The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-23

III lolZ, tndt dll duuIeos " TIC PCoPic VI tuS
United States was published to the world by his
friends, setting forth his claims to the Presidency,
and commenting upon the measures of the Ad->
ministralion. This address bears the signature
of Thomas Adds Emmett, Spencer. and others
Did not this address denounce the Republican
Administration of Mr.. Madison as deficient in
energy" as having forfeited all his claims to
public confidence by recommending war which
was detrimental TO the interests OF the northern
States, and destructive to their commercial pros
perity 2" Did not this address charge that Ad-
ministration with "imbeciity in the manage
ment of our foreign affairs z" Did it not allude
in strong and significant terms to the triumph
which Mr.. jackson, the British Minister (more
commonly known by the name Of Copenhagen
Jackson) had obtained in the correspondence re-
lating to the adjustment of our difficulties over
our Secretary of State, Robert Smith T? Did moi
this address conclude with an appeal TO the peo-
pie, to elect De Witt Clinton to the Presidency,
and if he was elected, that he would pursue
different and more energetic policy? The war,
it will be remembered was the leading policy
of the Administration. lfyou did not entertain
the doctrines as contained in this address, why
did you not disavow them? If you were not in
opposition to the war, why did you seek to dis
place the venerable Madison, whose administra-
ton had been raduced by the party acting in
resistance to the war; When it was said on
the floor of Congress that he called to his armies
!" men of bankrupt fortunes and ruined reputa-
hon," and in which army, it was sarcasiically
asked, what man Of honor would accept
commission I" Now, it must be apparent to
the minds Of all, that your opposition to Mr..
Madison's reelection, necessarily placed you in
opposition to the war. But Mr.. Senator Wright
says, that you nvowed yourself the advocate Of
the war policy in the fall Of 1912. Mr.. Senator
Benton says, that you gave in your adhesion in
the fall of 1873 (See his letter to General
Davis of Mississippi) Now it must be mani
fest, upon the slightest examination, that Mr..
Wright is in error, the election for the Presi-
dent did not take place until the fall of 1913,
and | will leave il 10 the common sense Of every
man, if you could have been friendly to the
policy of Mr.. Madson's Administration, when il
is admitted on all sides, that the principles
avowed by the friends OF Mr.. Clinton, Were de-
cidedly hostile to thethen existing Administra-
ton. Now can readily admit, and the reasons
are most glaring, why you determined to sup
port the war in 1918. These reasons are in per-
Fleet keeping with the whole tenor Of your pub
lie life. Il, 1t is the prominent feature in your
public character. AS soon as you discovered
that Mr.. Madison was reelected President, and
that the war party predominated in the country
you changed your position, and came out as the
enemy of Clinton. ! Is this conduct susceptible
OF any Olner TauOndi explanation but con-
tend and defy the production Of documentary
| proof that you ever did ayow any change in
your political action as regards our foreign con-
troversies, and the bases for their adjustment,
until November 1913, shortly after the result Of
the Presidential election was .ascertained In
this new position we find you shortly afterwards,
presiding as Judge advocate in court martial,
fattening in the pnblic crib. 56s s6 9
In my next number, will adduce testimony
in support Of the POSITIONS assumed in this COM
munication. A WING OF 1910.