The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-14
Correspondence of the MadisOnian.

"a, N. Y, June 9Th 1912.
DEAR SIR: Our free Institutions that have surpass-
ed in their admirable adaptation to the wants of the
People, the expectations of the most sangune of their
distinguished and patriot framers being subjected
after lapse of fifty years, to new trial Another
political problem is about to be solved. The expert
ment is now making whether the Government can be
successfully administered by individual who,
clothed with all the prerogatives and authority OF
Chief Magistrate by the Constitution, nevertheless
without that direct commission from the People that has
been possessed by ALL except one, of predecessors
and which constituted no inconsiderable portion Of
their strength and eficiencyeither for good or for
evil. Can there be rational doubt of the result Of
this experiment? No one, l think, who has spark
of patriotism within his BOSOM can contemplate the
present struggle of partisan leaders to harass peplex
and overwhelm the Executive, without an indignant
sense of its injustice, yet look upon it without
alarm-assured l that there is redeeming
spirit in the People that will triumphantly sustain
public servant in the faithful performance of his duty
and rebuke every attempt to embarrass, for sinister
purposes, the operations Of Government
But the experiment making has twofold aspect.
1t is not alone whether the Government can be sue
W
to the second office under the Constitution, has been
called, by an act of Providence, to the higher and
more responsible station of President but it involves
the important question whether it be administer
ed without sacrifice of all manly independence Of action
and entire subserviecy to the vie,os Of secostu
ted and irresponsible Dictatorship
The charge has been repeatedly made that the
President has been guilty of reachery to the Wing
party but is an accusation unsustaned by shadow
Of evidence. The President has been faithful to
himseJGto his declared principles and it is for his
firm adherence to them that he is exposed to the bit
ter animosty of his assailants The party that rail-
lied under the Wing banner in 1910, was not one
homogeneous mass but it composed of allies,
united to effect certain object which when attained
left them perfect liberty to act they might think
expedent and proper. Mr.. Tyler's opinions were
well understood he was known to have been State
Rights Republican, disciple of Jefferson-most de-
cdedy hostile to United States Bank and all the
doctrines of the latitudnaran Federal school but
the Office of Vice President considered of little
consequence, so far the action of the Government
is concerned, and he was nominated to to the
ticket strength at the South, where it was supposed
Gen. Harrison stood most in need of it. The result
fully indicated the wisdom of the selection but how
unjust is it to MIR. Tyler, that by act of Pro-
violence he is placed in more elevated and impor-
tant position than that to which he elected and
refuses to abandon his principles, to him of
tEeachery Had he been less honest, patriotic and
firm he might have received the plaudits and not the
denunciations of those who now laboring to de-
stroy public confidence in his integrity and capacity
Could he have forgotten what belonged to his own
character and to the country, and sunk the rcputa
ton of the fearless Chief Magistrate and devoted
public servant in that Of the subservicnt instrument
and INSCRIPTIONS supporter of some ambitious aspi
rant to the Presidency, he would have furnished and
rendered gnomnious his Administration in the eyes
of impartial posterity, but he would have been eulo
gized by his present calumniators. The "path of
duty would not have been made plain to him by
the light of burning efgies.'
The position of the President Of the United States
under the most favorable circumstances, is one of
great responsibility and embarrassment but never
has an Executive been compelled to contend with 80
many and formidable and dscouragng difficulties as
Mr. Tyler, in the performance of his official duties 1t
seems to have been the determined purpose of clique
OF politicians, to intimdate him by the bodness and
feiceness of their assaults into surrender Of his
power, submission to their commands and the more
rcsouely he has maintained his principles and indie
pcndence, the more unsparng and ferocious have
been their attacks upon hm-the more reckless and
perseverng their efforts to vex and harass md tbwar
him in his course.