The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-11
COMMUNICATED.
A GLANCE AT THE PRESENT CON
DITION OF PARTIES.

DITION OF PARTIES.
The divisions which have marked the poliu-
cal parties of this country, and which partcu
larly distinguish them at the present time, have
been cited as an evidence of that violent spirit
50 much deprecated by the enemies Of free go
vernments. Ii is true there has been no outbreak
of public sentiment as far as action is concerned;
but there has existed, and continues to exist, a
feeling of violent party luminosity from which
the worst may be feared if not speedily re-
pressed.
Whatever might have been the divisions Of
the people previous to the change they made in
the administration of the Government; and,
however much they hoped for repose from
that contest which secured it, there is now
spirit at work Of infinitely greater violence, and
a disquietude more fearful than when engaged
in the conflict for political ascendancy.
This spiri, has not had its origin among the
people generally. To number who are con
fided with the legislation Of the country ii more
particularly owes its birth. Indeed, the feeling
we speak of as experimenting the worst from its
continuance, is partially to be ascribed to the
feeling of indignation aroused by legislative de
reelection Of duty The People, beholdng their
representatives engaged in the heat of party
conflict, partake of some ottheir fire, and even
in the ardor TO lepress it may become more ex
cited.
If there was ever a period at which unanm!-
ty of action was necessary for the faithful dis
charge of important public trusts, it is the pre-
sent, lnasmuch as there was never presented to
an Executive Of this Government such va
riety of intricate and delicate q9estions, as are
now submitted to his Administration. The
ndecision of the currency question: the
Rhode Island controversy with all the delicacy
involved in it !; series of the most important
questions which has ever agitated this country
and Great Britain the difficulty with with which
the imprisonment of some OF our citizens, on
the part of Mexico has involved US with that
country; and other questions OF local nature
which daily occur. Add, to all of these, de-
gree of party bitterness which has marked the
warfare against the Executive and the Admin
istration, by the parisans Of both parties, with
the three-fold object of thwarling their speedy
settlement satisfying their own personal enml-
ty, and, in the event of an unsuccessful adjust
ment of them ALL to charge the President
with imbecility This is the sea Of agitation
through which the President has to steer; and
the comparison which Grattan made, when Mi
rabeau was condemned by both of the great par
ties of France, when he said OF him he was the
ishmus between the sea of parties, dashed by
the waves Of the royslists on the one side, and
beaten by the pillows of the Jacobins on the
other, might, with propriety, be applied to the
President of the United States and the two
great parties, in whose sea of agitation he is the
isthmus, equally receiving the turbulence of
both.
There is never wanting number ever ready
to resort TO desperate expedients TO secure
some personal end, in opposition to what may
be urged for public good. As there has never
been period in which there was such num-
Der Of important questions before an Admins
traton, in like manner has there never existed
such degree of deadly enmity against an Ad-
ministiaton; and the opponents of the interests
OF the country are proportionate in their vlo-
lence to its supporters, as the Importance Of
those duties cause its friends to be strenuous in
their zeal to secure their performance.
The People, if their general good sense
| is TO be taken as an evidence of their de.
termination, will never suffer their best
interests and the welfare of their coun-
try to be jeoparded 10y men who would stop
at no length to effect their own selfish ends
They cannot fail to see between their welfare
and the Administration, a connexion so close
that the blow aimed to strike the one must inc
vitably lnjure the other
The occasion which calls for combined action