The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-18
THE CALHOUN MANIFESTO.

Ho"i Jul HeHe|Ut posltlol, W lay otlOic ou
readers, at length, the Address of the friends o
Mr.. Calhoun, which openly assails The proceed
lngs Of the Convention.
We spoke of the alb lily with which the Re
solutions, adopted by the Syracuse Convention
were written of the decorous manner in which
the sentiments of The members were expressed
and the rrascwoithy absence of the slang and
abuse of the President so much INDUCED in by
the Globe. And so wiIhlhe folio AIpg Address
we are pleased 10 say that it contains no disre.
putable ribaldry, no violent assaults on the Pre-
sdcnt; on the contrary ii is characterize by a
dlgnlhed and lofty tone throughout and we mu 81
admit, that for strong argument, and log ical de-
ducion, we have never seen it surpassed
There IS an energy, an earnes'ness, and devo-
tedness in this Address, which cannot fail &c
yssst&sSshe attention and enlist thSrnHsnpathy
ltosafps reades. And we Say thiSsvIV "a MEAN
ing to admit or controvcrt the positions OF The
writer There is no reason why we should
mlngle in the political contests of others, while
we have cause of our own to labor for-and
particularly when all tie parties concerned are
occasionally in the habit OF uniting against US
ESS
OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY A
MEETING OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS OF
TIE CITY OF NEW YORK, HELD IN THE
| PARK, 4TH SEPTEMBER, IS43.
| To The People of The United States:
! FELLowCITIzENs: We address you under the sane
ton and In t name Of numerous meeting of the
Electors of this city, by one of whose resolutions we
are instructed to endeayor to set forth to you the
grounds Of preference for John c. Calhoun as the
| Democratic candidate for the Presidency He has
been already named in many and various quarters by
much concurrent public opinion and his nomination
is hourly increasing in favor and must continue so to
increase, as the approach of the election in
duces men to give more earnest thought to this i'm
rortant sub Jet. TIE hour Of scrutiny and COMPARE
son cannot but be favorable to candidate whose
character combines unimpeachabe integrity with
abilities Of the highest order, and with native frank
ness and independence, and clear and strong inte-
gence Which assure that under the res possibilities
OF power he will find guide for his 0otsieps in his
oo direct perceptions OF truth and right as well as
example and warning in the gathered experience Of
his predecessors.
The question before our party at this election is
simply that OF choice between the names Of Cal
houn and Van Buren,. Other candidates have indeed
be, rather suggested than brought forward but none
of them occupy definite ground, and none now could
fail to be damaged by being pressed Their friends
will do well to limit their views to the next place
after MIR. Calhoun; but the matter now in hand is to
ascertain whether the President is TO come before
him we have something to say to the contrary, and
we mean to say 1t plainly we mean to attack Mr.
Van buren, directly on some points, and on oilers
perfectly conscious that strong disadvantageous
lights of contrast will fail on him from much that we
have to say IN favor Of the man of our preference
1T would be unworthy of our cause, and of our cand
date, to do this coverty and proclaim it and avow
1t beforehand We mean all that say, and all that
| our words convey ALL but no more We shall ind-
cate plainly the deductions we wish to make from the
high estimation IL which Mr.. Van Buren, is held by
portion Of cur party but TO that estimation saving
these deductions we adhere. He is man who has
deserved well Of US all he has rendered is country
much good service he has run through a long and
honorable public career, with character unscaihed
| and unimpeached Partisan malice has done lis ut
most against his fame every action OF his well known
liie every word OF his speaking writing has been
canyassed, tortured, sled, an perverted to make
out matter for some tangible accusation; and with
what result? The results have been poured out in
vague gcncralites, in charges of cunning and n-
trgue, easy TO make, difficult to investigate and i'm
possible precisely to meet and overthrow with evil
dence. lie was driven from Office al a time when
the apparent majority of his felow-ct7ens was in
sane, and the sounder majority Of these days shall
deem II fit for these reasons 10 rein tate him. then
and all those who think with us will cordially accept
| and concu? in their decision
But at the outset, there are serious objections
viii attach necessarily to the very nature Of re-
so alton. 1t must come in pledged in sort to
be mother of restorations, TO dlsorganize aud de-
range the public service TO satisfy personal claims,
which will be urged as rights, with arguments un-
usually difficult 10 resist. There will be histories Of
victims aud martyrs, appeals TO old sympathies and
anpalhies, revival, III short, Of host of persons
and things that might better be forgotten which yet
will add hundred fold to the difficulties and dan
gers which always be'lege he appointing power
From these no President can free himself; but MIR.
Calhoun will meet them unpedged, untrammelled
unlncumbered lie has never been hac kney ed in the
bypaths of mercenary politics, intimate m their
my cries, nor bound up IN close respondence and
recip ocal obligation with all the wire pullers at all
! the ends of the nmense ramiicatons He has not
clambered diligently up, constructing his ladder as he
rise, TO his present elevations he has risen buoyanty
on that favor Of the general public which his high
qualities attracted naturally, and which they have
amply justified lie has won his way, not by craft,
/ but by its absence not by noncommittal, but by
fearless advocacy of unequiyocal opinions We have
seen him gain popular favor by the fearlessress of
| his support even OF an unpopular doctrine, and
strengthen his character for consistency by open
! ly acknowledging an error. Such him
them certain that he has nothing in reserve
that he will fulfil in the future the expectations we
have formed upon the past, az this, under in
stitutions is one OF the highest recommendations any
candidate offer.
Our so called Government, is nothing in fact but
the public service IT'S most exalted Offices mere
! ~ executive, aud the power that 2ccompani them,
| is strictly limited trust The whole theory of re.
pubcansm prcsumes in the nation tie capacity q
! Judging and the right to know how this power is TO
| be employed and OF course the light to inquire into
this il it will before it bestows it, and to be plainly
answered. The ministers OF irresponsible soveregns
may have their private opinions, and views their am.
bigues evadng questions they do not choose to sa.
lisfy and thtr reserves which their subjects must
respect, but never penetrate. Ii is otherwise here
and the man who copies this nsolence aud pre-
sumption, who attempts TO hoodwink a free pco-
pie, end expects TO he trusted TO lead them blind.
! fold, misconceiyes himself and them, and sins
deeply against a first principle Of liberty. Mr..
! Calhoun is not that man. tlc is i'd ntfcd with
definite aud Ineligible views on all the great
questions or lately in discussion before the
public, and these views may be found summed up
in ono Of the resolutions Of tie meeting in whose be-
half we have the honor to address you. Free