The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-17
THE REJECTION OF MR. HENsHAW.'

1.-THE REJECTION OF MIR. HENSHAW."
This is the title selected by the lntellisencer
under which to wage fierce war against the
President We knew, from the peculiar cir
cumstances in which that journal was Placed
that on many accounts, and one particularly, DO
what he might, the President was, sooner or
later. 10 sustain furious and vindictive assault
from that quarter. And. since il must come.
we say let il come at once. Our Democratic
and Wing readers can bear US witness that we
are not in the habit OF stunning the Presidents
foes.
The attack on the President in yesterdays
Intelligence, we must in justice say-ior we
would do Justice even 10 our eRemies-comes
not from The pen Of a Clay man. Indeed we
have more than once intimated during the last
wear and with an honest conviction Of the
truth of what we said, that there were two or
three distinguished statesman, any one Of whom
the Integencer would prefer to Mr.. Clay. But
that can be no concern Of ours.
The In,elligencer purpor,s to give the soon
sidera,ions'' which had "weight with the Sc
nale," and consequently caused the rejection OF
r..
Inteigencer's considerations :"
"With regard to the political considerations which
may be supposed to have had weight with the Sc
nate it is not unnatural to presume that majority
of its members partake in the feeling, which seems
10 be general, even among men OF all parties IN
regard 10 the proceedings Of last year, by which
eminent and unexceptionable Wings were most dis
respectfully thrust from office, and their places hill
ed BY men of opposite politics. These Wings had
taken decided part for General Harrison and Mr..
Tyler in 1910, and the persons by whom they we're
s1pplanted had been equally Jealous champions of
Mr. Van Buren,, and unhesitating supporters of all
the measures of his Administration"
All this wrath could not have been excited by
the remark we made on hearing of the rejection
of Mr.. Henshaw, that we felt "great PAIN" &C.,
for the "pain" We felt implied no censure-
We knew not then, we know not yet, whether
the Senators most hostile to Mr.. Henshaw, were
Wings or Democrats. We suspected the latter.
But the Inteligencer's blow is not aimed at
Mr.. Henshaw for its considerations" are ''the
proceedings of last year." the unexception-
able Wings thrust from office" and the appoint
ment of men of" opposite politics." This is all
aimed at the President.
1t is true a good many Wings were removed;
and it is true that the Wing party had, previ-
ously, in fit of passion, embraced every means
in its power TO crush the President. Blows
were dealt on both sides, and both, il may be,
suffered the consequences usually attending fu-
rious conflict We will not dwell upon the
causes of the war, nor stop TO fix the blame on
any one. All men imperfect, and i, fire.
queny occurs that all parties TO a fray
L
a decided hostility existed, no one will de-
ny. And that the President was justifable in
appointing men TO office who professed an inten-
ton to sustain his Administration, or lief, it to
be inferred they would do so, we have Wing
precedents in abundance TO sustain his posi-
ton.
1t must be confessed that many of the zeal
Gus champions of Mr.. Van Buren," were ap
pointed TO Office. But it must not be asserted
that they will be his ''zealous champions" hereaf-
ter Those whose lips have not belied their
hearts, have united with the Guard" and be-
come the champions Of an honest Chief Magis-
uate. The Intelhgencer continues its attack on
The President thus
Indeed, we may well say in plain terms, that
IA w
came into the Presidents Cabinet under sort of
bsrgain-and that is the sofes phrase suited 10 the
occasIon-that havoc should be made among the Pre-.
sidents old friends, the Wings, and the spois be
slowed his old opponents adherents in time past
like Mr. Henshaw himself, to Mr.. Van Buren,"
Now, we take the responsibility of as
serting that every body seems to understand
what is not the lact-nsy, a most unjust
and unwauantable fabrication We kno,o
that the President never questioned Mr.
H.. directly or indirectly, as TO his future
intentions. On the contrary, The President had
no personal acquaintance with Mr. H. II may
not be denied that representations Of Mr.. H's |
administrative TALENT (since proven sufficient
ly by his acts and high standing, were made
TO the President. II must be admitted by the
Intelligencer that at the time of Mr. HIS appont-
ment, he was the object of the unmiripated
abuse of several Van Buren, editors. Ueadmit
that the President did, as all Presidents do. ex
pect to strengthen his Administration by the
appointment. But grea, injustice is done the
President, when it is asserted, or insinuated.
that he was party TO any disreputable sort Of
a bargain" And we can say the same Of Mr.
Hepsbaw.
The Intelligencer closes its article with two
surmises, which we copy
The first is, that, when this turning out of Wbios
and appointing their opponents to office began the1e
hope that Executive nominations would not be
necessarily submitted thereafter TO a vhig SENATE
This hope, thanks to the spirited efforts Of the Wbigs
in Tennessee, Maryland, and other States has been
signally disappointed.
Our other surmise-snd it is something more than
conJecture--is, that those who were most mportu-
nate with the President to make thorough work in
prescribing Wings, having since seen in what hand.
power now quite important to themselves and their
Trends IS lodged, have been suddenly struck with
sense OF The injustice Of deserving old friends, and