The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-28
From the N. Y. Sun

"'Tis SANDER:
Whose edge is sharper than the sword whose tongue
Outvenoms all the worms Of Nile: whose breath
Rides on the posting winds, and doth belle
All corners OF the world"
The storm of newspaper vituperaton continues 10
rage with unspent fury against President Tyler
One would naturally suppose that the stern and ter
rble rebukes which indignant people are giving
II would serve to aay its wrath and calm its angry
waves. But those who have raised the target seem
bent on illustrating to the utmost extremity the truth
OF the maxim that ''whom the gods will to DESTROY
they first make mad ~
When President Tyler found himself suddenly and
unexpectedly placed at the head of the Government
he exhibited the extraordinary weakness SO rare
among politicians, of sincerely believing that honesty
was the best policy. He resolved TO act upon that
principle-to heed the admontons of his conscience
to be true to his country, to his oath and to Tie
Constitution lie was guilty of considering these
high and sacred obligations superior to the mandates
of an aspiring party leader, the dictates of reck-
less party spirit. This IT was which led TO the vide
breach between him and some OF the would-be lead
ers and dctators Of the Wing party This it was
which raised the storm Of indecent and vulgar abuse
which has been directed against him from end Of
the country to the other
Those who are disposed to watch, with a candid
and impartial eye the progress Of public eyents-aud
every American should be thus dsposed-win find
it profitable TO keep in mind the particular and i'm
mediate cause of all the outrageous denunciatlons
heaped upon the Chief Magistrate of the nation and
ponder upon the results which now passing be,
fore u.s. MIR. Tyler, in obedience to his conscieu-
tious and solemn convictions Of duty refused to sign
bil! char,ering United States Bank. This was
the first decided step which i, became necessary for
him TO take IN serving his country rather than his
party, III was the step which at once brought hin,
IN contact with the selfconstued leader of ms par
y OF course II was the signal for the foodgat,s Of
rancorous denunciaon and csumuy 10 be opened up
on HIM. Clay, in his chaste and elegant language,
branded nm as "a mere snap-a flash in the pan y
Traitor" "peridious wretch" '.perjured villain
and thousand similar epithets followed from ser
vile and licentious press.
But an enlightened and vrtuous people began to
inquire whether there either truth or Justice or
reason, in all this camor. They asked themselves
whether 1t was true that their President in opposing
bank had shown himself traitor either to his party
or his country? They found that he had aiwals
through his whole life been opposed to a bank, and
that his party put him in nomination with perfect
knowledge that he was opposed to it. They knew
that on two three occasions the voice of the peop
had been given against bank in a manner that ought
to seal It's tate forever They knew tina, in the ecc.
ton OF lS40 the matter not in issue and that the
people did not by their votes that occasion intend
TO change Their former decisions; for Harrison him
self declared that he not in favor Of a bank ex-
cep upon certain extreme and inn robabe conditions
and Tyler was universally known to be opposed TO IT,
80 lar therefore, from showing any treason or IN.
consistency, 1t was perfectly plain that Mr.. Tyler
had only kept right on discharging his high duties
according 10 his conscientious convictions of what
was imposed upon him by his OATH by the con,ttu.
ton, by the repeated decisions of people and by
ms regard for the permanent welfare Of his country
II he was Inconsistent, it was with the views and
conduct of others not his own; if he was traitor il
was because he refused TO sacrifice his opinions
his conscience, and his country, 10 the ambio,
views of Henry Clay. If it was proper under such
circumstances to enounce John Tyler as a traitor
by the same rule Washington should have been call
ed the traitor, and Benedict Arnold the patriot And
such is the solemn verdict which The American pc
pie are now recording through the ballot boxes
Faction rs every where Indignantly rebuked an
honest and fearless public servant is gloriousy sus-
tanned.
We rejoice at this not because we have any po-
ltical feeling motive in regard to it. but because
it gives us br gher hopes for our country to see a
President sustained who has dared TO be independent
and TO lift himself above the waves Of faction and the
varying influences of party spirit, True Mr.. Tyler
is still slandeed revilcd, abused His cpraged enc
mics seem to become furious as they are borne
down. No matter With a whole people to sustain
him he can afford to be abused. When the storm
first broke upon him we almost pitied him now We
may well envy m. Then he stood almost alone
upon the tempest-lashed shore now a million of arms
brace him stlfy up against the fury Of the blows
which dashed into foam as they drive against the
rock on which he stands. The firm and fearless
manner in which he resolved to do his duty regard
less OF personal consequences, and the alacrity with
which the people rallied to sustain him and PROSTATE
his fact Gus enemies, exhibit an instance of moral
subimity well worthy the character and institutions
of our Republic. The example will hereafter
through all time, tend 10 encourage public servants
to pursue a similar course and to dare under all cir
cumstances to do right