The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-16
From the Old School Republican.
PARTY CONTESTS THE BANE OF ALL FREE
GOVERNMENTS.

PARTY CONTESTS THE BANE OF ALL FREE
GOVERNMENTS.
Party spirit and political squabbles and contentious
have, for the last few years, usurped fearful domin
ion over the affairs of this country. They have al
most driven every thing else from the Halls of our
National and State Legislation.
President-makng, with many, has become trade
of immense magnitude. 1t is pursued with all the
industry and skill apperalning to the craft. Young
learners in the art put early to all the practced
devices essential to make common street brawler
Peeping out their heads like young robins many of
these half edged urchns of the school room have ex
changed the Ounce book for the stump and our coun
try is threatened with awful explosions with terrible
internal connections, if some particular favorite of
whose life and history of the wants and interests
of the country, they as ignorant Jackanapes
is not elected to this that public trust Old men,
old party counseors and advisers those whose pot-
ical scars and wounds point unerringly to the dire
contests of the last fifteen years. hustled out of
the useless membranes upon the hands of
these political mushroom apprentices of modern date
Who does not, who cannot the inevitable tendency
Of this wretched condition of things and be fully able
to account for much of that unsettled state of affairs
that positive confusion and distraction which seems
now to be preyng with unsparing hand upon all our
great sources of private wealth, and upon all the
business facilities and trade of this country.
Party heat is the parent of it all-and the petty
srfes and chickering's Of party warfare are the bitter
fruits of all premature Presidential scrambles-
Party spirit holds the nation tributary to its ex
actions It's destroying influence is felt in every State
in every circle, at every freside What but the par
alyzng effect of party contest and violence has en-
tailed embarrassment and distress upon our suffering
country What else has spread despair and ruin
over this once prosperous land What else has de-
solated the home of plenty, and changed the hearth
of contentment and quiet into that of mourning and
despair What else has pushed forward one Pres-
dental asprant into general round of barbecue
feasting and induced another to traverse the CONT
nent What else has driven from the halls of legis-
ation every effort for the good Of the people, and
rendered the daily reports Of its dongs a perfect
chequerboard of private brols and party conhict?-
And what else than this same rude spirit of party
madness and folly has thus far stayed the definite set
Element of the tariff question, and prevented the
prompt and decided action of Congress upon the Ex-
chequer bill that bill of promised relief, to whose
passage, above all others, dependent millions are now
looking with such intense and eager anxiety.
Let all who desire to see this happy country
move forward with its accustomed success-who
would see it once more in the march of prosperity
and happiness, seriously ponder and reflect upon the
solemn queries here submit ed and take measures to
avoid the ruinous consequences that threaten its
coming destiny.