Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-10-01

was then stimulated INTO revolt against the |
democratic party. The prices of all things |
were suddenly reduced, because the politI- |
clans had prompted the banks thus to ag-
gravate the public distress, by the reduction
Of their discounts and circulation. The |
people were openly treated with contempt,
by the brutality of the appeals made to
their senses. Fraud and folly, the most
criminal and ridiculous, were employed to
distract their attention, bewlder their
minds, and mislead their action. To affect
their imaginations. every thing from the
gorgeous ensign of the republic, with its
stars and stripes streaming from its hal
yards, down TO 4he skin of the most loath-
some skunk, was displayed to the popular
eye. Globes and cabins, banners and
bushes, barrels and brutes, harrangue and
music, revelry and feastlng, the song and
the bottle, imprecations, blasphemy, badges
and buffoonery; all things that could min
lister to confusion, were made to chime in
the general din. Reason was silenced in
the turmoil, and truth, for once in our coun.
try, yielded its empire to falsehood, fraud
and irivolity. If these leaders condescend-
ed for moment to speak seriously to the
people, il was but to denounce things as
abuses which did not exist, and to make
pledges Of reform they never intended TO
fulfil. They deplored the scarcity Of mon
ey they had themselves occasioned, and
promised abundance on their accession to
power. They condemned removal from
office for the sake Of opinion, and invoked
Heaven to witness that this practice should
cease. They promised the unfortunate
PREPARATION of his fortunes-the laborer an
increase Of his wages-the farmer an ad-
dition to his prices-the hopeless Of every
description the qualification of being soon
surprised in their dependency, by the time
ly bounty Of Government to be distributed
among them. To the nation at large they
promised opulence and contentment, the
restoration Of law and order-the healing
of all wounds--the restitution of all rights
the PREPARATION Of all wrongs cure
Of all ills--the remedy Of all disorders
the observance of all charlottesville re-
duction of all burthens--economy in all
things-security, plenty and happiness to
all men. Thus was excited every passion
of our nature, to its extremist limit, by all
the means which the joint energies of am
bition and rapacity could employ. Thus
was the public heart torn and ascerated-
the public mind stung and goaded-and
thus was an administration, conducted by
men of honor, ability and patriotism, nn-
defmined and overthrow by the most stu.
pendous conspiracy that ever yet was lev
eled against the liberties of free people.
What has been the result?
On the 4th of March lS41, the whole
power OF the country changed hands; Mr..
Van Buren, and his friends retired without
murmur, and gave place to Gen. Harrison
and his. The event of the contest had for
months been known, and from that mo.
ment, prescription for opinion, ceased to be
a crime. Throughout the land one wild
and universal cry was heard for the blood
and bread of the Democrats in office. Be.
fore he had left the banks of the Ohio, the
President elect was beset by intruders with
out number, and opportunities beyond the
power of qualification. On his arrival in
the Capital, he found it already besieged by
thousands who had trooped together from
all parts of the Union, TO demand of him
the spoils of conquered country. There
was an impatient ierocity in their looks,
like that of rapacious soldiery, when res
trained for moment from the sack and
plumber of subjugated city. He was a
man SCARED with the infrmities of age
of heart, believe, that found no pleasure
in the passion Of revenge, and therefhre,
i when left to HIMSELF was disenclined to in.
flict without cause upon so many men, the
miseries of general removal. But nei-
Their his infrmties nor his feelings were
respected by his victorious partizans; and
on the first day of his power, within ten
minutes after the official oath was admins
Tered, and whilst he was yet descending the
eastern portico of the Capitol, his friends in
the Senate admonished him of the haste he
was expected to make in the execution of
u vengence, and the distribution of spoil, by
submitting in that body the following reso-
luton:
"Resolped, That Blair and Rives be dis
missed as printers Of the Senate for The
twenty seventh Congress-"
j On the seventh day after, this resolution
was passed, and.thus were these defence
! less citizens without crime, or even a
charge against them, but that of their opin-
ions, deprived Of their contract solemnly
J made with the Senaie-their bond anuulled,
and all the expenses they had incurred to
execute the work, thrown as dead loss
upon them. Here was an example the
President was expected to follow; and frum
that dav 10 the day of his final affection.