The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-22
FOR THE MADISoNIAN.
THE PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.

FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.
THE PRESENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.
We consider the present crisis Important perhaps,
has been the fate of this country to encounter
Important, not merely in reference to ourselpes and
the present welfare of the country, but to postery
and the fate of our institutions in time to come We
arein the midst of of the greatest moral revou-
tons that has been felt in any country-a revo-
luton in which, in high deglee is involved not only
the virtue and morality Of the people, but also the set
Element of the question whether the interests and for
tunes of our country to be held in the hands OF
ambitious politicians, and the people themselves, who
should be sovereign to be made the merest ma
chimes, to be worked in whatever way may hest
the ambitious designs of political aspirants Truly
the aspect of things is alarming On every side we
behold misery and prostration Corruption stalks over
our land almost without resistance Institutions are
broken down-credit is runed-honesty is but a
name, and that nation which ought to be the most
prosperous under heaven is torn by discussions with
in and threatened with war from without, and yet the
politicians of country, disregarding their duty
and unmndful of the calls of patriotism, still
wrangng about trifes still aiming at party success
and many of them willing to leopard their coun-
try rather than to furnish support to an administration
which will not cringe to their dictation
is the worst feature in our institutions that here
especially ID the proverb realised that "what is every
bodys business is body's." Individuals, when
they give their attention to the state of political affairs
may see that all is not right; but to move the people
mass to take into their own hands their own
interests, easy matter, because every looks
to his neighbor to act before him.
What is the state of our political affairs now2 Why
we see ON administration brought into power by the
providence of God, recommending such measures as
the crisis, in their opinion demands, and calling upon
the people for faithful investigation of their
and their acts and for support in those which are
deemed essential to the welfare Of the country. We
see this administration refusing lend its support to
all the into which that party which claims
have brought it into power would draw it, and reus
ing also throw itself into the of that party
which had lately been defeated The consequence
is that the Administration is assailed by the ultra poll
cians of both sides-by the one as being hostile TO
the Wing party and by the other not being of the
Democratic party. The most violent abuse however
comes from the former. And what is the burden Of
their densncation : Why, that this Administration
has dosureod tho Fa;s party That President Tyler
has been traitor to the country, but to the Whgs
Are the measures of the Administration attacked
being hostile to American interests? No. Are the
Representatives of the People acting in conformity
with the wishes of the People in refusing their sane
ton to those measures No The voice of the Poo
pie loud for their trial. 1t is contest between the
Administration the part for the honor welfare
and perhaps the existence of institutions and po-
ltca aspirants the other part for the welfare and
| existence of their party.
How shall this contest be decided We thank God,
its decision is with the People, not with Congress-.
Let the body of the American People once see, as
they must soon, nay, as they do now, that they
played with and their interests betrayed for the
political success of any party of men, and the fate Of
that party it requires no prophet to predict.
We believe that the people have had enough Of po-
| tcians. We believe the feeling throughout the
country is, that PresiLent-making in Congress shall
be put down The jealous eyes of their constituents
will pierce through the DISCUSSES, the designs, the de-
lays of their representatives. The day is speedily
coming when the People will demand that those into
whose hands their interests are intrusted shall vote
for measures that for the general good, let who
will recommend them and that they shall not for the
sake Of thwarting individual, also thwart the
wishes Of the community. Let the people only as
sert their prerogative-let them, for Congress-
elect who shall not hther to talk, to cleo
toneer, to make of every device to spin out the
session through large portion of the year, and even
then leave large portion of its business unfinished,
and worse by the expense of its partial completion
than if never taken up at all Let them send men
who will aci and let the People themselves scruti-
nize their acts, and demand of them $50 far their
votes are concernedD why important measures have
been delayed or defeated Let them send represen-
tatves who shall not be pledged to the support of any
man, any party, at the expense of the country
then we shall see honest and deserving men filling our
high pacesthe business Of the nation made the only
object of our National Legislaturethe spirit of fac
ton and the fell spirit of prescription in reality
prescribed, and our country again restored to its
former character and prosperity
PArRIA.