The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-26
COM NJ UNICATI0 N.
TO MARTIN VAN BUREN.-No. 3.

Nr. de Witt Clinton was unanimously nominated
IS candidate for the Presidency, and that in the
fall of 1912 that you voted for electors to support
De Wit Clin,on's election. These facts being
conceded, will proceed to show what the war
party-,he great Republican party-thought OF
the position of the Clinton party. 10 90 ths'
must iurn to The Sd volume OF Niles Register
page 1873:
"VERMoNT PRESIDENTIAL NoMINATIoN.-At
a meeting of the republican members of the Lcgls-
lature of Vermont, holden at Jefferson HAIL. I'D
the State house in Montpelier, on the evening OF
the 9th day OF October, a. u. 1917 tle Ioiio"ihg
was unanimously adopted:
.And although respectable sister state has
thought proper to present, for the consideration OF
the public, different nomination, as more likely
to effect union of sentiment, to benefit CON-
merce and insure peace, yet we do believe that
those who have so long borne with aggresslons
for the sake of PEACE, are to be stgmatzed as the
ENEMIES of peace, aud that those who have moi
hestaled to encounter the dangers OF war tor the
protection and acknowledgement of COMMERCIAL
RIGHTS are to be accused of hostility to commerce
Aud as TO unity of sentiment, we have no doubt
but all those who are friendly 10 the principles
of republican government will soon be united;
much sooner than were they to listen to those
whose lust of power nothing but the slavery o.
their country can satisfy, and whose bitterness OF
SANDER no laws consistent with rational liberty
control, and by deserving old and tried friends,
furnish an American proof of The ingratltude
republics. .E
.Therejore, resolved, That under these cir.
cumstances, we feel it our incumbent duty, at the
ensuing election of first and second magistrates
of the Union, to support JAMES MADISON az
President, and ELBRIDGE GERRY as Vice
President Of the United States
"ELIIU LUCE, Chairman.
"URIEL c. HATCH, Sec'ry."
Here, then, at a meeting of l3l republican
members of the Vermont Legislature, it was
unanimously declared that MIR. Madison had
adopted all the wise means within the compass
of constitutional power to insure success in the
war in which the nation was engaged 1t was
also declared that New York had presented the
nomination of De Witt Clinton, as more likely
to ensure union of sentiment and concert Of &C.
ton, and it was clearly ntimated that this nomi-
nation sprung from those whose lust OF power
ndhing but the slavery of their country coulc
sltisfy.
What picture is this of your democracy in
1872 This is the view taken by the republican
party Of those who opposed James Madison's re.
election.
William J. Duane, editor of the Aurora, thu
distinguished advocate of Madison's reelection
remarks after an elaborate discussion of the meas
ures Of the administration. that "iunder these i'm
pressOns il was impossible for me to oppose the
administration, especially when saw those wht
supported Mr.. Clinton at the most extravagan
variance among themselves, and that there must
be sincerity or treachery in one Of the two
classes OF his advocates; in this body saw q
group more oddly consorted than the assemblage
in the ark; and between whom it would require
The revival of miracles to establish consistency
of opinion and political action; the avowed adv0-
Gates of dissolution of the Union--thc open and
unreserved enemies of the principles of represent
tauve government"
What said Thomas Richie, of the Richmond
Enquirer, of the political principles of De Wit,
Clinton. In the Enquirer, find the following
communication addressed to De Witt Clinton, un.
der the editorial head:
ITO De WITT CLINToN--SIR: As you are
candidate for the Presidency, and we know very
little about you in this part OF the world and as
it is essentially necessary that the constituent
should know the views of the candidates, we beg
leave to ask your attention to the following points
1st. Are you a friend Of the aoar, or not? 3D.
Are you friend of the non-imputation act along
with ii, or if not, do you mean to accept Of the
vote at the elections Do you consider any man
republican, as republican or as patriot acho at such
crisis this acen euery heart ought to be united against
Ms common enemy, suffers himself 10 be made a
catspaw in the hands of the Essex junto to divi lie
the nation! We ask this, especially, since we
have seen, and you must have seen, that Mr.. Otie,
lately declared IN speech at Boston, that he and
his federal friends would vote for man from New
York Ode Witt Clinton) who was opposed to an
offensive war We wish to know whether
you are opposed to the present war, or not or
whether you will silently countenance the calun,-
mics of the Essex jnnto against the administra-.
tlon!"-[See Richmond Enquirer, Aug. 81, 1912.
These views OF Mr.. Richie need no comment
They carry conviction to the mind, that the
Clinton party were in opposition to the policy of
the national administration. That these were
his impressions, no two men can doubt:
But what thought the Clinton party" in the
Legislature Of New Jersey on this prominent
measure of Mr.. Madison's administration, the
war! Onpage 179 Of the third volume of Niles
Register, we find Declaration of the Council
and General Assembly Of the State of New Jer.
sey," from which we take the following extract !:
1--WE, then, in the name of our constituents,
chosen by them on the express grounds of being
the FRIENDS OF PEACE, and mos, anxious to have
~ cr,I