The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-23

THE SHIP, THE COMMAN DER, AND THE
CREW-THE COUNTRY-THE PRESIDENT
AND THE MIS- REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE
PEOPLE
1t is not in the time Of sunshine and smooth
water, that the skill Of the mariner is needed !;
any greenhorn may command in such weather ;
1t is when the tempest bowls and seas run
mountain high, that all depends on the GOODNESS
and courage OF the commander and the faithful
cooperation of the crew. What sentence
should be pronounced upon men who, in such
an hour Of danger, instead Of standing BY to
take in sail, or haul off from lee shore-betake
themselves to the boats, or skulk away in the
forecastle, leaving the gallant bark to founder at
sea- or be stranded on the breakers Ian
guage supplies no adequate terms Of reproach
to characterize such treachery yet does not
the case of a commander SO skiful and so anx-
luus, and seamen so tmid or treacherous, tvpify
the condition of our country, our President, and
Congress, at this time2 Is not our country in
the predicament of ship so surrounded with
dangers? When Washington came into the
Presidency, the nation was exulting in the con-
summation of its revolutionary struggles. His
immediate successors had but to float exultingly
on the ''tu tide of a successful experiment"
If party spirit agtated the country, it was but
as the ripping on the surface, that prevents
stagnation. Congress was not then composed
of clubs and ciiques as it is now, without SYM
pathy with or care for the people and agree
ing themselves Ia nothing, but in common
feeling ofhostiHtyt to tho constitutional Erecu-
tire Of the country. With no ambition but to
defeat all his measures for its relief With but
few exceptions, all now belong to some faction
distinct from the people, and every faction TO
some leader. To most of them some dema-
gogue can point and say-that is "my man
Charles" or my man Tom In the madness of
their vain desire to "head Captain Tyler
these men forget that Colonel Monroe put his
foot on the head Of the " Monser party" and
was reelected without opposition. Have rea-
son and patriotism changed their nature, or
have the People become less discerning and
virtuous Have eiiigy Wings and ultra
Allen and Bentonian Democrats forgotten
how much the {" Old Hero" was applauded,
for recommending to Colonel Monroe to ''put
down the Monster pariy?" Are they and their
infatuated editors so blind as not to see the cloud
and hear the mutterings Of the popular storm
that is rising to overwhelm them Can they
believe that virtuous People will look on and
see their best interests sacrificed, and their Go.
vernment overthrown to crafty the malignant
passions of disappointed demagogues. Instead
of rallying generously around the Executive, as
dangers threaten from without and withn-his
measures for the relief and safety of the coun-
try are treated with silent contempt or opposed
with iactious violence. Look at his suggestions
Tor restoring sound currency and equalizing
exchanges-daring not to discuss them, they
offer no substitute. How have they met sug-
gestlons to put the country in posture of de-
fence Since the establishment of the Co
vernment no President eper selected ADLER or
more interchangeable counseliors Yet what can
he do while ihwarted by both "parliesn in Con
gress But the day of judgment is coming,
when the power of legislation will be wrested
from the misrepresentation of the People.