The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-22
WHY SHALL WE QUARREL?
Your obedient servant,
C.. A. WICkLIFFE.

WHY SHALL WE QUARREL?
The triumphant results of the late elections,
covering Federalism with disgrace, and proclaim
ing undminished and even renewed confidence
by the American People in the great, patriotic
and immutable principles OF Democracy, should
be source of exutation to all true lovers OF
our common country-another reason Tor re-
newed and increased confidence in the sober
second thought of the People, and fresh encour-
agement to all who have labored in the great
cause of popular rights. Vain were the efforts
of the Republican party in the late contest, If
now the whole fruits of the victory are to be the
bitterness Of personal and selfish contests-the
elimination and recriminaton of domestic feuds
angry collisions of party leaders-and, last OF
all, defeat of all patriotic measures, amid the
divisions and distractions of the members of the
Republican family.
Was the late contest for principle or for men?
One would think, from the recent strange and
unwarrantable attack upon the President, IN
certain quarter, and certain quarter only, that
of the controversy. Can any one doubt, Tor
moment, that the late elections were strongly
influenced by the measures of President Tyler;
that in sustaining the Democratic party, the
American People wished TO rebuke the faclIous
and reckless course pursued by majority IN
Congress; that they wish to vindicate the
Veto power, 10 express their adherence oil
United States Bank and thus approve the
Presidents Vetoes on that subject? Was
there no approval of the Treaty in the late cleo
tpe9 eia iae st and gooa Democrats, ye, who
in the honest exercise of their rights and their
judgments, could not approve Of all the mea-
sures of the former Adm inistration--had these
men no influence in deciding the fate OF
The day Were MT they the ardent and
efficient champions Of the good cause, and
without their aid where would have been
the victory in Ohio and in other States,
that might be named? Where was Gen
eral Murphy, Of Ohio-lhat man whose thrill
ling elcqucnce wrought such wonders wherever
he went, and who was hailed by the whole De-
mocracy in that State as one of her ablest and
most resistess champions Where were the
host of others who might be named With
| their old friends and brethren, fighting shoulder
t, shoulder the enemies of the Administration
and of the old Republican cause!
! Instead of angry controversy, there is enough
to do 10 sustain the great principles OF the De-
mocracy. There is enough 10 90 TO guard the
] country against the assaults Of Fed ralism, and
its mad and reckless legislation. There is
enough TO do to guard against the common enc
my. We wish no controversy, no domestic
feuds, no intestine bros; we wish no quarrel
about men we wish TO contend manfully for The
great interests Of the country, and the advance
ment and perpetuation Of the principles of the
Jellersonian creed.
AS long as selfish and ruthless attacks are
made upon the President and his friends, we
must occupy some little space to repel them.
This may not be necessary but lest silence
should be construed into fear, we devote one
word, and that is all that is necessary, to an ar
ticle in the Globe of the 18th instant The Pre-
sident and some of his friends are charged with
having acted at times with both parties. If this
BE- so, would it be an objectionable offence,
and would il prove that the President is not
good and true Republican? Who has never
differed with the party 10 which he belonged on
some measure or some man Can all the mem
bers Of party think exactly and precisely alike?
Is no allowance to be made for the free exercise
of mind Must every mind be curbed, restrain
ed, beaten and driven into mere party harness,
and become mere party hack2 Why, the
very spirit and essence Of Democracy is mental
freedom. Strange Democracy that, which i'm
moaes the man who dares to differ from his
party at times Beautiful republicanism that,
which would con6ne and ieiter The human
mind
But have the parties committed no error
Have masses Of men never run into temporary
error2 Have party leaders never gone astray
Have they always been inlalIlble Must il be
political heresy and death to differ from them
on one single point2 Were not some of the
best men of the nation in error relative to the
Deposite Bank system2 What Democrat now
would advocate the Pet Bank system, and vet
how many good men were its ardent supporters
men sustained and endorsed by the People
too What did the Globe think in those days of
the Pet Banks2 1t is a fact, that the first mar,
who introduced into Congress any thing like
the Sub Treasury scheme, was denounced by
the Democratic party al the time as hereto, ]