The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-12
From the New Orleans Advertiser:
THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST MONTH OF
THE NEW YEAR.

The close OF the frsi month of the new year 10 a.
hand, and the bubblng of the waters of time his
head he sinks into the of the past tells with
irightful truth of the troubles and which the
human family in this great republic have encountered
during the brief reign of January.
In every section of the Union wher eexist the evils
of overtradng, of buying more and selling less the
beginning of the year opened with fears for the flu
tuie People were tormented with anxious forebo-
dngs and in no instance have they been disappointed
The worst has come to pass. abor Is without its
just reward the debts of the past press heavily upon
the shoulders of the industrious bankruptcy has seized
upon the most energetic and punctual merchants and
traders and crime has reared her Medusa ike head In
quarters where it has never before been seen.
The farmer, secluded from the busy world, and Sc
cure within his domain from the fluctuations OF
the commercial tide that beat without, looked out
upon the future at the open ng of the year, from his
comfortable re-side, with springng hope; but one
short month has Frustrated all his brightest expecta-
tons. Low prices have returned to him half fruits
for the past years labor and the cold and chilling pail
of debt is thrown upon his shoulders.
The planter proud of his possessions, and looking
with anxious eye to the prices current, hoped that his
cotton, his sugar, his tobacco would fetch him, du-
ring the short month"; now numbered with the past,
sacks of gold" to cheer him on, but the tale told,
and empty Golfers stare upon him. when unconscious
of their hopeless condition, he turns to them for the
minstering comforts of life. Nor is this his only
sorrow, for long array of bills unpaid by those who
sell his produce return to press upon his energies and
dispirit him.
The merchant, he whose bark is high upon the tide,
the storm approaching when the year began, and
took in sail and made all preparation due to meet it,
but alas furious the gale has driven, that the
saudchest craft have foundered and cen the sea
of trade is covered with the wreck of many noble
argosy Claims rrecoverably lost, hopes crushed,
debts with not to meet them, the comforts OF
life gone and the relentless creditor pursuing with
fierce inten-these are some of the dongs of the first
| child of 1912.
The Banks-machines for partial good, but almost
for evil unmtgated-a severe but just fate has
| swept in short month from the high places they
once occupied. To them, has January been month
Of toll and fear their nakedness has been shown,
and their wicked career has been checked. Justice
breathes into their ears treads upon their heels and
| bears her heavy hands upon their shoulders. NO
| longer they escape. They must submit and the
months of the new year to come will see all over
banking put end to, will thrust down the sinners
and elevate the repentant.
The politicians ways have been made more crooked
STILL during the month now expiring. He is lost in
the of his labyrinlhine TOLL and is the jest
of the people The honest servants of the soveregns
welding the sceptre of power at Washington, have
grown in favor with their masters, because they es-
chew the ways of politics and go for the public veal
The people preparing to rebuke those representa-
ives who have disregarded their will and the close OF
the year will finish the good york begun so auspici-
| ousy in its first month
The lessons o be drawn from the teachings of the
dying month are plain. They are-that we should
bear patiently the ills to come for they will with
tenfold severity, compared with the past that we
should 60 laboring free ourselves from debt be-
ing economicalthe while and careful-that we should
contribute our mite, each of us, to compel the Banks
to specie payments without delay and that we
should cultivate with all our energy and zeal the prac
ce in ourselves and applaud in Others of the great
principles that honesty is the best policy and that
| tabor is no disgrace"