The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-24
THE ULTRAIsM OF THE DAY,
NAVY DEPARTMENT, July %, ls4i.

THE ULTRAlSM OF 1HE DAY.
The fell spirit of dsorganzation has never assum
ed in this country more hdeous, we had almost
said. more terrific form than in the present times
II seems animated now more than ever with great
infusion Of the principle of violent revolution IL
breathes freely the desire for destruction Lake
Ate, il rushes over the land with devouring rage.
We purpose to dwell for few moments upon the
principles and the tactics proiessed and promoted by
some Of the leaders Of the so-called Whig party,
that the People may reflect upon the great evils ne
cessarily consequent upon their establishment and
complete success
The greatest error in the principles of this party
is confirmed disbelief in the capacity Of the popu-
lar mind, and the results Of the popular understand
ing 1t s error, productive IN ITS unreasonable
indulgence, Of much crime. doubt Of the People,
want of confidence in the Masses is the worst soil
10 which the mind OF the politician can take root
II he will not trust the popular feeling, he rashy en-
braces every method prevent its expression
Hence ensue fraudulent elections, gross bribery, un
haliowed attempts at compulsion-and sometimes
even physical contentious For the who fail in
sitting the audible and manly enunciation of the null
titudnous voice. go step still further, and more dan
gerous and endeavor to neutralize forcibly its
generating influence.
I'VE recall to mind the session Of the 9Th
Congress, and deliberate upon the feelings then and
there manifested, and their unavoidable tendencies,
we shall And apt illustration of the preceding OBJ
servations. That session, most unnecessary and I'M
polite was forced upon the country, forced upon the
Cabinet of General Harrison, by the imperlous will,
the iron energy of one individual, who was deter
mined to use the casual majority he found suhser-
Went to his wishes in furtherance of diseased ambi
tous views. SO confident did he feel of the reaiiza
ton of his hopes, by the exercise of the power he
would WELD that Congress, that during the last
session of the Goth Congress- be had arranged most
satisfactorily the plan of his operations, and had ap-
pointed the agents ~ whom they were to be carried
out He strutied in the consciousness OF his strength
he pumed himself upon his irresistible influence, aad
he boosted Of his attached and unhesting followers
And when early in the session, his party were ex-
changing congratulations upon their triumphant ma
iores, and gliding their hopes with the glories of
meridian power in all the abandonment Of sympathe-
tic Joy, with arrogant and exultant voice he ex-
claimed we were told, "By - this Is my thunder
and will use it for my purposes" The Recording
Angel shed tear upon the oath as he registered 1t
in the book Of fate and there il still stands, and will
forever stand record Of the vanity of human fore
sight and the worthlessness of human power.
We might descant at large upon the method by
which reluctant Assem-, was finally eNtorted from
the dominant party, to the proposition of extra
sesson-the fears of some, the passions Of others,
and the hopes of many by subtle management were
all enlisted Il is a well known fact, that the mode
rate and best advised Of the party objected to its
pediency. 1t is equally well known that General
Harrison, for time, strongly opposed its call -
But he, though man, too, of some nerve, quailed
before superior energy.
To some Of our readers IL may be qualification TO
be informed Of the peculiar agency, the mode of
proceeding, through and by which a olution TO
advise an extra session was successfully maured-
The whole legislation of the Wings "since their adj
vent" in its inception, progress, and final consumma-
ton, but too faithfully portrays the imminent dam
gers to be spprehended from the noxious extrava-
gance Of party madness. We will describe the man
ner In which the extra session was called typical
Of the events which accompanied and have followed
IL. We read in history that Catalina on the eve Of
the maturity Of his plans for firing Rome, and laying
waste his country, gave grand entertainment to all
the advocates Of his cause. And because he knew
some were timorous, some ukewarm, and few de-
sirous Of escape from his tolls, he obtained OF
them, while under the influence Of strong slim
ulants, pledges Of allegiance, in form and inten-
ton alike horrible lie would not trust the sound
reason OF his associates, and, therefore, de-
baucbod their mind. through ingorous means for an
ingIorious purpose. The modern conspirstor at
tempted, with equal success, the same coup d'etst
and from similar motives Of disappointed, unholy
ambition. At a house Of entertainment well known
to the frequsnters Of the Avenue, a certain night
towards the close Of the 2eth Congress- select num-
Der OF the influential few were assembled "There
was a sound Of revelryn that night, and midnight
shout loud and bosierous m,rth penetrated the air
the rsfters Of the building cracked with shr,ks OF
laughter with the noise Of stamping feet, with the
heavy blows Of canes and sharp ringing Of glasses
The rsvel was prolonged far into the morning Ir
the very midst of their abandonment, at the YER,
height Of foolisbness, when the mirth and fun wer,
fast and furious, and all parties we're thinking who
thought at ALL OF toasts, and healths Of songs apc
sentiments the leader Of the band the arch-conspi
rstor, seizng moment, odiciously improved h,
thought suspicious with his goblet filed to Tho
brim, and, after few words to excite strong feel
ioxs, to stimulate rash purposes, to rouse and in
flame, with s,entorian voice, and bacohanalisn ges
ture shouted to all the revelers the extra session
without denial and a, every cost and amid veil,
xrosps, and ali the customary sounds Of too Ions
protr,cted merry-msking "the extra session. wa,
carried
Some, since that fatal night have recovered their
drusged senses but, alas never self-approvinp
cooscisnce. Even at such time, and under such
circumstances, few had the hardihood to oppose
aud, particularly was II noted, the dark lowering
brow Of man hung the scene like urid
thunder cloud
The leading measures Of the extra session ON the