The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-05
that would have shocked the authors of them IN

thdt Woulu nave shocked the duthoio VI thcii III
their cooler moments.
We may be told that liberty of speech and
thought is essential to free institutions, and that
the freedom of debate should not be trammelled
by the himsy forms of etiquette. Admitting
the correctness of the position, we ask gentle
men in all lrankness and good feeling whether
it be part of the freedom Of debate, to assaiI
The absent and those from ,ohom the privilege
of reply is aOithheId? We ask them, as friends,
whether they think it worthy of themselves, as
individuals, or as public servants, to bring into
dsrespect those who conduct coordinate
branch of the Governments We anticipate
their answers, for we know them to be manly,
and generous and brave in their natures, and
feel assured that they will confirm our assertion
when we say, that such course is undignfed
and unbecoming their high stations Then
why will they persevere in such conduct
To entertain different views of public men and
measures, is inseparable from the essence Of
Republic, it is the very fountain of liberty, and
parent of freedom, but surely to differ is not, ne
cessarily, to reciprocate the lmputation of bad
motive. Men may certainly draw opposite con-
illusions from the same premises, without be-
ing less worthy of each others respect and es-
TEEN. In politics, as in religion, men may, nay
must, entertain discordant opinions, and may
nevertheless, be acluated by an honest desire to
promote the same great end. Whatever nick
name of party we may bear, the dear, the invalu-
able appellation of American freeman, is common
to us all, and whatever distinction may attach
to the relations which the President and his
advisers and members of Congress bear to the
country respectively, they are parts of the same
Government, and, as such, should mutually sus-
tain each others responsibility before the ma
ton. The People that are taught to hold in light
esteem the administrators of the laws, will very
soon learn to despise the laws themselves, and
those who make them. Their cause is the
same, and their fates are inseparable, and, let
gentlemen think as they please, the Govern
ment, the elements of which do not cleave TO-,
and sustain one another, must soon fall ilto dis
respect and ruin. AS friends of Congress, and
of the Executive Administration, we again in
vite the strctest and most lynx-eyed scrutiny on
the part of the former into the acts Of the latter,
but let it never be said by those who are looking
with anxiety and no friendiness of purpose, for
the result Of the grand national experiment Of
selfgoUernment, that in America the members
of the Legislative Council promoted its failure,
if failure should ensue, by casting obloquy on
the gifted and hgh-minded men who are in
trusted with the practical application of what
they themselves have ordained and ordered to
be done. Whatever differences of opinion may
exist, and with whatever becoming zeal they
may be respectively sustained and advocated
let hberality and forbearance, confidence and
good faith, be the measures by which they are
graduated and appreciated.