The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-31
From Tie Baltimore Messenger.

i"c course pursued py the wing party towards
ther worthy Chief Magistrate, John Tyler deserves
the censure and just rcbuke of every man who owns
an American heart. However much we feel dspos-
ed to treat this subject with leniency we cannot but
dePrecate their conduct in thus detractng from the
dignity and character OF our highest Office In 1885,
no one stood higher in their estimation than I" the
well-tried and faithful Virginian" He had filed the
most important stations with credit to himself honor
TO his State and advantage to his people, and deserv
ed the support of every true and honest Wing. There
was not banner that spread to the breeze the name
OF Tippecanoe but what announced the fame of Tyler
too Why then this sudden change; Why is he now
denounced as weak man. sycophant aud traitor
by those who so recently and extrayagantly lauded
him! Is it because he had enough moral courage to
resist their threats rather than sacrifice his principles
upon the altar OF their dctationi Or because he
will not bow to and acknowledge the supremacy of
Henry Clay,
he fsthers OF The nomination. when they pro-
clalmed'from Harrisburg, John Tyler Of Virginia as
their candidate for the second office, knew him to be
adverse to the excessive of the Federal par
ty. His pc itical career was not so enshrouded in
mystery as to render his opinions doubtful upon any
OF the important subjects before them. Had il have
been so, and no counter declaration made then might
there have been some excuse-some cloak with
which to conceal the deformites of their charge;
but on the contrary, his hostility to some of their
prominent measures, and National Bank in particu-
lar, was SO proverbial throughout Virginia that the
question was not even involved in the contest Az,
further than this, his opinions at the time being were
in the bands of the Wing members of Congress, as
certified by MIR. Wise, and if they knew them then,
previous to his election, why give him their support
and denouncc him for his subsequent consistency?
We cannot conceive any cause which will Justify
their conduct. Their whole press from Maine to the
gull OF Mexico, parts of which had hitherto main
taned their dignity, and from feelings of sefrespect
treated with mdness their political opponents now
open their aoodgates Of abuse and pour the vilest
invectives upon the head of the innocent Did the
matter end here, we might re lard it in silence but
worse consequences are the result. An immoral in
fuence has grown out of their actions which is cal
culated to damper our prospects for years to come.
Not only has the great Of the Wing party been
worked upon by these reports until they are induced
to believe that the Executive chair of our Republic
is occupied by man who is incompetent in every
particular to discharge the duties Of that Office but
the spirit has been waited the ocean, and the ef
feet of the denuncation of the President Of their
choice is plainly visible upon national character
abroad.
Although we differ essentially with MIR. Tyler up
on some important points Of public policy, we are
clear for giving him the reward which his honest
acts deserve We cannot stand by and hear him
unjustly abused without raising our feeble voice in
his defence
In 1889, we did every thing in our power to pre-
vent his electlon-not merely that we differed with
him in opinions but because he associated him
self with men whose principles could not admire
whose precepts We were obliged to condemn.
Our opinion has always BEEN and late transactions
60 to cor oborae it, that the present Executive is
strongly attached TO the ancient creed of the Virginia
Democrat. At the most conflicting crises of our po-
lilcal affairs, when the mass of the Wing party was
so exasperaed by the vile epithets and base denun-
Citations of disappointed politicians, TO eopardze
his personal safety, MIR. Tyler threw off the yoke
which linked him to party, and determined to work
upon the broad ground of principle to recommend
such and only such measures would in his opinion,
be likely to protect in the possession of personal
liberty, the exercise of equal privileges and the
moested enjoyment of the fruits of our labor. Let
us then encourage virtue where it is found to exist,
and defend the man in public life whose magnanimity
induces him to sacrifice personal interests to the good
Of mankind. Honesty in politics is much the du-
ty of honesty in private transactions, and so
seldom is it onud among asprants for political fame,
that when at all visible 1t should be reec ed with ad
ditional lustre.
An honest Democrat, we look upon as the noblest
work Of God. The best moral lessons deduced
from his political code. Peace and justice make 1t
their rest ng place; and mankind senjoys its Princl-
Piles in proportion to the extent of their application
Democracy is not mere sorg, gul-trap to de-
lude the people 1t is the acknowledgment Of prin-
cipes, which are readily defined, and more easily
understood. A democrat is the same every where
whether he be found on the banks Of the ST. Johns,
the Potomac or Mississippi he is still the uncom-
promising opponent Of every measure whose direct
or indirect tendency il concentration Of power.
He considers the people capable of seIfgovernment,
and believes, with the greatest living monument Of
American Democracy, "that it is not in splendid
government supported by powerful monopolies and
establishments, that they will find hap
piness, or their liberties protection; but in plain
system, devoid of pomp, protecting all and granting
avors TO none dispensing its blessings like the dews
of Heaven, and unfet, save in the freshness
and beauty they contribute to produce