The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-23
THE "PRESIDENT WITHOUT A
PARTY"


because they are advocated or opposed by this
or that party he may Judge of them by their
intrinsic merits. The same remark applies IN
choosing men to fill Office, in doing which he
can be governed by the fitness of aspirants to
place, and their fitness alone The President
ofno party, if by the term be meant political
sect, he can be emphatically called the Presl-
dent of the American People, who by rallying
around him in defence of their rights can place
him far above the reach of all sectarian infiu-
ences. Is not such position truly exalted and
enviable 2 How little did the author Of the
expression, intended to convey stigma, think
of the compliment he paid, when ne said we
have President without party"
1t may be esteemed proud distinction by
some, to be recognized as the head of party,
but it should be remembered that the term in
itself conveys the idea of divided support, be-
ing at best but major portion of the whole
but how much more desirable is it to be the
favorite of the whole nation? Politicians are
too apt to regard themselves as constituting the
entire community, and as giving impulse to
public sentiment, when in fact they are only the
fortunate gamers by results in the procuraton OF
which they have had but little to do. We
have in this country, somewhere about seven
teen millions Of People, of whom, after all, there
is not more than small portion that takes an
interest in party politics. Mr.. Adams, the ell
der, had his sparty, and Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.
Madison had their parties, and great parties
they were, but Mr. Monroe had the quhOte couaa-
try, without distinctions. To the great con-
stituency of the nation measures are every
thing, and men nothing, whilst it too often
happens, that with parties, properly speaking,
men are euery thing and measures nothing
How utterly nonsenscal does it appear to the
honest woman who finds that he is getting good
prices for the products of his industry, and that
he and his family are protected in the exercise
of their rights, to be told that the National Ad-
minstra ton is bad, because Mr.. A. happens to
be at the head of affairs. To place-holders
and place-seekers, politics are important, be-
cause their individual chances for benefits may
vary in proportion as their personal friends have
the power of bestowing office, but, provided the
offices be well filled, it matters little to the
country who are the agents of the Government.
Will it be pretended by even the most infu-
rated partisan, that when we are respected
abroad and well governed at home, the country
is in bad condition, because any par
ticular individual happens to be at the
head of affairs? Certainly not-and 1t would
be Just as rational to say that a man IN the en-
joyment of robust health and the possession OF
all his faculties, is sick or mad, because he has
not certain physician to attend him, as to be-
lieve that salutary measures can be rendered
bad because they happen not to be recommend
ed by some particular prominent POLITICIAN
What constitutes good Presdent2 Is it not
the fact of his advocating and faithfully carry
ing into effect good and patriotic measures?
1t has been the fashion with some politicians
to style the present Chief Magistrate, in their
polite phrase, 81 traitor" A traitor TO what,
or to whom? we would ask. Has he proved
treacherous to any one principle of which he has
been heretofore the advocate during long and
useful life2 Has he made single profession
which he has not faithfully, zealously, and eftec-
lively carried into practice, since his elevation
10 his present dignifed station? Has he in any
one instance failed to sustain the dignity and
honor of his country, or has he proved recreant
in asserting the authority of the laws OF the
land2 1t may be true, that in supporting his
own self-respect, and maintaining his position,
as the President of this great Republic, he has
not deemed it proper to stoop to promote the
ambitious views of an individual or individuals,
but, in not doing so, did he not simply do his
duty? What right has President Of the
American People, SO Tar to forget the national
ty of his Office as to make it the convenient in
strument to promote the wishes of political as
pirants-nay more would he not have been a
traitor to his country had he lent himself to any
such ignoble purposes? There are many men
in this country of undoubted patriotism, high
intelligence, and great moral worth. recognised
BY their respective friends as worthy to receive
the highest honors at the hands of the nation,
with what propriety then could the President
of the nation have yielded himself as the advo-
cate of any one Of these individuals to the ex-
clusion of the rest? Would not those, who
might happen to be the losers by this exclusive
preference have complained, and justly too, that
the patronage which is alike the property Of
all the People, had been unwarrantably MADE
use of to the manifest injury of large proper
ton of theme Let us take for instance, the
case of Mr.. Clay, and say that Mr.. Tyler has
been ga traitor" because he has not throwa the
influence of the Administration into the scale
of that eminent statesman, as candidate fo
the next Presidential term, and how would mat
tiers stand? Mr.. Clay has been many times 9
candidate before the People of the United
States for the office of President, and has failed
every time, thus showing, incontestibly, that he