The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-12

K termed the bane Of Republics. II is the rock
against which all free governments, in ancient
or modern times, have been successfully dashed
to pieces; and therefore the last and most earn
EST warnings the parting exhorlalions, of the
Father Of his Country, were intended to guard
sd1e People against the insidious and fatal pro-
agress Of that spirit, and the ingenious and end
less devices by which il endeavors to lure them
10 destruction.
II is almost vain we fear, to indulge the ex
peclation that our country and form Of Govern-
ment will escape what seems general and in
eyitable doom; but the interregnum which has
for some time existed in the fury ofparly spirit,
seems so specially sent by Providence to recall
the People to calm and sober reflection, that
it is the duty of every sincere friend of his coun-
try to improve the opportunity to the utmost.
N The fullest latitude should no doubt be al
lowed to peaceable opposition TO any admins
tration, and TO liberty of speech on subjects of
national concern and with respect to public men.
4 But the People themselves, if they value their
liberties, should be constantly on the alert to de-
8tect and punish by their scorn, that embittered
land prejudiced opposition which is founded
merely on private, or even party reasons, and
which cannot justify itself by pointing to some
tangible and well defined national grievance.
& And is not such almost exclusively the char
lacter Of the opposition TO the present Executive
land Administration Does it not spring
almost wholly from the restrained and BAT
4 fed fury of malignant party spirit? What
i is there in the condition of the country
r. ,bo I'd eolapon
which are making by the leaders OF the two
% greatn parties against each other their mutual
cries for vengeance, and their common execra-
lions against the man who has given them no
other cause for their animosly than that he in
terposed to save the People from the effects of
their reckless passions
n The actual and improving prosperity of the
nation is such as could not subsist under an in
Competent or corrupt Administraton-or if it
could, then there is no danger in incompetent
and corrupt Administrations. What public or
national evil is there existing, which the mana
gers of either party can make plain TO the eyes
Of the People, and offer a means of remov-
ing?
The cry, from one side, is that National
Pank is wanting TO complete the public pros
nrty And this while committee of plumber
ed stockholders is still engaged in investigating
the stupendous frauds of the old one, the COM
mon robber of all mankind, which has done
more, directly and indirectly, TO tarnish the fair
fame of our country than all our naval victories
have done 10 brighten il. 1t is pretended that
the People are signing for another Institution of
this kind, and the necessity of it is insisted on
in the face of the fact, which no one dares deny,
that al no period since the foundation Of our
Government, has the currency of the country
been in sounder condition, as respects the pro-
portion between paper and specie, nor yet mo-
ney so abundant, and the interest of it so low.
The chief ground of complaint against the
last Administration was the disorders in the cur
rency and exchanges. This is now almost en-
tireIy removed, even with respect TO the ex-
changes. In the year 1929. during the height Of
the prosperity and power of the Bank, the ex
change between New York and ST. Louis was
tbree-fourhs of one per cent: in 1886 it was
seven per cent; il is now one per cent
! Another cry against the last Administration
was the prevalence Of party spirit: the Presi
dent, it was urged, was the President of party,
and NOT of the nation. Yet now, the leader of
the party which appeared to feel that grievance
so deeply, sneers at the present Executive, and
makes him standing topic of villifcation, be-
cause he is ga President without partyp Can
the5weakness Of poor human nature be guilty of
a gfeater inconsistency
Another charge against the late Adminisira-
ZION was the number and extent of defalcations
among public officers. Such things might hap
pen occasionally and accidentally TO any AID
ministration. For instance, one of Mr.. Clay's
particular and active friends, member of Con-
gress, whom we believe he was DESTROYS to
have placed in a high office after General Har-
rison's Inauguration a few months afterwards
was tried, convicted, and sent to the New York
State prison for forgery. Yet, so far, the pre-
sent Administration has been peculiarly free
even from such accidents. Shall it receive no
credit for the exemption? We have daily evil
dences of the malignant and unjust character
of the opposition to President Tyler, even from
men who pretend to think that he is not worth
opposing, but who are secretly in dread lest the
People themselves should spring to his rescue
as faithful servant Less than a fortnight ago
a venerable member of the House of Represen.
understandable at least for his age and the
high station which he has occupied-deliberate-
" charged the Executive with design to pre-
cpate the country into a war with Great Bri-
tain, and made that the pretence for assault
ing the estimates for the Naval service
A few days afterwards, a grave Sena-
tor rises in the presence of that body,
and prefers an accusation, which, if true, ought
TO be Immediately made the foundation of an
impeachment that the Executive designs to
conclude disgraceful treaty with Great Britain,
nd surrender a norton Of our territory under