The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-03
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. VAN BUREN,.

Mr.. BROwNsoN, the great Democratic writer,
at Boston, thus characteristics the despotic Jaco-
bin Club, which manages the Yam Buren, par
ty, and seeks TO control the Democratic party |:
43efshness thus, becomes tims-seyper seeks not
for truth and justice, but for what is popular asks
not What is right but simply, What will the People
say? II has no opinion fits own. II runs athwart
no popular prejudice treads on none of the Peoples
corns; is no,s-commtal all points on which the
public mind has not declared tse and is tolerant to
all incpent errors, for they may become popular TO-
morrow. II sprudent, sleek, decorous. Ii has no
rough edges no angular points, and thrusts its elbow
into no mans ribs. Its face has settled SMILE and
it. voice is SOFT gentle, insinuating. 1t is calm, dis
passionate, mild, deliberate. 1t is free from rage
IRON hurry, and bdes its time If it fails to-day
will succeed tomorrow. sThe sober second thought
of the people, will set all righ-and place ii at the
top Of The tdddsr.'
Well may the writer add-'We draw here no
fancy sketch We are, nnhappily, painting from the
iiie.'
'This system, if we have rightly learned it, and we
have learned from the intimate personal associates
oe distinguished man rhO is Il present its most brilliant
representative, Is 10 substance this: In Republican
Government every thing must be done by means of
party Our first effort, therefore, must be to get and
to keep, our party IN the majority. We must never
oppose any measure likely TO throw it, to keep it
in the minority. Having determined that all
is to be done by and through party and that our pri-
mary duty to labor for the organization and
dency of our party, the next thing to be insisted on
IS, hdelty to the party and strict adherence TO its
usage--the surrender Of all individual opinions, con-
vlctons and preferences to the decision of the party
which decision, be it understood is always TO be ef-
feced by the aforesaid politicians who have hold of
the crank This throws the whole business into the
hands OF central committees and deprves the great
mass oil citizens Of all free voice in the determination
of measures or in the selection of candidates To
keep the ranks OF the party full to proven members
from breaking away and asserting their independence,
appeals are made to the lowest and most corrupt
passions of the human heart. The individual who
shows himself little uneasy, disposed to kick at
the party traces, must be denounced, thrown over,
and declared TO be enemy, and no longer entitled
to the confidence of the party. Thus men must be
kept in the party, and faithful to its usages decisions
and nominations, not by attachment to its principles
and measures, but through fear that if they assert
their independence, they will lose their share Of the
,poils.'"
Mr.. Brownson then goes directly at Mr. Van
Buren,:
"And here, We must be permitted to say, is strong
reason why the American PEG, lie should Pause and
deliberate long, before eevatng Mr. Van Buren, to
the high Office from which, in 1910, they SO indig-
nantly elected him. 1t canno, be denied that Mr..
Van Buren, is the most conspicuous represe attire Of this
system Of parry management IN this country. The Vs.
tenn itself has been perfected and to no inconsiderable
extent, was founded by him and his near immediate
political associates. He is intimately connected widh
i' ores toit all the political Iteration he has er1
oeired and relies on aone for his restoration 10 Ae Pre-
sidency lie has no hope but in its influence, his res
toraiion would, therefore, be direct saacon Of the
system by the American people, and 60 far to~ards
fastening it upon the country beyond the reach Of f-
N vic, of tba casa cla
ton OF Mr. Van Buren,, whatever his personal worth
would be dangerous precedent, and most serious
public calamy."
In speaking Of Mr.. Van Buren's defeat in 1910,
Mr.. Brownson says:
Consideratu men, who stood by Mr. Van Bucn
and made no inconsd, rabe sacrifices TO sustain him,
ielt that all was not lost nay, that the gain might
possibly, ln the long run, oberbaance the loss Mr..
Van Buren,, they felt out of The ,cay and the in
Itself was no triting gam. Hope slring up afresh,
and, ia tie buoyancy of their hearts they were dis
posed To treat Ia with al tenderness to tread light
ly on his faults, 10 forget the injuries he inflicted
ne kei u01can cause, and to magnify, much as
possible, his virtues and ubic services. But
the r,-appearaDce 4 Mr. Van Buren, on the stage
changes he whole aspect Of affairs. He comes MT
alone hut as the chief of la a. which the country
had devouty hoped, dispersed never to be col
lrcrd again lie comes a. The represenfdtir f the
same old corrupt and foupting system Of party tactics
Jofioiotd og ne same Scnm Of gre dy Yoitsnen, ruth their
pe for undcr Ssapened bu The far years abdinrno,
they hare been orc d. through he mans Of The original
virtue and patriotism Of The country, 10 Jrocse. Grot,-
bs wishes restore hn, Ia place he personally
socitlng and we loose all iha was good IN The de-
I,a OF the Republican party IN 1910 and retain only
toe EVIL; we restore, What with almost unheord
II effort, the County, had thrown %, and pace The
Repuh lean parry in the cond ton in which Il must be
dtfeafed again, or the counhybe inertaby ruined"