The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-30

call for division by party llnes-hence they
hang out the soiled and tinselled banner Of
partu. Let our banner be the star-spangled
banner-Whose
"Terrible glitter of azure and gold,
will be an inspiration to the patriot and terror
to the traitor. With hearts swelling with love
of country, let US strike. Up patriot Whigs' up
patriot Democrats, and rally to the stripes and
stars. We fight for public purity and for
the Union.
The Chief Magistrate occupies a position
between radical Federalism and destructive Lo-
co Focoism-the old Crawford Jeffersonlan
ground In the names Of Jefferson, of Madison.
and of Crawford, we conjure the People to rally
to the Administration, and to the country.
MIR. CLAY AND THE PRESIDENCY.
From very early period ofhis political career,
Mr. Clay seems to have fixed his eye on the Presi-
Dental chair, as the goal which he desired, and
expected ultimately to attain. Some men have
been found sufficiently unpretendng and patri-
otto as to rest satisfied with the good which
their talents and energies could effect in the sit
uaton to which they may have been elevated by
the spontaneous choice of the People, without
raising their aspirations any higher-others
have thought not of the Presidency until the
gradual progression of promotion and widely
disseminated popularity, have almost placed 1t
within their grasp-when the expectation of
being elevated to the highest office in the gift
of the People has been the suggestion of cir
cumstances, not the creation OF their selfish
ambition. Not so Mr.. Clay When yet the
wears he numbered were barely sufficient to
qualify him for seat in the Senate Of the Uni
ted States, and he could, almost without suspi-
cion, pretend to the innocence OF novice In
political intrigue, he extended his vision through
the long vista of party turmoil and revolution
before him, and intently scanned the whole
scene, that he might discover in turn all the
tortuosities and difficulties Of the path which
led to the coveted prize beyond. To attain it,
every faculty, every energy has been nerved,
every plan and every scheme has been employ
ed-in vain. He has figured among statesmen
in originating and supporting measures deeply
affecting the interests of the country, whether
for veal or for woe-it was with expectation of
the Presidency. He has figured among parti-
sans, ndlntrigued among politicians-ltw was with
expectation of the Presidency. He has poured his
fluent strains OF deliberative eoquence in the Ca
pitol-t waswith expectation Of the Presidency.
He speechifed at dinners and on the stump-lt
was with expectation of the Presidency. He
has promulgated opinions and condemned them,
he has Joined parties and forsaken them, he has
| srpported friends and abandoned them-lt was
all with expectation of the Presidency. Amid
every change of political opinion in himself
amid every revolution Of party-whether he
| was Representative, Senator, Commissioner in
foreign country-or quilted his popular posi-
ton to become Secretary of State. he never
lost sight of the one great object-the Presi-
dency. AS soon as he thought his arrange
ments made, his forces prepared, and the plan
of campaign complete, he entered the field,
and he was defeated. Again defeated in open
warfare. he experienced of late the additional
degradation and disappointment of being reject
ed by his own friends. Vexed and harassed by
reiteration of defeat, where stands he now
Upheld by his own desperation and the reckless
ness of few desperate friends, he affects the
modesty of retirement, while he promises indi
rectly renewal of the contest. Directly, he
promises no such thing; but in the morbid
peevishness of frustrated ambition Eve will not
quote an old and familiar adage, he assails per-
sonaly, as well as politically, one whose posi-
ton he envies, because he has by long reveries
on his own aspirations persuaded himself thai
he should be there himself. But where is he
now? At every struggle he is shrinking far
Their and farther from the object he wishes
to grasp Are his hopes of the Presidency
brighter? His most sanguine friends canno
confidently make the assertion. He has me
the punishment which usually attends con
slant tissue of intrigue. The calculations o
his cunning have deceived him. and he is far
Their frorp the Presidency than ever