The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-17
From the Southern Geo Miscellany.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.

The NEXT PHESIDEN i.
Our readers need not be startled at our caption
we stick n our olive branch" and we have no idea
Of running up any other flag, or of taking up the
cudgel for any man, party We propose 10 treat
our subject ratheg abstr action and int nd to
make remarks abstract enough prevent the least
party suspicion We know that politicians corns
are very tender and shall take especial care not to
step on them We shall assume the prophet, and
undertake TO say, who is to be next President
for consider it question involving much doubt
as lshether at our elections the potes Of faction
should be gouerned by the bias efjursprudsncs or in
ternal suggestions"
We know of nothing unless il be making money,
which SO much engages the mind of the American
people as President making. Ever since We have
known any thing of politics-the great question which
has kept the people in almost uninterrupted excite
ment divided them into hostile and contentious par
ties separated neighbor from nelghbor, and trend
from friend, and even kindred from kindred-has
been, who shall be the next President Each
party has contended for It's favOrite, with as much
venom and violence, and mplacable enmity as IT the
salvation of the country, beyond doubt, depended
upon the election of their man. The whole mass OF
popular mind has thus during every presidential can
vass been dashed into tempest of party fire and fury
The bad passions of men have been suffered TO rage
without restraint, and the kindler feelings OF the
heart, have been, at least for the time stlfied and
blighted Scurrilty invective, threats maledichons
and curses have been poured out by each party upon
the other in indiscrimnate wrath The purest and BEST
as we'll as the lowest and ves have shared alike in
this vengeful and ruthless warfare And scarcely is
the successful candidate indicted into office, when
the campaign opens for his successor the defeated
party rallies" and organizes" and "comes to the
rescue" to retrieve the fallen fortunes of their leader
and the other rallies" and organizes nd comes
to the rescue" to prevent it and the country must
again be convused, and the same scenes OF vindic-
tive and protracted strife be re-enacted.
No act of a State Legislature can be passed, until
the party in majority have ascertained how it will
affect the prospects of their candidate for he next
PRESIDENT The fitness of any man for an office,
whether high or low, depends upon his choice Tor
ssthe next President; and we have known many who
Judged of the integrity and virtue of fellow citizen
NV his adherence to their favorite for the next Pre-
sidentn This is fact and within the experience OF
us all IT'S true we have enjoyed comparative peace
for the last few months, but fear it is deusve
calm and only harbinger of the approaching storm
Parties are already sounding their watchwords choos
ing their leaders, and marshallng their legOns; and
we may expect to see our beloved country again
arrayed against herself in conflict which will spread
through every portion OF her tar territory the roar
and clamor and commotion of party warfare, and
which will shake the Temple of Freedom, perhaps
to its fall. Who contemplate such scene with
out ill-boding' Who that has one lingering spark of
patriotism can see his country distracted and alien
ated and mighty people, like ours, making allegi-
ance to party leader the only passport to each others
favor without fear. No republic can exist without
harmony fo bearance, and Affection and if our free
government, the envy OF tyrants and the boast OF
freemen is to be overthrown, and furnish last and
conclusive example of the ncapacy OF man Tor sell
government party spirit will be the demon of its de-
struction. We do not object to preference OF one
man to another for office, to the existence OF par
ties in politics. to vgilant watch upon our rulers,
or to thorough information among the people upon
all matters of public Importance. This is to be COM
mended and encouraged. In TRUTH we deem it as in
dspensabe to the safety and proper administration
of republican government that parties should exist
Where the people govern it is important that those
who are chosen official trust should be under their
watchful supervison-that any assumption Of power
or unjust legislation may meet its proper reward
Man is proud, aspiring, and fond of power; and
rulers, in their ambition for seaggrandzement, will
shape their conduct for the promotion Of their own
ends unless rebuked by the voice of the people And
it is natural that there should be difference in popu-
lar opinion upon the conduct of rulers and questions
Of public policy and the effect of this diversity of
sentiment so long it is candid and honest and tenn
perate is salutary upon the administration of Govern
ment. But what we reprobate and condemn, is party
spirit running riot-making e next Presidency"
the graat object of fe-party of more consequence
than the country-vilifying and denouncing another
because his opinion upon some public measure, or
choice of men for office, may differ from ours-tak
ing the opinions of favorite leader the rule of
our conduct, without examining their truth, and
branding another as fool traitor who thinks for
himsef-setting up the demagogue instead of the pa
trot, and treating his loud and empty professions as
the language of honest conviction and patriotic zeal
severng the ties of Notwithstanding the seeds
of discord among families and neighborhoods-
ing the nation with its mighty throes of passion and
provoking the retrbution of Heaven! 1t is this that
we fear, and against this that we raise our humble
voice. Party spirit may be viewed as harmless-it
may be argued thai escape from its violence past
contests nsures safety in future. We think not.
God grant that the may be discovered in
our country's rrecoverable ruin