The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-14


to avert the disasters which threaten US
II is Republican maxim, that the Govern
ment is made for the People, and not the People
for the Government. While in many of the
nations of Europe, the antiquated doctrine of
the right divine of monarchs, and the interests
Of the people and the people themselves, are re-
garded only SO far as they subserve the power
and ambition of the King, the democratic axiom
is reduced to successful practice in the United
States. The people of this country are deeply
mbued with the truth of the maxim, and they
think that obedience TO It's principles is essential
to the happiness and prosperity of nation
If such are the opinions of the people, the no
tons of many Of our political and party leaders
do not apparently harmonic with them. If we
may judge by the conduct Of these gentlemen,
we cannot suppose that they are impressed with
the consciousness that they are but the servants
of the people that they are selected as egisla-
tors, not for their own individual benefit, but for
the general interests Of their constituents; that
they are elevated to the discharge of important
public functions, not for the promotion Of their
own ambt Gus aspirations, but that the duties
entrusted to them may be so executed as TO pro-
duce the greatest good for the people. 1t would
seem from their conduct that, though they are
Jealous and untiIing in preaching the sound
democratic creed, they do not wish its practice
applied TO themselves. They will serve the
people, but only with the motive that they make
use Of the people. They will study the interests
of the people, provided that study will not only
not thwart or interrupt the study of their own
interests, bu. become an instrument for the at
tanment Of the qualification Of their vanity, Gu
pidity, or ambition. They will serve the people
provided they are placed among the governors
Of the people, when, so elevated, they forget the
democratic doctrine, they forget they are the ser
wants Of the people, and their conceptions ex-
pand into the assumptions of royalty itself
They seem 10 think that the people must serve
them, that the people are to be taxed for them,
and that every word that falls from their lips
must be gathered up and cherished as the efiu-
sion of wisdom.
We need not travel far to obtain apt illustra-
tons Of these remarks. We need 60 no farther
than the Capitol. When we find the represen-
tatives of the people, at time when the Trea-
sury is empty, and prompt measures are de-
manded to supply it with means to meet its en-
gagements, instead Of discharge Of their duty,
wasting hour after hour and day after day in
useless, and desultory debate, at an immense
expense to the nation, we cannotthink them inn
bued with the pure republican feeng-they
evnce clearly, that they think the people are Of
no use but as instruments to serve their vanity
or malevoence. When we perceive grave Sc
majors protra :ting discussion on a mere ques-
ton of reference, through thu ee or four weeks
to the utter neglect of all the public interests
entrusted to their keeping, at time when the
whole country is suffering and crying 10
them for relief, they certainly prove that all
thought Of the people is merged in selfish asp
rations, and that they do not act on the maxim
that they are made for the people. They cease TO
to be pure republicans They act on the max
inns of monarchy.
But they deceive themselves. They do not
place proper estimate on the intelligence and
virtue fthe people. The selfish ends they have
in view will not be realized They will be
check-mated by the people The country will
soon be ayitated to its remotest parts. The
elements already in motion When the
people shall give vent to their Indignation
the rumbling surges (now heard in the distance)
of public opinion shall roll from the North and
the South and the East and the West, and meet
at the Capitol in dashing bows-hen let the
leaders of factions beware! In that tempest the
stoutest demagogue will quail. The bellowings
OF partisans will be hushed. Those who now
sit smiling in the Senate Chamber, complacent-
ly cherishing and provoking party discord, while
their constituents are agonized for the want Of
and thither, like foam on the troubled ocean,
And when the storm shall cease-when the ele-
ments are purged Of the impurities that now
continue to cast pail of gloom over the land
and the sun OF prosperity shall again g lean forth
in pristine splendor, every scum Of political dis
organization, every ignis fatuus Of heartless
faction, will be dispersed, bloued out, consigned
to merited Oblivion.
The President and his Cabinet have labored
for the good of the country They have done
all that was required Of them by the necessities
OF the country. They have discharged their
duty as prescribed in the Constitutions They
have no share in the responsibility incurred by
the prolongation of useless, wastefu and dsor-
ganizing debate in Congress. They have no
thing to answer at the hands OF an indignant
people. The people just, and the guilty
only will suffer.