The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-05
THE MYSTERIES OF THE ENQUIRER

In the Enquirer of the Sd of March, there is
an article headed " The Mysteries ofhe Madi-
sonian." That article is elected by some COM
ments of ours in reply to an article in the En-
quirer, in which the editor says: We suspect
Mr.. Tyler will find it a much more difficult thing
than he is aware of to establish third party in
this country" In reply to this, we stated that
no such line of policy had been adopted either
by the President, or his friends that the Presl-
dent and his friends knew that there could be
but two parties in the country-dn Adm1nastrd-
tiom party and an Opposition party. This we
now repeat; and we think that the Enqurer's
criticism upon what we said, is not just, and
that Mr.. Richie himself, upon reflection, must
see that it is not. What does Mr.. Richie him
self say? He says: " We hold that the Re-
pubcans act upon one broad system of constl-
tutional principles-the Federal party upon the
opposite. These are the two great political par
ties Of the country-and not the friends or OPP
ponents of the administration" Well, allow
il to be as Mr.. Richie supposes-that there can
be but two great parties, the Republican and
Federal party-will not the respective individu-
ais, composing these two parties, array them
selves either on the side of the Administration
or in opposition to it, depending upon the ques-
ton whether the Administration be Republican
or Federal in their estimation? And do not
these Republicans or these Federallsts become
necessarily either Administration men, or OPP
position men? This, it seems to US, MIR.
Richie cannot dispute and if so, is it not en-
phatically true, as we stated, 6" that there canbe
but two parties in the country-an Administra-
ton party and an Opposition party?" In
theory what we say is true-strictly true-while
in practice, we are willing to admit it is not
strictly So There will be many, very many, ex
ceptions from this general rule by which the Re-
representatives. of the people, and the people them
selves should be governed and it is but too of.
ten, and too fatally the case, that We find ndlvi-
duals either approving or condemning an admin
istration under the influence of sinister pieaos,
and not trying il fairly by its principles
and measures: and for this truth, may we
not appeal to Mr.. Richie, and to every can
did man in the country? How often does
it happen, that we find individuals, on the one
hand, whose political opinions, according 10 MIR.
Ritchie's doctrine of Republicanism and Fed
eralism, are as wide asunder as the poles, acting
together, and either approving or disappearing
an Administration and, on the other, individu-
ais, of the same political opinions, severng-
some advocating and some opposing the same
Administration. There might be cited innu-
merable instances of the kind, and the recollec-
ton of the editor of the Enquirer will supply
him with a greater number than it would be
proper in an article like this TO attempt
One instance is furnished in the of the
able editor of the Enquirer and the distin guish-
ed Senator (Mr. Calhoun) from South Carolina );
they both belong to the same political school,
the Republican State rights, strict construction
school; Mr. Richie was the supporter Of the
Administration, and of almost every act Of the
Administration of that great and extraordinary
man, General Jackson--while Mr.. Calhoun OPP
posed the same Administration, and almost ev-
cry act of it, Was the Administration Repub-
lican or Federal2 and who apostatised from
his faith, Mr.. Richie or Mr.. Calhoun? We
are sure that neither was an apostate; they
both believed they were right, but both could
not be, according to Mr.. Rtchie's theory, if
their political principles were the same. The
amiabe Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Bu-
chanan) and the proud, dctatorial and self
willed Senator oft Union, coming from Ken
lucky, belong to the same political school, the
Federal-but when have they, before now, been
found acting together, either in support Of, or
In opposition to an Administration Certainly
not for the last twelve years. The Senator of
the Union, and Mr.. Benton, Senator from Mis-
souri,, profess to be antpodes in politics; the
one, Republican, Democratic, State-rights