The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-17
A KILKENNY CAT FIGHT.

nication, contained, in Mr.. Genly's opinion 50
much precious financial information that he con
sidered il "a matter of The very highest impor.
lancen to give the letter to the public.
The gross and even ridiculous errors OF faet
and reasoning, with which Mr.. Nicols letter
abouncied, were afterwards fully exposed by MI
Cushing rough the columns OF the lntelligen-
Ger: but we thought at The time, that MIR. Cush-
,sg had failed TO perceive the real argument up
GA which Mr. Nicors opposition to the Exche-
quer was founded-probably because II did moi
appear exactly in the share Of an argument
1t is contained in the concluding portion OF the
letter:
''lf such Bank r. &. an old-fashioned National
Bank is ruled to be unconst tutional by those no" III
power, as good and faithful subject |, for the pre-
sent yield and prefer to accept in lieu ful-plooded
5ub-Treasury, and no connexion, perm ting the Co.
vernment to take care Of its own, the State BANKS
themselves and The citizens Themselves. fair hight
no man touch. 1t may prove, fear will, Kilkenny
cat fght--nothing left but the TAIL"
A sentiment like this if it can be called a
sentiment, expressed in language suitable TO
lowest stamp, can hardly be considered cred'laLle
even TO a president of bank sort OF func-
tionary from whom we are not aulho zed TO ex-
pect the mos, disinterested and enlarged parI-
olism. But little cot Id We have expected tha'
such feeling would make is away among those
who rank as the first men in the nation, and be-
come at last the prevailing sentiment III Con-
cress of great and enlightened People. "a
fair fght-no man touch ~ ''Let the Peo lie
lake care of themselves" Or, to express the
same elegant sentiment through another well
known figure, "Let every man take care OF him
self as the Jackass said when he danced among
the chickens"
Such is the feeling now openly and boldly ex-
pressed, without shame or hesitation, by those
who have hitherto been esteemed as ornaments
TO their country; statesmen able to cope with
any in The old world in point OF learning, ability
and eloquence, and superior 10 all others in pa
triotism and sacred regard for the interests OF
of the People. These men, hitherto priding
themselves upon being the chosen servants OF
the People, have become so completely mad
dened by party spirit, that forgetting even the
policy of cent regard 10 public opinion, they
turn round and declare in dicta,orial tone TO
their masters, whose breath has made them,
and whose breath can unmake-'you must
take this measure, or none. We are party
leaders. not public servants we have point OF
honor to settle with each o,her-and until that
is settled the People must take care of them
selves, or, if they choose, go TO the d. We
have no time even TO discuss mea lures suggest
ed for their relief; besides, it would be OF no
use. We have already made up our minds 10 "a
fair fight: no man touch. A kilkenny-cat
fight"
Nothing could show in a more striking light
than this fact, the fearful rayages which have
teen made by the monster party" in our land.
is admitted on all hands that the affairs of the
sun,ry are in condition requiring the utmost
degree of ability and patriotism in the National
Legislature, and the exercise Of constant for
bearance and a spirt of compromise. Those
who dispute the cause, cannot. deny the fact,
that the industry Of the People throughout the
whole country is depressed, almost TO the low
est point, and their enre prise embarrassed and
thwarted by the state Of the currency that the
national credi, is sunk at homo, and entirely de-
stroyed abroad and above all that the honor Of
the nation, which should be dearer TO a true
patriot than even his own honor, is furnished.
In such state Of things, calculated TO rouse into
action every particle of public spirit, even in
the humbest, all that the servants Of the People
ii their character of party leaders have TO pro
pose TO the nation, is, ga fair fight; no man
Touch Kikenny-cat fight"
And can any man believe that there is the
slightest necessity for their war Of erlemina.
tion between parties, to be carried on at the cx-
pense of the People Can any man pretend to
believe that the establishment of either Bank or
Sub-Tressury is a matter Of such vital and
all other considerations should be overlooked IN
the cont st between the two2
Or rather, is it not obvious to every nte.
gent man in the country, that the contest is in
office, and atronagc-a war between cand-
dates for the Presidency--rendcred ierccr b,
the apprehension that, unless the passions of
the People be reused by party excitement, and
their eyes thus blinded, there is a likelihood
that both parties viii lose the great object of
eontention2
And does not every intelligent man see that
there never was less necessity for such con
iest-ihat there never was and is never likely
again TO be, a isirer opportunity for adjusting
the embarrassments of The nation upon conside-
ra'ions independent of party spirit, and ofyield-
Jog points OF honor without humiliation
In the midst Of the triumph and exultation of
one OF these great parties--s triumph of which
we uld foresee no seli-imposed bonds-a dis
pensation Of Providence suddenly placed in tn, |