The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-02

portant business of President making so egisla
ting as that every measure has direct and open VI
Indirect and covert reference TO the succession o
the presidential ofcethe object being the depresso
OF the hopes and prospects of presidential cau
date, and the elevation of another upon the rum OF
those hopes and prospects In the prosecuuono u ui
business has large portion OF the Prese' so'o"
months session been wasted-almost every measure
having for its object the enlistment OF INTERESTS a
the securing of votes in favor OF preferred cahu',
date whose otherwise insufficient popularity would
furnish faint hope of success In this way are mem
bers able at the pubic expense and al the expense
of their political opponents, to spend weeks
and months in furtherng their plans of ambition, that
some would-be Caesar may ascend the throne OF pow
en- though like the original Cesar when he thrice
refused the Luperca Crown, most modestly pretend
ing that they have wish to be great and that 1t is
with the greatest possible reluctance they can consent
to make so great sacrifice OF personal comfort
and convenience to accept the prodered honor
Such ms rmountable modesty-such seli-sacrihclng
patriotism--is worthy of the most unqualified adj
mlraton.
1t proves that we have devoted to the well
fare of the country-so submssively obedient to the
behests of the DEAR confding, importunate people,
that they are willing to take upon themselves the
onerous burdens of government rather than that the
country should suffer and that they will torego the
sweets of retirement to ward of the dreadful evils
that must inevitably result, if any other than them
selves were unhappily called upon to rule. Dear
dsinterested mortals You indeed worthy of
the name of martyr--for the astonishing sacrifices
you make. Most noble and magnanimous men You
are entitled to the Hottest niche in the consecrated
temple of patriotism for the pains and prvations to
which you subject yourselves, in order to serve and
save your country No doubt your countrymen viii
| be as prompt and proud to you they to
serve and support that pure and self-denying man,
who piously invoked the blessings of war, pesti-
ence and famine" upon us in preference to the ter
rible, anticipated tyranny OF Andrew Jackson. This
hatp ,l,
clothed in the same lofty and ETHEREAL patriotism
inspired him. in the days of his former Invocation
He is now as them the modest disclaimer of power for
himself-and has meeky retired to the classic groves
of Ashland, to avoid the popular gazette abstract
his thoughts from every object of ambition-and to
await calmly and philosophcally the mandate that is
to terminate his terrestrial destiny.
And yet, modest and retiring as he is, and
his professions prove him to be, to the acceptance
of high official station, his unguarded friend and adj
yocates in Congress- have exhibited the temerity of
riskng the favor and esteem of their immaculate
Chief by cruelty dragging his before the public
gaZe and pushing the pretensons of its owner for
ward in spite of his blushes-as the only being on
EARTH fitted to rule the ream-the only statesman in
the whole circuit of the States able to save the re-
public And to effect the elevation of this man, Of
such modest and retiring merit, to power, have Con-
gress kept themselves in session for long months
and will probably keep themselves in session some
two three months more. 1t is to accomplish such
the session is spun out to unprecedented length
1t is to pull do,pn and dsonor John Tyler and to build
up and erah Henry Clay, that, month after month of
precious time must be thrown away, in reckless and
wrathy debate-and that hundreds of thousands of
dollars must be mprovidently s1uandered 1t is to
| make Henry Clay, President, rather than to make
just and wholesome laws, that the public treasures
are lavishy expended-the public burdens SO libe
rally increased, the public debt munifcently
larged, the public mind so seriously sckened, and
the public hopes Of relief badly dsappointed-so
entirely extingushed. And it is for this, that the
States send to Congress, that may revel on the
| rewards of eight dollars day-mcrely to make
themselves political idols to worshp-and to bind
the whole country to of Clay--which like that
in some pagan land read Of rolls and brushes
its votaries' If such is the fact, the quicker Con-
gress adjourn and go home, the better. We want no
worshippers at the shrine of Henry Clay, would give
Our idolatry is for the welfare Of our country,
and not of vain and erring man like him.