The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-28

FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.
1t has been said that the President is without
a party. The term party, however, like almost
every other IN every day use, is often vaguely
employed. Those who quote Burke's authority
In favor OF parties, and deride those who claim
TO be the adherents of no party, appear not 10
notice the limited acceptation to which he con
fines the term, and the broader meaning which
it receives in common parlance If recollect
Alright, he understands by the word party COM
bnatlon OF men united by the belief in the same
great principles, and 10 consequence of this uni
ty OF belief, agreed to be the advocates and sup
porIers OF the same great measures OF public po-
lily. In this sense of the term, the existence of
parties is just as inevitable as the existence Of
with others to form a party, because their OPT
mons on important questions are IDENTICAL
The source of the union is principle, not pas
sion.
The members Of party, so constituted, are
bound together by one common faith in all
matters Of vital importance only. On points
not essential to the integrity of their great prn-
ciples, each individual is suffered to follow the
dictates of his own judgment, without incur
ring the danger of being declared schismalic.
He becomes member of the party because his
judgment teaches him to believe the truth of the
great doctrines it processes; but all men cannot
be brought to hold precisely the same opinions
on all subjects. That some members of party
should differ from others, perhaps from MAORI
ty, on a matter not essential, is natural. 1t is,
therefore, but just as it is polite, that their dis
sent should be tolerated in silence, if 1t can
not be approved by the others. union so
framed for the support of common principles of
moment combined with reciprocal suferance
of discrepance of opinion on all questions not
njuring the integrity of the essential doctrines,
constitutes party, IN the pure and unobjection-
able sense OF the term and in this sense every
man who pretend, to take any interest in the
welfare of his country, as far as only giving his
vote, must declare himself an adherent of some
party.
But it appears, from the usage of the term, in
familiar language, that much more is expected
from member of a party his liberty of thought
and action is subject to much severer restriction
than that imposed by party, as have explained
the word Not only must his faith be orthodox
on great points, but he must become bound,
heart and soul, in every respect, to the dictation
of the ma ority Of those whose fraternity he
has Joined He must think with them and
act with them, not only on great questions,
but small ones, he must be staunch not only in
the faith, he must become the slave Of the most
trivial rules of discipline. Let him have the
independence to think or act for himself, in
opposition to arty tactics, on question no mat
ter how unimportant, he is declared heretcal and
most probably elected from the ranks. On the
elements Of a party so framed, and by what my
ferrous power they have been brought to
coalesce, | will not at present expatiate But
though am an avowed member of party,
always have and always shall refuse to submit
to the dictation Of any clique or any representa-
tive of clique. | became member Of the
Democratic party because approved its great
principles; on these, OF course, there can be no
dictation. thought for myself in declaring my
self Democrat, shall think for myself indie
pendent of party drill on all subjects on which
udVt W lOlul Hlo COulSC nave
always pursued-this course | shall always
pursue.
Democrat myself, regard the President as
a member of the same party with myself, and
shall therefore support his Administration. |
employ the term in the sense | have given
above, as unobjectionable. On many points
may differ from him-and on these, no doubt,
shall oppose him. But no differences Of opinion
on subjects which are not among the great points
distinguishing the party, shall so bias my con-
duct as to lead me to vote against such of his
measures as are truly Democratic. Will not
every Democrat say the same? Dare any say
otherwise? Will any man be so bold as to OPP
pose proposition merely because it emanates
from President for whom he did not vote g
Will not the President then be backed by
party-though it be one so constituted that he
will have the utmost reason to be proud OF 1t.
| have not finished what intended to write
to you.
A DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE.
PHILADELPHIA, May 25th 1912.