The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-19
TO JOHN TYLER, PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9th, 1912.


UNITED STATES
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9Th, 1912.
MosT ESTEEMED AND EXCELLENT SIR:
In continuation of my letter addressed to your Elk
cellency the 23d ultimo, now proceed to invoke
your attention to the important characteristics of the
times Of yourself, much has been said since your
accession to the highest Office that aspire to
with glory. Your independent action as the Chief
Magistrate of the United States of America, seems
not to be reshed by demagogues, political dssenters,
and partisan Misunderstanding have, one and all,
Tray Sweetheart and Blanche" INDUCED a gen.
eral yep against you but it is call sound and fury sig
nifying nothing" and they will find to their dearest
cost Ito use homely phrase) they have ''waked up
the wrong passenger" and there is such thing as
"barking up the wrong tree" Let them run, and, as
the great Southern Champion said of the Banks,
give them rope and they will hang themselves p
The time is come when the PEOPLE must and
will take matters into their hands, if they
would secure patriotic devotion to their national
interests by their representatives The country
looks TO Congress- and expects members to give their
attention and consideration to measures, which you
and your Cabinet ministers have recommended, for
the welfare of the country measures identified with
the honor, integrity and future glory Of the Union
Their constituents are unwilling to see continued
with impunity the recklessness of Congress in mat
tiers requiring prompt action. They behold with dis
gust the dsgracefu conduct of members, who
instead Of patriotic Cancellation, indulge personal
squabbles, neglect the public business, and stop the
wheels of government. Yes, Mr. President instead
of that feeling of pure and elevated love of country
which should honor and natonaze the American
character, we are inflicted with the disgrace brought
upon us by political knaves and WORKOUT hacks led
on by Sir Oracle, the political Nestor, "s Nations
REPRESENTATIVE" he who has drunk of the potion de-
scribed in poetic fctions, which made men forget
their country You have done WELL Sir to steer clear
of the selfwilled and allgraspng opposition, and
to place your dependence upon the sheet anchor
where there is mistake, or wrong, to your
citizens, who not ignorant of events
or hoodwinked by party leaders; citizens who have
the independence to hold their opinions, who are
resolved to act freemen, and know their duty to
their country in such crisis the present To
them-and they are legon-hroughout the Confede-
racy you proudly and successfully appeal; they will
stand by and defend you in their might in the true
and honest course you have adopted Throw out
your banner, bearing upon it-"Io the rescue and
support Of the Executive against the malignant oppd
sition of mercenary demdgogues" You will fine
that your appeal will be proclaimed from the housi
tops ard the honest yeomanry will re-echo it from
mountain and valley. i
1t may not be proper in addressing your ExcellenS
to indulge in harsh ephcts on particular individuals,
such as Statesmen, Senators, "The Nations Rep.-
sentatpe" But as a certain parsonage claims the ~
tice of the world, he will not complain if pr
chance an observer should undertake fit to e.
pieao the Great Defeated Mr. Clay, after fifteen
years of struggling aspiration to the pace your Excl
lency occupies finds that he is not destined to reach
the apex of his longing ambition; and since becoming
convinced Of this, to him and followers melancholy
fact finds that the Constitution is in need Of improve
ment, particularly with reference to the Executive
power Certainly new light has broken forth to il
illuminate the world The immortal Rip Van Wrinkle
could not have been astonished, after twenty
wears Sleep than must have been Harry Of the
West" when he suddenly discovered few weeks
since that the President possessed too much power
and he now proposes to strip him of what our sage
and patriotic foreathers temed Indispensable to the
true check and balance in system of government.
but MI. clay is WISER tnan tuey, oHers
lnents to the Constitution
Viz: I'd. Chat the veto power should he pre-
csely Defined and be subjected to further limitations
and qualifications.
Did Mr.. Clay entertain this objection to the power
vested by the Constitution before he despared osezlng
the phantom of his pursuit, ignus tat,ur which he
has allowed to lead him captive for so many years
Has it been this that has kept him so long from
declaring that, With the view therefore, sc. &c,
to the fundamental character of the Government
itself, and especially of the Executive branch, GAY,
there's the rub) it seems to that by amendments
of the Constitution" LIST. provision to render
person Ineligible the office of President of the Uni
ted States, after service Of one te1n," &c &c Mr..
Clay finding that term being his portion, and Jea-
lous of the good that another enjoys thinks one term
of four years for Captain Tyler" is sufficient But
Mr.. Clay forgets that the sacred instrument lett us
by forefathers is confirmed in all its parts, and
40 th, half