the
results Of sagacous and patriotic observation IN every
aget is enough to refer you to the counsels OF that
great good man, whose advices, while he lived, were
as laws to his countrymen, and whose admonitory
legacy to them will never cease be held in memory
and reverence, while patriotism Is esteemed TO be VIZ
tuous and the love Of liberty prevails among men,
1t was WASHINGTON himself who taught US that
the spi, Of party, though wholesome and conserva-
tive its tendencies while cherished in moderation
and restrained by reason, is the very fend of ruin
when it usurps the dominion of the mind seeks only
to fortify Its powers and looks, in Its tyrannc
rule alone to its own interests. And this Is true
The despotisms preyed upon the world, have
been those ofdOminan parties. The direct affections
which have oppressed country since the founda-
ton of its Government, have been superinduced by
this cause Who that has lived during the last fit
teen years does not knoU that the adversely we now
bear-the worthless cuIrency-the low prices-the
proftess labor-the deranged exchanges-the hope
less bankruptcyand the long train of evils belong
ing TO them, have ALL all been produced or aggravated
by party legislation? Are any yet to be convinced
that this u.s. indeed referrabe the calamitous
state of things which agitates the people from the
tire to the exlremies of the land calling in thunder
for popular interposion, for the sake of popu
Tar protection?
We may not hold one set of politicians only respon-
sible for our sufferings Had this been So the
of our political maladies had long since been appa-
rent, the application of the remedy easy and safe.
We will not charge a particular class Of partisans
that they have worked out for us the mischiefs we
endure. The accusation would be untrue. But we
do notwithstanding the imposing truth to reach
whom it may concern-we do maintain that the self
ish motives of partsanp have for years controlled
the decisions Of Legislators in the General Assemblies Of
the States and in the Congress of the United States
that the consequence of selfish party organization has
been the enactment Of bad ia,rs-aws opposed to the
progress of the country in enterprise industry, wealth
and power-opposed to the purity Of our Govern
mentto the ascendancy of right principles and right
practices-to the furtherance and permanency Of
our free nstitutlons-and opposed to the indepen-
dence, comfort, and happiness of the people. We
repeat, fellow-citizens that we deem it superhuous
to array before you the countless evidences of the
truth of these assertions. Let any retrace the
prominent incidents of history since 1924, and he
will find the proofs multiplying upon his notice, tc
his sorrow and modification. What great measures
of bene6cent legislation have, during this interval
been begun and prosecuted with single eye to the
public good, irrespective of the interests of part,
leaders and political asprans Go back 10 the recen
spectacle exhibited in your own general Assembly al