The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-07-10
L II K M A ID ISONl A

II "a wi n - L y ~ IN "A IN
"HONESTY THE BEST POLICY"
Those who are acquainted with the character
of the political presses of this country will be
amazed TO learn that the above motto is actual
ly placed at the head Of column of editorial
matter in the Globe Of Wednesday last The
most VIGOROUSLY proaigate sheet in America,
which never scrLpled at falsehood respecting a
political adversary, which never corrected mis-
statement, however conclusive the proof of err
ror, and which never had any principles but
those of the ''three loaves and the FIVE fshes"-
this sheet has the brazcn effrontery TO talk of
honesty, as if its editors were capable Of appre
cating the existence of such virtue 10 the hu-
man breast! Why it was but the other day
that it openly avowed, that, il being more prof.
table to be with majority than minority, it
was determined to consult its profit. The late
John Forsyth, whose democracy had an earlier
date than the coalition between Clay and Adj
ans, pronounced this same Globe filthy sheet,
with which no decent man would contamnate
himself Its vulgarity and indecency in the sup
port of MIR. Van Buren, did more to estrange
from him the respect Of honorable men than any
other cause. Despised by the whole body of the
American people, and scorned by its own polit-
caI associates, the ribaldry, atrocious falsehood
and total restitution of all respect for the de-
cencies of social intercourse and the relations
of private life, rendered it one of the most po-
tent weapons against Mr.. Van Buren's election
1t was circulated far more freely by his opro-
nents than by his friends. Aud had Mr.. Van
Buren, succeeded, Francis P. Blair would have
been obliged to return to Ashland, or some other
part of Kentucky, 10 muse upon the ingratiude
of politicians.
But the overthrow of his party was to him
good fortune. Enriched by the spoils of the
public printing, to the amount Of hundreds OF
thousands of dollars, and having the command
Of press at the seat of Government, he soon
perceived that discounted party would not be
likely 10 incur the very heavy expense of estab-
fishing another. He avaled himself of his posi-
ton and assumed TO be the organ and the oracle
of his party. In this he was favored by the
absence from the city of the able leaders whose
counseIs and whose opinions had, 10 some ex-
tent, counteracled his violence. COL Benton
became his ally and coadjutor. Purse-proud
and lnsolent as Blair was, his arrogance received
new vigor and strength by such an association
Hencetorlh, the two became The Dicators and
the Tyrants of the party, and, consulting their
own ambition and cupidy, they sought to drive
the minority IN Cong ress into Fictitious oppo-
sition to every measure Of the Administration
Witness then attempts to prevent the confrma-
ton of the Treaty. From the beginning, they
were determined to quarrel with President Ty-
Ter and hi, recommendations and to oppose his
measures, whatever they might be. The OBJ
ject of Col. Benton has been made manifest by
the disclosures of his own friends. 1t was and
is, to make Mr.. Van Buren, President at all
hazards to the Democratic party, in order to in
sure succession to himself A Southern Presi-
dent, whether Tyler or Calhoun, would defeat
his schemes. Hence they were both the objects
of his virulence, and of the hostility Of the
Globe As to Blair, the "prof," of the public
printing was the sole object Of all his Efforts
BY union with Mr. Van Buren, and Mr. Ben
ton, aud by rendering his paper necessary TO the
party he anticipated success, and in magma
lion gloared over the countless thousands that
would follow his election as Printer to the two
Houses:
And now, for the accomplishment of his
schemes of sordidness, and 10 push the political
fortunes of Col. Benton, an indiscriminate war
OF determination has been commenced upon
President Tyler and his friends, and upon all
who accept office under him.
IL A
msrepresented and traduced every effort to
involve the country in a new dispute with Eng
land is TO be made; every obstacle that reck-
less ingenuity can devise, is to be thrown in the
way, and stupid cries Of coalition p, are to be
uttered by men whose whole lives have been
series of bargains. And all this is TO be done
under the hypocritical motto, Honesty is the
best policy -! The reader is prepared to give
Blair's definition Of honesfy