The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-08

PRINCIPLES. NOT MEN"
Few political max ms hs~~ -
-, r.v,...u.ed and abused than this for,
a. the sentiment which IL conveys is sound and
popular, il has been seized on by each and every
party, and BY none more eagerly and adfoltiy
than by that which lriumphed IN lsi0. How
often has this favorite maxim fallen from the
lips of their partisan orators how often was 1t
emblazoned ON banners and in attractive capi-
tails, how often did il herald forth 10 the People
inflated appeals in behalf OF some patriotic aspi-
ran, TO office and emolument, whose election
was to aid In securing the reisn-not OF men,
but of measures; and yet this i, the same party
that would now prescribe and brand with apos-
racy all who will not bow down 10 the one man
porer. al thank thee Jew for teaching me that
word"-the worship OF which alone is made the
criterion of political faith, of principle, and
"God save the markn-even OF consistency
II was just remark of Racquet in his "Exa-
the times, tina, "where there is one politician
who is willing TO take principles without men,
there are ten who are ready TO take men NTH
out principles" But while this is strictly true
as applied TO a great portion Of the prcfessed
politicians Of the present day, 1t is by no means
SO in respect to the People at large-in whose
Lands the real power Of governing this country
still remains. They ire sincere in their pre-
ference of measures above men; and hence IL
is that we see, in the North and the South, In
the East aud in the GLORIOUS West" scores Of
thousands rallying TO The support Of the Admin
istration of John Tyler-not from any blind at
tachment to his person or name, but because
they have become satisfied that his purposes are
all s.honest and true" and that if the majority
of Congress, at its last two sessions, instead OF
throwing themselves at the feet Of the Dicta-
tor
"Ther law his eye, their oracle his tongue"
had aided in carry ing into fleet the measures
recommended BY the President, prosperity
would, ere this, have smiled upon the country,
and the busy hum Of active and well-rewarded
industry would have been heard from the places
now filled with waiting and distress. They
have seen, too, that Mr.. Tylers consistency
which has been so much impugned-is not of
that accommodating kind which goes with its
party, right or acrong; nor OF that other kind,
which,
"Having once been wrong, would be so still y
but OF that higher and nobler quality which at
all times, and under all circumstances, aims to
follow that path which sound judgment and the
lights of experience point out as the path of du-
", whether it be rough or smooth. They have
seen him when overshadowed with a cloud OF
oblouuy-his acts falsi6ed-his motives misre-
presented-nsulted, bullied, and abus ed-evnce
the finest traits of the true statesman, who
like generous horse,
Shows most true mettle when you check his
COURSE"
But, above all, they see that he adopts the max
i'm, "principles not men" as rule of conduct,
instead of using it as cloak TO deceive the
People, who are sick, ad nauseum, of being
cheated with the shadow for the substance.
The present state Of parties in this country
has had no parallel; and the ultra politicians
who expect TO rule by party machinery as here
tofore, will be greatly deceived in judging of
the future by the past. AS we predicted at The
commencement of the last session Of Congress,
the modern party foundations are broken up IN
great measurable People having found it ne
cessary to return to first principles.
Ii is vain to pretend, as certain presses do,
that thousands who are daily signifying their
approval of Mr.. Tyler's Administration are n-
fuenced only by hope OF preferment 1t Is
doubtless true that there are, at all times, more
or less Swiss mercenaries hanging upon the
skirts of both parties, ready TO cluster around
the appointing power for other purposes than
that of yielding their honest support to its mea-
sures,
"a as some to church repair,
Not for the doctrine, but the music there; )"
but these are but as the dust Of the balance
when compared with the mullitudes who nei-
ther hope nor desire aught from the Executive,
but continuance ia that steadfast devotion TO
r h w hIrh has