The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-17


VIDE borders of the land-au that we have herein as
crioed 10 the eminent place he occupies when fille
~ al aoie, honest, upright man. How, then, shall
w measure, leH0W-cltizens, the importance of tn,
subject which, forms the principal object of nquir,
wa us an, and the interest of which is to be height
eneo as the period of ITS final decision draws near
We aiiude, OF course, [, the Presidential election
ana why need we offer apology for submitting TO GU
countrymen the views we entertain on matter 81
VITA to us all as American citizens,
we then invoke your sober attention, without pre-
Juoce and without partialty to what we are about
say, ana we promise Tor ourselves, as we know ou
OVID hearts, To speak to you the spirit of sincerity
the language OF Truth. He who discusses, with Ell
iect' question so big of momentous consequence
Purns Inc counses OF dupcy and sinks the pa, tisar
we SAID we are Republicans of the Jefferson
Scnoo'' Inc gre It number of those " no have
ior the most part acted with the ESQ caed) Demo
cratic party ofihe present day. Many of us held this
iea'ion, IN the memorable conflict of parties in 1910
we aie Eow all The supporters ofthe existing Admin
stfaon and, every of US, the advocates of John
Tyler 10 the approaching Presidential canvass We
regard the next election second in imporlance-iT
the variety and magnitude of the interests which il
nvoves--lo no one which has preceded it since the
formation OF the Government. We consider il il
some respects peculiar, and therefore, addressing it.
self with peculiar claims to the consideration of the
people. This at once appears if we recur to the ma
triumph OF The Wing, over the Democratic party tc
the principles and measures which divided the respect
I'VE parties in that memorable struggle, and to the
singular series of events which followed it, The
long and fierce contest of the two great parties had
attained In 1910 It's eliminating point. The Dem
ocratc having departed in numerous instances from
the cd and venerated landmarks of Republicanisn n,
found itself we akened at the critical period by the
seces ION, at different times, Of many Of its best and
tuIest members. The Federaists defeated in ali
previous trials to dslodge their adversaes from the
high places of power, while advocating their own
doctrines and avoaing their own principles, now
braced themselves up for last and powerful eff TT
denied their own principles and Iurposes--rejected
ihelr own feteral errOIs-protessed the faith and
adopted the creed of Observation-Disclosures the
own champions from the field of com petition, and un
furled new banner inscribed with the honored
names of Harrison and Tyler. They "stooped to
conquer" as they said, and they conque ed If they
won the blterest victory achieved it became
through Their own attempt to perperrate the most stu
pendOus fraud ever essayed-and that through the
fundamentally of one who, equally a stranger to
thef purpose OF deception and TO every faint of dis
honor refused to be the agent of their crime albeit
he had been the organ ofthelr triumph. John T, Ter
was Republican, He was then had even been is
now Republican. The sufrages of every federalist
IN the land would avail nothing change his nature
and his character. Hence the Vetoes of Al These
official acts their attendant circumstances their con-
ing parties their influence Temporary and perman en,
upon the great interests of the counryall this is ia
mll'ar to the memory of every address -
While the indignant and frelied fires of federalism
klnded the burning eigies that "lit up clear
the path of his duty, he loud and honest plauds OF
democracy, redeemed from the bondage thus cunning
y prepared tor IT, cheered the heart and fortified the
stern resolves OF this faithful man to walk firmly in
that path lie bias pursued it with unshrnking cour
age and never-"averIng conslancy. And here, fell
low-citzens, we are constrained To ask how any
true iearied Democrat evade the obligation thus
tablshed by this great and good man How shall
his name and conduct be adequately indicated by
his country except by the defnllve and
able expression of the popular ice i'll his behalf p
How otherwise ale noble actions, such these be
recorded Tor the imitation of future states men who
may be similarly situated Shall ii lee for this mighty
people, yet in their infancy thus early to verify The
accusation, which we have held slanderous that ere
publlcs ungralefui What example will 1t be for
our children-what encouragement to brave and gen
erous and patriotic bearing if this generation of boast
ed enlightenment shall turn with Indifference and ne
eject from an exhibition of moral grandeur and unaf-
lected patriotism, which, treat 1t may, will lllu
inmate that page of uhdyng hist ~ to which IT shall
belong, with lustre sublime, resplendant and ill.,
mortal. No corrupt design-no self-nterested poicy
no venal expedienls of ours-leading to over
look the merits of these gor acions--can change
the nature ofthat bright historic record. he disgrace
of ingratltude to benefactor may belong to our
names but his deeds already written, and IN cha
racters which chnnot be blorted out.
Ii is the shame and the misfortune of our day. that
selfish and irresponsible partial organizations have
usurped the popular prerogatlve-baye obtained
cend, ncy the Will of the people, and do mpu.
IDENTITY and successfully invade the privilege and pow
ers of the ballot box itself When and where this
daring enterprise began-how il has grown and lhriy-
en-, and swollen TO It's fearful magnilude-how ii now
its nsoent front before the face Of the people,
J...r ,t..,y . o,.
all this is known to you, fellow citizens, as well and
as certainly TO The delegate system What is
l Go back to the Of the Ruckertes and let il
answer. Look at the recent proceedings of certain
Syracuse Conrention," aud note their responses =
Marx the operations of squads of politicians and cqeS
Of selfish demagogues, as IN all the cities towns and
villages of the wide land they handle The tools (which
knayes do work WITH" carry out their stratagems and
PACK their periodical conventons-and let them an
swer The delegate system A system of extended
fraud, deception and wrong in the name Of Demo.
cracy cheating the people, and making them the
whiting instruments of their own oppression Even
has il poisoned the fountains Of political life and
IS resting viii milestone weight upon the necks of the
multitude Of our countrymen Ask ye for proofs OF
this Who stled the voice Of the people as IT was
uttered in its own power, and in gadness and graft
tude in The days Of The Veioes2 Who repressed the
generous emotions of the million thankful hearts, that
poured forth then in floods the ebullItion Of their
praise Who melted the indignites of the burning
eff ies side, and who the other put out the
bon6res which proclaimed the exuant Joy of the Re-
publican for those glorious acts of deliver
1nce' II was I'm the language of party, now well
understood by all) the cold hunkersn of the respec
live and opposing factions, who equally clamorous
for the possession of place and power, and equally
interested in maintaining unimpaired the power and
Iespotism OF corrupt party machinery, cooperate
together readily TO crush and paralyze honest
statesman andsontend furiously afterwards for as
as between themselves John Tyler, for
the Constitution and the People, defeated the mon
strous engine of plumber and spoils in the shape of
National Bank. For this the yeomen of the country
delighted to do him honor-because he had protected
IT, m from the rapacity of the old hunkers" of the
Clay faction. But he was ready to save them also
from that other obnoxious measure, the famous Sub
the peculiar property Of the old hunkers Of
the Van Buren, faction, who hold in their hands the
packing machinery Of the Democratic party by means
Of which alone could they hope to revive and saddle
again UPON the backs of the people this often rejected
and condemned institution Such, fellow citizens, as
you know, has been the position of this man of
Al.