The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-26
COMMUNICATED,

a cautious eye every quesuoh ""''" -
bearing uon the interests Of the People oil the on'so
States. ON the one hand We have party bearing
upon his banner, the motto OF Principles NOT Men
and on the oiher We behold the inscription OF Me"
,eithoui prineipss"-" National Bank and devotion
TO the person Of Henry Clay" The broad question
is submitted 10 the People whether under 'he nag o
the latter they will be ruled and ruined, or whe'her
marching ard in the great cause OF honor, hoefy
and prosperity without the aid OF corrupt and 'enai
institution they v III rule their fathers have done
before them, doing the greatest good 10 the greatest
possible number.
In reviewing the character Of the opposition can
didate for the Presidency We cannot but be struck
with the of deceney which he and his followers
exhibit In soliciting the votes OF those whose firm
and unwavering enemy MIR. Clay has always been.
We purpose briefly in his article, 10 lay before the
community the course pursued by this Dictator in
regard TO class Of his fellow-ctizens, WHO should
from their very position as inhabitants OF the West,
claim his sympathies and demand his assistance.
We alude TO the question Of granfing pre-tmptions 10
settlers upon the public lands
The assertion, we presume, will not be doubted,
that to those adventurous and hardy pioneers who
frontiers, Ibis country owes debt Of the
deepest gratitude; for TO their energy and per-
severance tItce the success which has
attended the settlement OF the mighty West to-
wards which every day We behold the star of empire
fast taking lis way. Their names, and those of their
descendants, occupy bright page on our count5s
history and will ever be pointed to as the first limbo
dment of that principle which has gaired for us
throughout the extent of the civilized world the cha
racter of the most enterprsng people under the sun.
But for them the forest would not have been subdued,
the prairie reclaimed The blessings Of peace and
prosperity enjoyed thousands of miles of fair and
smiling fields interspersed with cities and villages
beyond number.
As the West thus becam, more open for settle
ment, people induced to make locations, putup
Improvements, and cultivate fields in sections Of the
country which had not yet come into the market.
They thus enabled, by the time that these lands
exposed to public SALE to lay by sufficient sum
from their weearned slocl TO purchase the title TO
them |, found to be the interest theGovernment
to let them have certain quantity at the minimum
price in preference 10 the speculator iof by 70
doing improved the lands in The vicinity and ina
bled the Treasury TO reap higher price for them
The passage Of these pre-enplion laws from time to
time encouraged the settlement OF the West, extend
ed the influence which civilization is always exerting,
and filled thousands of ferie acres with po uIaon
highly valuable in lis character and republican IN It's
principles and feelings for each man felt that by his
own eYer,on, and labor alone he had secured to him
self AMI family comfortable independence. To the
benefits thus granted the poor man, We may trace the
rspid growth Of the new States, and the ehy adj
vanlap,ou. prospects held out all who wished to
make for themselves a hone in a land where it re-
quired only exertion to render hem independent
The course pursued by Mr. Clay towards these
hardy and adventurous people, was OF the most bitter
| and unreenling description. He opposed the giant
| ing Of pre-empuons in every shape and form and
even as late as March 1899 denounced and stigma
tzed the oharac er of the class Of men for whose
benefit the law was designed. If we turn to bis
SPEECHES Jcn,v,ed la that uouh h'd hun ehatao-
| terizlng them ss a lawless rabble Of intfujers,
"club law men, +" public robbsrs" who had no more
rgh. to rush and occupy the public lands, than
10 plumber our auenals that "Ihey were entitled
O. no consideration the hands Of Congress y rdi-
cung the Ide, Of their possessing "mora sense
and atug their emova ty force from the public
domain.
And this, People of Ohio, Indians Michigan, Hi
nois, aud Missouri is the character given you by a
nan Who claims Tor his title TIE des gnaton of your
osn HAIRY Of the Westw " hat he thus
stgmstize y on a. club law men, devoid of moral
honc,y aud then ask your support place him in the
Presidential chair VIII you cast your votes for
political ,tufllsr, who den,unces you as Iawless
fabbr Wal you aid and assist an aspiring dem
sgogue who for wenty yeats past has been again
and again thought unworthy Of that very station to
which be- again sspiresi Little does he love you
much does be- love your votes People Of the West,
in this dictatoral and ambitious man, you have
eret enemy, although br the present he would be-
que you vrh 81. friendly smile. BY his deeds you
a.u.t Judge, ADD by hs hollow reschery to the cause
q thu, very People who have made him what he Is,
you must condemn him. On the soil OF his own Ken
tucky standing high in the estimation Of their fell
lov mems are to be found those who are the de-
.csndants Of that very class whom be has vifed by
nj. fiul a.per.ions the pre- empton question. ln
every Of that land which stretches onward to
the setting sun, these awess intruders' TO be
found. They are the men who have opened the path
Gays 10 civilization aud improvement. A grateful
country owes them much. hey the men whose
lives IN peril from the tresoherous Indian and
NJ ssvsse beast Of prey. And yet Mr.. Clay has
ne inpudepee and the bold bard,hood to ask them
snd tier a scsndanls 10 vote for him. Let the men
q ne West repudats him. Let the children of
ths-s ~ho fsl IN oouf,c, with the savage foewhose
homes wsr, gwen up the flames, and their inmates
W ths sssiPing kn'ie--fePuiia's him. Let him be