The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-05
MIR. CLAWS LETTER-THE TIME AT HAND
FOR MEN TO SHOW THEIR HANDS.

MIR. CLAWS LETTER-THE TIME AT HAND
FOR MEN TO SHOW THEIR HANDS.
Extract Of letter from Mr.. Clay to Mr.. Badger
and others, in North Carolina, dated at Washington,
March 2lst. We copy from the Baltimore Patriot
81 rejoice to hear of the fine spirit which pre-
walls in North Carolina and that the great Wing
party of that State is about to assemble in conven-
tion for the purpose Of celebrating on the present
difficult and delicate position Of public affairs. Our
country, brought to the verge of ruin by long mall
administration OF its general government, the sad
effects Of which peryade every section of the Union,
and are painfully visible in every leading interest
had reason to hope, after the glorious issue of the
ever-memorable struggle of 1910, that misrule would
| cease, and measures founded in wisdom and expert
would be adopted, to restore the prosperity of
the nation | need not say how cruelty in some i'm
portant respects, all have been disappointed Our
| actual condition may be described in a few words
Instead of mutual confidence between the acting
President and Congress, there is mutual distrust In
stead of his throwing himself upon the principles
and the party that elevated him, he makes war upon
both. Instead of harmony and cooperation, there
is discord and opposition. President without
party and parties without President. A President
denouncing his friends, and counting his political OPP
ponens, who, in their turn, without entertaining for
him the least respect confidence give him hatery
and praise enough just to deceive and delude him.
President who, affecting to soar in an atmosphere
above that OF all parties, and to place himself upon
the broad and patriotic foundation Of the whole ma
tion is vainly seeking, by culpable administration
Of the patronage. of the Government, to create
third party!
This, gentlemen is faithful picture Of the present
posture of our national councils. There may be
those who will think that it would be most prudent
not to exhibit it to the gaze Of the world.
The Wing party by faithful adherence to its
principles, at the hazard of being prescribed by
those whom it advanced to high power; and the
members of the late Cabinet, by voluntary surren-
der of exalted stations, which they believed they
could no longer hold without dishonor and disgrace,
have demonstrated to the whole world that with them
the love OF country is paramount to the love of Of
flee.
After six months war of abuse on the Ad-
ministration by Mr. Clay's presses and Con-
gressional champions, Mr.. G. has at last taken
the field himself, armed to the teeth with the
usual bitter weapons of sweeping denuncia-
ton and hackneyed abuse. We are glad of it,
Political rancor '.can do no MORE" and we would
have it do its worst at once.
We doubt not that divers presses and pro-
fesSed politicians that have been profuse in their
professions Of friendship to the Administration
and the measures submitted to the country for
| the purpose of alleviating the suherings of the
people, and correcting the evils that exist
throughout the land-and in the mean time have
| secured the patronage themselves which Mr..
Clay asserts to have been given only to the Pre-
sident's partisans-wil now be whipped into
the ranks, albeit they may feel no other repug
nance than the surrender of their prey
That there will be instances Of this nature
both among the presses and the politicians, we
cannot doubt, after witnessing the signal in
stances Of vacillation and duplicly exhibited
in several Of the large cities. But, we repeat,
we are glad Of it. 1t is always best to know
who are the real friends of the country. That
the Presidents course has been approved by the
people, we have sufficient evidence in the very
general condemnation ofhs enemies.
Mr.. Clay has entered the field in earnest
This cannot be longer doubted, after the publ
cation of the choice epithets contained in his
letter. Nor can any one longer doubt that the
wholesale vlifcation heaped upon the Presi-
dent by the ultra Wing presses throughout the
Union, met the entire appreciation Of the grave
Senator" But this very abuse, whether printed
in the ultra Wing journals or ndited by Mr..
Clay himselfand published in the form of letters
to conventions, will only contribute in the Sc.
que to gid the triumph Of John Tyler. 1t has
already done him ncalculable service, and is
destined to do him more. The recent attempt
in New York to bully the friends of the Presi-
dent will result neither in benefit to Mr.. Clay
nor injury to the Chief Magistrate.
But Mr.. Clay will be mistaken in his cacula-
tons respecting the immediate and tremendous
effect of this in-future-to-bc famous epistle to
North Carolina. Notwithstanding number of
the presses and politicians hitherto processing
to be friendly to the Administration will run up
his colors, yet there arc others which he held
to be secure, will not respond to his behest.
Even the cautious and prudent In,elligencer has
hesitated to publish the letter. Others will per
emptorily refuse to join his ranks at the tap of
the drum.
The Cincinnati Republican is out against that por-
ton of the Presidents Message which relates to the
disposition of the public lands. Other papers in that