The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-19

surest guarantee that we have Of the perpetui,y
of our Institutions and admirable form of Gov
| ernmen
Butii the Democratic party of The Union is in
| The above described condiion-if storm,
| caused by the strife which is raging between
| the heated parlisans of two Of the powerful
chiefs OF The party, is brewing in the Repub-
| can ranks which threatens the overthrow of the
party, what is the course that common sense
and common honesty points out as the best, UNI
der the circumstances, 10 be pursued? What
are the wlsest and most judicious steps to tie
| Iaken in order 10 avoid the disastrous resu $
which the present divided state of the party, ex-
cited by elimination aud denomination, must
produce? What is the best and surest method
OF quoting the uneasy spirits of political rivals,
and of calming the Fictitious turmoil and I'M
natural excitement" created by those selfish and
callous politicians, whose first object seems TO
be TO deceire the popular mind and then to make
IT subserrient to their unhallowed ends?
The answer to these intsrrogalories will sug-
gest itself to every intelligent mind. 1t is for
the People themselves-the real People 10 turn
deaf ear to the political wire-workers who are
endeayoring 10 forestall public sentiment, and
instead Of wheeling themselves into the ranks
OF either Of The rival chieftains year fore the
day Of action, to maintain unlrammelled the
right Of expressing their unbiased and final
thoughts without regard to the fortunes Of par
ticular men. II is for the sovereigns Of this
land to rise up in their majesty and rcbuke the
attempt that is now making TO ROB them Of their
free opinions by fastening them thus early to
The car of some one of the candidates for the
Presidency. 1t is for the honest Democracy to
| thrust aside the pestiferous horde Of selfish and
designing politicians who are always Auttering
about their ears to accomplish sinister purposes,
and TO take The field themselves in behalf of
PATRIOT and STATESMAN who, single handed
has saved the party from utter annihaion
and the country from crushing monster and
at the same time, unaided by those from whom
he had right to expect succor, risen above the
assaults of his adversaries and "worked OUT the
great results that make us this day more hap
Ply and prosperous People than we have been
for many long years past" 1t is TO effect ces-
sation OF intestine quarrels, by passing by bitter
and proscriptive rivals until they shall have ami
cably settled their differences, and calmly pur-
sue the policy Of peace, UNITY and LIBERALITy.
LETTER FROM THE HON. T. w. GILMER. |
The following letter from Mr.. Gilmer, will
doubtless be regarded by our readers, as il is by
US, as one OF the most valuable documents of
The day, and worthy to be preserved by all poll
ticians as an unerring guide in party conflicts
The history of parties in this country is graph
cally and faithfully sketched, while the sent-
ments and views Of the writer are those of the |
Republicans of '98,-ED. MADI
From the Charlottesville ia J Jec Republican.
August -, l643.
DEAR 1.-THE candid spirit in which your in
quiries submitted induces me to reply to them,
not SO much in compliance with your desire that /
should vindcate myself, to furnish you with brief
outline OF some important Incidents connected with
the origin and progress of political parties in the Uni
ted States. My own course opinions are Of too |
little consequence TO afford much interest either TO
partial friends or relentless opponents desire no
other vindcation Of my humble agency in public af
iars, than will be perceived by every unprecedented
mind by reference to certain cardinal principles,
which have endeavored to follow as my guides I'M
der all circumstances These have not been will
ling to abandon for the advancement of any party or
any man, not even my own. In their application, or
on minor points of mere expediepcy have been al
ways ready to concede and conclla,e for the pur-
pose of harmonious and efficient co-operatiou with
those whom | believed to be united BY devotion TO
some great principle. As to men in Office, or when
candidates for office, have long since learned that
OF all guides they are most faaciou. as their mere
promotion an object the least worthy of party COM
bination
The general forms Of our government like our pop |
ula,ion came originally from Europe. The events |
which preceded and followed the American revolu- |
f,or hovo
ideas of the objects, duties and powers If govern
ment which have always prevailed in Europe and |
which, to greater less extent have had their in
huence in the United States. The fatal error of
mankind an error which history and experience have
hitherto failed to correct in ascrbing omnipotence
TO government; in usurp * not only the rights and
duties of the people but also the authority and nfa
libility Of God. The system Of governing del graia
or without the will Of the governed is maintained
under the preext OF apprehendcd anarchy while his.
tory proves that despotsm under its various forms
has been and must be the nearest road to anarchy
The true source of this disposition constantly to aug.
ment the powers Of government, and multiply The OBJ
JecS OF their application is dstrust of the capacity
OF men IN the agregate to govern themselves In
most governments this dsirust on the part Of those
who claim to govern has been too readily acouesced
in, and hence the legitimate powers of government
have been seldom applied to strengthen the popular
resources for self government
There were many in the convention which framed
our Constitution who from dstrust of the people at
tempted to make the federal government in form as
well as substance a monarchy, without the hereditary
feature This design being defeated, the government
was no sooner organized under the Constitution than
the struggle was renewed, and strong government
attempted to be established by construction. II was
urged that powers which had been expressly mega
tved by the convention to be implied and exer-
ciscd as necessary and proper outstanding the
explicit declaration that all powers not granted
reserved TO the States TO the people. The federal
and republican parties Of that day. and ever since
when they divided on their respective principles,
have differed as TO the extent of powers and dscre-
ton TO be assumed by the several departments under
the Constitution J he federal party, whose leader
had advocated the British model in convention soon
manifested its peculiar views Of government, not
only by its measures Of domestic policy but in its
sympathes with the crowned heads of Europe who
combined to maintain the principle of royal lcgiti-
ainsfr ,I,If,o