The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-08-20
TO MY FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE
UNION.

The reasons which influenced me in accept
ing The nomination for the Presidency, made
by Convention Of my friends 10 May last, III
Baltimore, have lost much Of their original force.
had been not only most violently assalled oy
the Ultrssts of both parties. but had been
threatened with impeachment for having neso-
tiated Treaty proposing the annexation OF
Texas 10 the Union, as a portion of It's terri
tory, and for having adopted precautionary mea
sures, clearly falling within the range OF Execu-
tive discretion, TO ward of any blow which
might have been seriously aimed at the peace
and safety Of the country in the event oil the
ratification Of the Treaty by tue Senate. The
opinion Of person, once ranked amongst the
distinguished jurisls of the country, found Its
way into the newspapers. apparently as the
precursor Of such proceeding A report had
also been made, at a previous session OF Con-
gress, by a committee of the House Of Repre-
sen,alives, which proceeded from the pen OF
man who filed no limited space in the eye OF
the world ia whch-because Of the exercise OF
the Veto power in arrest OF the unconstitutional
and pernicious measures of United States
Bank, and donation 10 the States OF so much
of the public revenue as was derived from the
public lands, at moment Of great embarrass-
ment to the Treasury, and when loans were ne
cessary to sustain the Governmental was
charged with the commission of grave offences
in the above particulars, and with deserving all
the pains and disgrace flowing from the high
power of impeachment, measure, as 1t was in-
timated, only not resorted TO by the House be-
cause OF doubt entertained whether the pro-
ceedng would be sustained by public sentiment.
had, it is true, protested against that report as
originating in wrong, and dictated by party
rancor and malevolence, but my Protest was
refused place on the journals Of the House,
and thus, in future times, my name might have
been furnished by The fact of a solemn decla-
ration, highly duplicating my character, remain
ing uncontradicted and unreversed on the public
journals. The party majority which had
sanctioned a proceeding so unjust had,
it is true, been swept out Of existence by
the elections which shortly afterwards fol-
lowed but, AT the time of my accept
ance Of the nomination, although a large and
overwhelming majority Of the opposite party
had been brought into power by the People, as
If for the express purpose OF sustaining me IN
what had done, we, that very party had made
no public movement indicative of a friendly
feeling, and portion Of its members, who
seemed to control the rest, exhibited the bitter
est hostility, aud the most unrelenting spirit OF
opposition. Under these circumstances, there
was but one course left to me consistent with
honor, which was, TO maintain my position un-
moved by threats, and unntlmidsted by denun-
Citations. Those of my coun,ymen, who had
come to my support, had done so in seli-sacri-
fciug spirit, without the indulgence of any other
expectation than that my character should be
indicated, and that the policy of my Admins
traton should be sustained and | felt that II
would better become me 10 abide the most signal
defeat than to incur the disgrace OF depreca,Ing
the action Of apariy, the chief object of whose
leaders seemed to be to iasteD upon me disgrace.
| had also an lndstncl hope, that the great ques-
tion of the annexation Of Texas might, in some
degree, be controlled by the position occupied.
These motives induced my acceptance Of the
nomination made by my friends; Before the close
Of The session Of Congress, however, develop
ments were so clearly and distinctly made as 10
the threatened impeachment, that no traSr OF
such q measure was lett. Mr.. J. G. Adams's re-
port, duplicating my motives and conduct in my
Vetoes of the Bank and other bills was depriv-
ed of all Of its force and furtive effect, by a Re
port made by committee, of which Mr. Ellis,
Of New York, was Chairman, accompanied by
resolutions, which passed the House OF Repre-
aentatives some few DAYS before the close of the
se,sion by a large and commanding majority
not only rescping my motives from all imputa-
ton, but jus,ifying and unfolding my policy
The voice of the People in the elections of 1912
was thus directly responded to by that of then
Representatives, and but lirtle remained for me
personally, either to expect or desire. Since the
adjournment of Congress the language OF many
of the leading presses Of the country, and reso-
lutions adopted by large assemblages Of the Peo-
pie in their primary meetings, have still fur
Their endorsed the proceedings Of the House
in appreciation of the acts of the Administra-
ton. could not however, look exclusive
ly to my own wishes, which would have
led me Immediately to retire from con-
test which seemed no longer to be possessed Of
an object worthy Of much further attention.
But was not at liberty to do so without first
consulting with such ofmy most prominent aud
steadfast friends as could most readily confer
with; men who had shared with me in much
of the abuse which | had encountered, and
would partially have participated in all the OBJ