The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-10-24


event can be brought about, unless by sudden
popular delirum, of which we see no symptom
and which Mr.. Clay is not the kind OF man TO
excite.
Mr.. Claws individual character and temper
not less than his political opinions, have created
another formidable obstacle. hitherto always Ia
al TO his success with The People. The Peop'e
of this country acquire their knowledge OF pub.
lie men not merely through the newspapers,
but through the representations OF those who
are styled leaders Of public oPinion-memoers
of Congress and others. There are few Of
these. belonging TO the " hig party, with whom
Mr.. Clay has ever come personally in contact,
whom he has no, managed 10 ALLEVIATE or
clIynd by his insuppouable arrogance. lie does
not hesitate moment in nnlcilnS wounds on
he sef-respect, CT vanity, of others, which his
own vanity halters him may be healed at any
moment by an occasional display OF fascination
of manner on his part, but which nevertheless
rankle, however well they may be dissembled.
His personal popularity is lirle or nothing and
hence the facility with which he has been so
often nwhistled down The wind and made 10
give place to others who had less exalted
opinion Of themselves, or more regard TO the
feelings Of others. Always ardent, lmpe'uous,
and ovrrbearng, every fresh public display
wnicn he nah,s ur himself shows that age, M
stead of having taught him the mastery Of his
passions, has given them increased strength and
vehemence.
On his retiring from the Senate he prolessed
to take leave of his fellow actors in public with
good feelings towards ala profession which
drew forth a display of sincere feeling from
olhers-hands were grasped, embraces given
and returned, and tears even were shed: but
scarcely were they dry when he SAT down 10
pen letter, intended for publication, in W hich
he deliberately applied to the Chief Magistrate
Of the nation the grossest aud most insulting
language-language which none knew better
than himself was wholly undeserved. Never
before, at any period Of the most butter party
excitement has any pubic man Of eminence
so far forgotten himself, and the respect due
10 the People, as to apply such language TO
the head of the nation. Yet This was done
al moment when he proiessed TO feel a
sort of holy calm and tranquility, good will to
ALL and an earnest desire 10 renounce public
life, and all its tolls, provocaons, and asperlles.
II, as party leader, he has no fiends-none
who can at all times approach him, or discourse
with him, with an assurance Of being received
and listened to with the courtesy which one
gentleman and Que freeman has right TO ex-
pect from another, we may be assured thai, as
pre.ident he would tolerate none near him hut
the veriest slaves aud sycophants. AS for the
humble and poorer classes of his fellow-citiZens,
he has never been able to see in them any thing
but the materiel of operatives in manufacio-
res. He is The champion Of employers and
capitalists, of The old and the young aristocrscy
One who has so little control of his passions
and impulses while out of power. and is vet so
eager 10 attain it, could hardly fail 10 prove a
despot if invested with it. He would, after all
that has passed, regard his success as due
rather 10 his ON merits and perseverance than
10 the spontaneous good will of the People. He
W ould look upon ii as tecanatlon by the Peo-
pie Of their past errors, an humbling of them
selves 10 bis superior judgment and political
wisdom What use he would make of party
victory, we may easily infer from the use which
be SO recently attempted TO make OF IT. In
giving ven, TO the pent up wrath of sixteen
ears he ceual nly would not spare enemies,
and wo TO any Of his own party, high or low,
who had ever crossed his path. Admitting that
he would redeem his pledge Of a single term, he
would still have his successor TO appoint-some
one TO carry out and perfect his plans, and
therefore high in his favor and confidence, and
all Offices would be bestowed 10 that end
Those who now may be specializing upon a
reslduary interest IN the VI hg party, and ar
ranging future movements upon the presump-
ton of succeeding TO Mr. Clay's Presidential
mamie, should fret inquire Of themselves
whether they have ever given him any cause
OF dissatisfaction.
A man Of such embittered feelings, despotic
temper, and stupendous projects, is hardly the
Chef Magistrate to be desired by people worn
out with party conflicts. To the nation at
large, he has nothing TO offer but renewal Of
exploded schemes and "obsoele IDEAS and OF
fierce exasperated party conflicts such as have
already shaken the Union to its centre. To
mere party men, he offers, publicly and shame.
lessly, division Of the spolls. He is the first
Presidential candidate who ever 50 far debased
himself, as openly, and in his own name and
person, to pledge himself to a distribution
Of offices among his followers. This be pre-
tends to justify by saying that it would be "the
severest rebuke of prescription and he asks,
significantly, "who is TO be justly reproached
with beginning prescription in this country y
IL must be obvious TO every man of common
sense that this argument would justify retalia
ton al ihfnitum until n wrelchcd scramble
for office became not only The necessary result,
but main object, of every Presidential contest
If revenge is good plca-and the lapse Of time