The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-23

,rsiion is denounced a. one u mosl shameful
corruption. These presses. whose very names
are Synonymous with every thing corrupt. Dis
honest. and vensl. are the assi which ralss the
cry OF virtue. honesty. and truth The men
connected with them, who have gone through q
vicissiiude u eorsupsloa and dishonesty until
they are caloas 10 al sense u the one OF the
other. are those whose siftas Is aroused against
men Of uRquesiioaed Integrity. Influenced
by an order d affected patriotism. hey strive
10 infase the country with similar feeling bot
their efforts 80 palpabls that the very Inteli-
genee they appeal 10 a. surety u their success,
will render their hypocrisy unaSailing. No
mea ure, however wise. polite % exPedieni ~
their eyes, panakes u any qualify short d the
opposite Of these. The ready made terms Of de-.
nuneiaiion are applied 10 u The moment i
comes from the hands Of the Executive.
This Is the method adopted 10 decide the me
rit on the part Of such presses, u the claims u
any Administration measure n their eKces-
sive lamentations are any evidence Of their real
feelings, they prove themselves outraged BY the
very act they unknowingly commend For the
exercise OF freedom Of mind and action on the
part Of Executive authority has incurred
their deadly hostility The privilege they
would keep undisputed TO themselves Is de-
nounced, when exercised by others, aud poll
teal prohigacy Is the vice Of the one, whilst
unquesioned honesty Is the virtue OF The
other
| Corruption, in the true sense OF the word
when 1t did exist was ground Of complaint
from which no one could dissent, There wa.
period when political protiigacy had attained
such degree OF perfection, that the most refined
analysis could not reach IT, To have measured
its extent by the common standard Of honesty,
would not have answered the mnutest part But
| this day of msrule has happily given place TO
| an honester zeal in the cause Of public virtue.
| The standard by which political honesty is to
| be determined Is not in the hand, of those who
would feign be the judges in this case Of alleged
corruption and misrue. A less impartial and
more exalted tribunal will be the arbter. The
charges having no application 10 the present
| time, and bearing no analogy to the present AID.
| minstration, the WORKOUT charges against
| those which have passed away will have no
weight in their Judgment The characters Of
those who institute this array Of charges will
| be placed in contrast with those against
whom they are made and the inference
will be drawn from the representations of inte-
rested politicians ON the one side and the efforts
Of those TO secure an equitable administration OF
the Government on the other. -
1t may be deemed folly 10 allude to the politi-
cal character OF. these presses in connection
with regard for integrity or to suppose that
by every abandonment Of fair argument, for in
discriminate abuse, will deter them from it, Nor
is it TO their justice, If justice can be supposed
to exist with the qualities they possess, that we
appeal. To those who are influenced by their
representations, we would address ourselves.
The absurdity of the cry of corruption, and
the other set phrases of abuse, when there is no
existence of them, Is apparent at every view
1t will become so familiar to the public ear, that
Its vibration upon it will no longer be of any
use. 1t is to suppose that the country, when
laborng under these actual evils, cannot per-
ceive its danger That when corruption is
| working within its vitals its effects can not be
felt, and that continued practice of dishonesty
cannot be discovered. Upon the same principle
that we become callous of a familiarity with
distress, this incessant cry will be UNDECIDED by
the country even at the time it will be most ne
cessary for its safety.
CASSIUS.