The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-22
THE PAST, THE PRESEN AND THE
FUTURE

we claim, in all soberness and sincerity, to be
acuated alone bv an anxious desire for It's pros
perity and the attainment of the great end il
Processes to pursue. We deem it not only due
TO our motive, but to just appreciation of the
considerations we shall suggest, to disclaim any
sinister purpose. An earnest solicilude for the
cause of human rights and human happiness,
which we believe to be that of the Democratic
party, can alone furnish us with an impulse adj
equate to the struggle through the approaching
crisis beneath the tattered banner Of the immor-
tai Jefferson. Do any doubt our sincerity =?
Let them pause and dispassonateIy consider our
position What have we-what has any sup
porter of this Administration-to gain from the
ascendency of either the Wing the Demo
cratic party? Nothing, as Notwithstanding,
save as citizens Of the Republic. The President
has announced that the only desire which ne
feels in connection with the future, is, and will
continue to be, to leave the country prosperous,
and lis institutions unimpaired." What we
shall UTTER therefore, shall be said frankly, bold
ly and explicitly, without regard to individual
interests or its effect upon factious schemes.
Bile at Baltimore in May next, will either afford
guarantee of success to the Democratic party
in the coming conflict, or insure its overthrow
and annihaion. We need hardly remind the
many sagacious members of the party now as
sembed at Wa ,hngton, that two successive de-
feats cannot be sustained without total oblite-
ration OF party lines, and reorganization ofthe
II .LoIo nI,,
pieces. This may be desired by many-per-
haps is the very object of those who most
noisy in pressing the nomination Of Mr. Van
Buren,. 1t is not TO such that we address our
selves.
But why will the action Of the Convention,
in the event of Mr. Van Buren's nomination,
be fatal TO the existence of the party Mr. Van
Buren, aided by The prestige of Gen. Jackson
in possession Of the whole patronage of the Fee
deral Government, and his friends enjoying that
of most of the States-having the machinery
and organization of the party, and no competi-
tor 10 dispute with him the nominaton-hlm-
self President, with al he moral power which
the station lends 10 its ncumbent-wlIh long
series of triumphs 10 insure popular confidence
in his destiny, and not one defeat to awak n
doubt or disrrus' was beaten 10 nineteen out Of
t,ceny SIR States Was any hing omitted in
that cone,t, which might have been su or
done in bis favor2 Was any bunder of policy
committ,d d, in conducting the canvass, which
Gu be corrected? Was not human ingenuity
and exerUn taxed 10 their utmost 10 avert the
result2 Was the feeling of oppos n 10 him.
among any portion Of the People, Of that mega
tive character which admits the presumption
that a change can be wrought? Is there Stale,
a class, a county, or an individual who opposed
him in l940 hat will support him now?
In reply to all this it will be urged that Henry
Clay and General Harrison are very different
Antagonists. True, and if a candidate were
presented by the Democratic Convention,
against whom a vast ma jority of the People of
the Union were not unqualifedly committed,
this fact would be made manifest in 1874. OF
the TWO great agents which produced Mr.. Van
Buren's defeat, and induced the People almost
10 lose sight of principles, TO wit: vehement
dislike for, and want of confidence in, Mr.. Van
Buren,, ald admiration and esteem for General
Harrison, the former remains in undiminshed
force and vigor Need we say 1t was the
stronger agent Of the two, and If again arrayed
against he party will drown, in the phrenzy OF
the conflict, all discussion of measures pIinci-
pies? It was the rohcy-and with what ef-
feet let the fruits atlest-of the friends OF
Gen Harrison to destroy al PARTY landmarks,
aud make Mr.. Tdn Buren, and his measures
the topics of popular consideration, comment
and invective.
When the disguise assumed by The Wing
leaders was thrown aside, and National Bank
preseu,,d as their great remedy for all the ills
which afflicted the country, tens Of thousands
of Republicans hocked to the standard cared
By the band of President Tyler, and pressed
for the Democratic camp. They were received
with shouts of joy-bJn-fres lighted their path,
and hickory poles tracked their progress. The
whole Democratic press of the Union, following
the example Of the Globe, Enquirer, Pennsyl-
vaniap, and Argus, united in the most lavish
panegyric They were not asked, IN their OPP
position to National Bank, to adopt the Sub
Trcasury-Anor, in their hostility to Henry Clay,
to rally under the Gag Of Martin Van Buren,
The Democratic parry, however, again placed
in the majority by their aid, not only tenders to
its victorious allies for adoption, the soed and
greasy bunting inscribed with "Van Buren, and
the Sub Treasury" but BY trick and manage
ment, its leaders essay to constitute these the
two first articles Of the Democratic faith, to
which all true Republicans are required impli-
euy to subscribe.