The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-14
Correspondence of the Madis0nian.

"a N. Y, June 9Th 1912.
DEAR SIR: Our free Institutions that have surpass-
ed in their admirable adaptation to the wants of the
People, the expectations of the most sangune of their
distinguished and patriot trainers, being subjected,
after lapse of fifty years, to trial. Another
political problem is about to be solved The expert
ment is now making whether the Government can be
successfully administered by an individual who
clothed with all the prerogatves and authority Of
Chief Magistrate by the Constitution is nevertheless
without that direct commission from the People that has
been possessed by ALL except one of hspredecessors
and which constituted no inconsderable portion Of
their strength and eficiency-either for good or for
evil Can there be rational doubt of the result Of
this experiment. No one, l Think who has spark
of patriotism within his bosom, contemplate the
present struggle of partisan leaders to harass pepeS
and overwhelm the Executive, without an indignant
sense of its injustice, yet look upon it without
alarm-assured as | am that there is redeeming
spirit in the People that will triumphanty sustain
public servant in the faithful performance of his duty
and rebuke every attempt to embarrass for sinister
purposes, the operations of Government.
But the experiment making has twofold aspect
1t is not alone whether the Government can be sue
to the second office under the Constitution has been
called, by act of Providence, to the higher and
responsible station of President but it involves
the important question whether it be administer
ed without sacrifice Of all manly independence Of action
and entire subseruency to the ue,os of selconstitu
ted and irresponsible dictatorship.
The charge has been repeatedly made that the
President has been guilty Of treachery to the Wing
party but it is accusation unsustained by shadow
Of evidence. The President has been faithful to
hin,seEto his declared principles and it is for his
firm adherence to them that he is exposed to the bit
ter anmosity Of his assailants. The party that raj
lied under the Wing banner in 1910, was not one
homogeneous mass but it was composed of allies,
united to effect certain object, which when attained
left them at perfect liberty to act as they might think
expedient and proper. Mr.. Tyler's opinions were
well understood he was known to have been State
Rights Republican, disciple of Jefferson-most de-
cidedly hostile to United States Bank and all the
doctrines of the latitudinarian Federal school but
the Office of Vice President considered of little
so far the action of the Government
is concerned, and he nominated to to the
ticket strength at the South where it supposed
Gen. Harrison stood most in need of it. The result
fully indicated the wisdom of the selection but how
unjust is it to Mr.. Tyler now that by an act of Pro-
violence he is placed in a more elevated and impor
tant position than that to which he elected and
refuses to abandon his principles to accuse him of
tveachery. Had he been less honest, patriotic and
firm he might have received the plauds and not the
of those who laboring to de-
stroy public confidence in his integrity and capacity.
Could he have forgotten what belonged to his own
ton of the fearless Chief Magistrate and devoted
public servant in that of the subservcnt instrument
and INSCRIPTIONS supporter of some ambitious aspi- |
rant to the Presidency, he would have furnished and
rendered ignomnious his Administration in the eyes
of impartial posterity, but he would have been euo
duty would not have been made more plain to him by
the light of burning efiges.'
The position of the President of the United States
under the most favorable circumstances, is one of
great responsibility and embarrassment; but never
has an Executive been compelled to contend with so
many and formidable and discouragng difficulties
Mr. Tyler, in the performance Of his official duties 1,
to have been the determined purpose of clique
Of politicians, to intimdate him by the bodness and
feiccness of their assaults into surrender of his
power, or submission to their commando and the more
resouely he has maintained his principles and indie
pendencc, the more unspanng and fsrocious have
been their attacks upon him-the more reckless and
perseverng their efforts vex and harass and tbwart
him in his course.