The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-16
AN EVENTFUL ERA-MR. TYLER'S
ADMINISTRATION.

one year OF the ADMINISTRATOR VI W.
Ter, as important and novel cases, involV'hs
great principles of national and constitutional
law. have arisen, as under the whole Admins
tration of any other President since Washing
ton.
Hardly had Mr.. Tyler been sworn into his
place, when it was necessary to act in the at
fair Of Mcleod
The course adopted by the Administration In
that matter, although the Globe and its. friends,
Messrs. Buchanan and Allen, and the learned
Justice Cowep, of New York-justly esteemed
as the "pride of the village of Saratoga"-dls-
sented from it, was such as to command the
acauiescence of all impartial men, all distinguish
ed jurists, and, as far as we know, OF all diplo-
matists and others versed in the law OF nations
The question has been discussed all over The
civilized world has been the subject OF remark
by many Of the most distinguished jurlsts OF
continental Europe, and their Judgment, with
out an exception, corresponds with the opinion
expressed by the Executive.
No respectable pubcation-no toerable law
yer-no decenty informed public man-has been
found in the whole world, out of the ranks OF
American opposition, to quarrel with the prin-
cpes of law in Mr.. Webster's despatch.
The affair Of the Creole next took place.
The instructions of the Executive, on this
case, to the American Minister at London, have
successfully challenged the criticism even of
the profound iurisconsuts Of the globe, and,
with the exception of that "learned Theban'
of the New York American, and the abolition
lists of the North, have received the hearty APP
probation of every patriotic American.
1t will be admitted that this affair presented
most delicate and important question, both In
an international and domestic point of view, that
it devolved upon the Executive to take immedi-
ate and decisive steps in regard to 1t on the first
information of its occurrence, and, at time too
when the Administration was surrounded by
enemies on all sides.
With the exception of the New Y ork Amerl-
can and its brother aboltionists, no voice has
been raised against the conduct the Executive
Ia this matter
praise.
This matter was hardly off the hands Of the
Government when came on the Santa Fe expe-
dition, and the consequent capture OF Ameri-
can citizens by Mexico. We do not know
what instructions have been given in this case
to General Thompson. Able orators of Mr..
Claws suite, on the floor of Congress, declare
that the President means to plunge the country
into war with Mexico, for the sake Of making
political capital out of the operation. Other
very astute people, such as the editor OF the
New Orleans Bee, say that the Administration
will do nothing, except that the Secretary
of State will write long despatch, make
great talk, and let the Mexcans hang or decap-
itate our citizens at pleasure.
"When doctors Disagree &C., especially
such doctors as these, it would hardly be mo-
dest in us to venture an opinion, particularly as
we have not seen the instructions any more
than they have, and before we pronounce on
the treatment Of the case, would like to see the
prescriptions.
Judging from the conduct of the two previous
affairs. we are quite confident that when the
decision and intentions of the Government are
known, they will be found to be such as will
be much better excepted to before publication
than after. Perhaps this is the idea of those
who condemn beforehand.
While we are thus uniformed together with
the rest of the world, upon this most interesting
subject case more extraordinary and exciting
than any of the others occurs in the Rhode
Island controversy.
The question at issue in this contest, and the
facts of the case are generally known
We do not mean to-day to go into an expl;i-
nation of them, or comment upon them. We
have been induced to advert to the matter in
consequence of some characteristic remarks of
the Globe, which, true to its bias, fills Its CO.
lumns with speculatons and Misrepresentation
respecting the controversy, and the course adopt
ed in relation to it by the Executive. What the
Administration has, in fact, done in regard to
this most unhappy controversy, we DO not know,
but presume we shall all soon see.
1--WE doubt not 1t will be found that the Pre- 81
dent has fulfilled his duty, under the Consttu-
ton and the laws, ably and impartlally, and oar
confidence is by no means shaken by the rail-
ings of the@Globe, intended, as they evidently
are, to prejudice the public mind against what
ever proceeding the Executive shall be found
to have adopted.
The best answer to all these attacks, and re-
futaton of these premature judgments, will be
those proceedings when they shall be made
known.
This is the first instance, we believe, since
the adoption of the Constitution, Of an applica
ton to the Executive of the General Govern
ment TO protect State from domestic VIC
lence, although it was, unfortunately, necessary
in Gen. Washington's time to employ force to