The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-13
PARTY sPlRIr-THE SENATE.

about the WOik Oh teioi"ii ~ 'o' - ~ ""' " -
effected by removals from office. II was a iaoo'
of love, and they reveled most luxuriously IN
the prescription which they had so eioqueniiy
denounced in the other party. Urged on ny 'he
hungry crowd at their heels. and encouraged by
the arguments and exhorlalions OF the ultra
presses, they rested neither night nor day. The
political guillo,iues established in the Treasury
and General Post Office Departments, above
all, were in state OF activity and efficiency,
which would have put patent single machine
to the blush. The question was not, how well
the work could be done, but how quickly. II
was utterly and physically impossible to have
canvassed The merits or dement's, either OF
those removed, or of those appointed One
question only could have been asked, and the
answer TO that hardly waited for.
This reform ended in the death Of the Illus
irious man upon whom the hopes Of the nation
rested. The testimony Of his physicians, that
he fell victim TO the opportunities of office
hunters will make part, and most extraordi-
nary and disgracelul part, Of the annals Of the
nation. If coroner's inquest had been held,
they must have brought in a verdict, "Died Of
office-hunters."
Such was the beginning and end of Wing re-
form, the disgrace Of which should rest upon the
leaders, and not upon the mass of the party
But as The party had made such strong and ear
nest professions of their determination TO be 60
verned by patriotic rather than party motives,
and had been so particularly indignant against
prescription for opinions sake, the contrast be-
tween practice and profession was peculiarly re-
voting. 1t was sufficient TO destroy all conf
dence in the professions Of any party, and make
political honesty jest and a by word. This brief
reign of the managers of the Wing party has
done more to deprave the party morality of the
nation than all previous party struggles and ex-
cesses. They had been looked to for an ex-
ample.
But what would have been the consequence,
if General Harrison had lived, and been COM
PEELED TO continue his reluctant acquiescence in
this system? Unqueslionably the country
would have been filled with defaulters and mis-
creams in Office. The most needy and unprin-
cped were always the most forward and inn
Fortunate, the most artiul and intriguing, and
therefore, in the press, were the first satisfied
II requires ,ime, patience and candor TO inves-
tigate the claims of an applicant for Office, or
charges against an incumbent who may be de-
nounced. But, We repeat, that the unexamped
rapidly with which business of this kind was
trans acted, made any such examination impos-
sible. We alluded, some weeks ago, 10 a MEM
Der of Congress, a friend of Mr.. Clay, who met
with misfortune. Suppose that that gentle
man had been appointed 10 some high oific -
say Collector or Postmaster in New York. The
Senate would, at simple indication of Mr..
Clay's will, have confirmed the nomination,
and the result most probable would have been
second edition of Mr.. Swartwout with improve
menrs
The country is now openly threatened with
renewal of these scenes by Mr.. Clay himself
In his speech at Lexington in April last, he de-
clared that, in the event of his election TO The
Presidency, he would feel it {" his imperative
duty to do ample justice, in the administration
of public patronage, to the great hig party
and make the most full and complete repara-
lion of the injuries done the Wing party" If
vanish on recurring to what took place at the
commencement OF General Harrsou's Presiden-
cy. OF course il is useless for the same men to
make any further professions Of hostility TO pro-
scription, and therefore all disguise is thrown
off The country now knows what to expect
Itwouid be absurd 10 expect that any admin
istra,ion coming inio power after an animated
party contest, would continue its opponents in
high or responsible offices, or appoint them to
vacancies. 1t had become an established Iue
of courtesy, though not OF right that even when
the existing administration might be in a mi
norily in the Senate, it would confirm appoint
menls to such offices, if no other objection ex-
listed than one Of party character. This cour-
,esy had served, in some degree, to moderate
the asperi,y of patty feelings.
But how has the present Senate ad
hercd to this rule IL was by the act of the
Wing leaders in Congress that Mr. Tyler was
accommodated from the party. They de-
clared AID commenced the war against him.
and gave the signal TO their followers through
out the country TO ecnounce and villify him.
They reduced him to the necessity, therefore,
either OF appointing his revilers and enemies TO
office, or verifying their accusations by con6n-
ing his appointments to the most prominent and
influential OF the opposite party, or else making
his selections from the repuled small nu nber of
his own professed supporters. As they had
chosen 10 make an enemy OF him, they mig ht at
least have extended to him the courtesy due IN
Chief Magistrate lawfully and constitulonally
at the head of the nation and administration
have given him fair chance of indicating him
self before the People.
Yet they have treated him as an outlaw who
cnnll hlvn hnncst lricnd. anL L. 49,. {