Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-08-19
From the Albany Atlas
POLITICAL RETRIBUTION.

POLITICAL RETRlBUTlON.
We would not too lightly ascribe TO the
special interference of Providence those
anparent accidents which sometimes battle
wrong and punish the il-doers; but when
we look upon the scattered ruins OF that
party which, in 1910, was exulling in its
strength, and triumphing in its victory, we
cannot but see an example OF those reirl'
buttons which, 10 human eyes, are the judy
ments of Heaven, and which, in human
hearts, are felt as lessons from above.
The power which was obtained by the
wing party in 1910 was, in every sense,
i'll gotten. We do not speak merely of
those frauds upon tho elective franchise,
which, we have reason to suppose, contrl-
bu'ed in every section OF the Union to the
success of that party. There were gross
err wrongs than these, though not like them,
recognized by law as crimes. The wing
party, under lis various names, had been
for years combining against the democracy
all the element of dissatisfaction. All who
were disappointed with The acts OF the
democratic administration, from The veto
of the Maysville road bill, to the law esta'
blishing the independent treasury, were
enrolled in It's ranks The old Federallsts,
the loose conetruclonists, the ultra :arlti
men, the bankers, the spectators and cap
italsts, the Indian s"mpathsers, the Sun
day mail petitioners, the abolitlonists, were
gathered into the same ranks with the ul-
ira te.iights men, ultra free-trade men,
hot.headed pro.slavcry men, antlmonop'.
lists, and laborers dreaming Of "two dollars
a day and roast beef"
These discordant elements would have
dissolved at once before a declaration Of
principles by the leaders of The party
They were kept together by discardng an
acknowledged leader, the recognized type
of The political theories of the maj GRITTY of
the party, and by substituting one who had
"no principles for the public eye." This
fraud-the greatest of which political
party can be guilty-was rendered effect
i've by y ing promises, impossible Of exc
cuton, and as discordant as the incongru-
GUS interests which they were intended to
concilia'e. John Tyler lent himself to
this fraud, and was received and supported
because he was deemed capable of uetray-
ing all his past principles.
The manner in which a political cam.
paign thus organized was carried on, was
as disgracetul as the want of principle by
which it was distinguished. Federalism
had always considered the people as the
m b. Or this occasion they made them So
The exciting influence of immense meet.
ings, of minsrelsy and mummery, was put
in requisition 10 debauch the public mind.
Every detail Of the means thus used was
studiousIy calculated to degrade the peo-
pie; and the impression which they have
left is, perhaps, the only permanent tri-
umph OF Federalism-the widespread
feeling of distrust in the popular inteIli-
gence.
And what has been the fruit of that tri.
umph of justice3 and where are the men
who were to gather and enjoy ii! In one
short year this party Of $40 principles for
the public eye" has seen its measures, Sc
cretly cherished and pursued through ma
ny years Of disappointment, and at last ap-
parently secured at the expense of so much
wrong, overIhrown and Knocked at by one |
Of its own instruments. The venaI men of
the party have seen the spoils of office
snatched away by the same hand. The
nominal leader Of The party died within
month after its accession-literaIIy pursu-
ed to death by his own followers. His
Cabinet, after showing that they were Ca
pable of all the corruption which they ever
charged against their predecessors, are dis
persed and forgotten. Mr.. Legare, the
most accomplished of their successors, has
died t now, deeply dep'oring, in the en-.
VersatiOn which preceded his death, the
vanity Of mere place holding, and deeply |
regret'ing, even amidst the pogeany
which surrounded him, the degradation Of
his position.
I The "god-like Dlniel''-who has shown
as many attributes Of frail hum nifty as his
like predecessors If the heather my
tIo!ogy-has been discardei from the po-
nIcal companionship of those very men
i'r whose sake he descended from his en-
QVTanp InhN 80, H.