The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-01-11
PARTY SPIRIT.

Party spirit has been justly and proverbialIy
termed the bane Of Republics. II is the rock
against which all free governments, in ancient
or modern times, have been successfully dashed
10 pieces; and therefore the last and most earn
es, warnings, the parting exhor,s.ions, OF the
Father of his Country, were intended 10 guard
the People against the insidious and fatal pro-
gress 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-
pec,a,ion that our country and form of Govern
meni will escape what seems general and In
evitable doom but the interregnurn which has
for some time existed in the fury party spirit,
seems SO specially sent by Providence TO recall
the People TO calm and sober reflection, that
il is the duty of every sincere friend of his coun-
Try to improve the opportunity to the utmost
The fuIles, latitude should no doubt be al
lowed to peaceabs opposition to any admins
,ration, and TO liberty of speech ON subjects Of
national concern and with respect to public men,
But the People themselves, If they value their
liberties should be constantly on the alert to de-
tect and punish by their scorn, that embittered
and prejudiced opposition which is founded
merely on private, or even party reasons, and
which cannot justify itself by pointing TO some
tangible aud well defined national grievance '
And is not such almost exclusively the char
acter Of the opposition to the present Executive
aud Administration Does il not spring
almost wholly from the restrained and baf-
fed fury Of q malignant party spirit2 What
is there in the condition of the country
10 justify the deadly and solemn preparations
which are making by the leaders Of the two
"great" 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 luminosity than that he in
1erposed to save the People from the effects Of
their reckless passions al
The actual and improving prosperity Of the
nation is such as could not subsist under an in
competent or corrupt. Administration--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, aud offer a sure means Of remov-
ing?
The cry, from one side, is that National
Bank is wanting to complete the public pros
perity And this while a 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, 10 tarnish the fair
fame of our country, than all our naval victories
have done to 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 at no period since the foundation Of our
Government, has the currency Of the country
been in sounder condition, 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 Administra ton was the disorders in the
rency and exchanges. This is now almost en-
airely removed, even with respect TO the ex-
changes. In The year 1929, during the height of
1he prosperity and power of the Bank, the ex-
change between New York and ST. Louis was
three-fourhs Of one per cent: in 1896 II 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, il was urged, was the President OF a party
and not of the nation. YET now, the leader ol
the party which appeared to feel that grievance
so deeply, sneers al the present Executive, and
makes him standing topic Of villification, be
cause he is ga President without partyw Can
the weakness of poor human nature be guilty Of
greater inconsistency
Another charge against The late Adminisira
ton was the number and exteat Of defalcations
among public officers. Such things might hap
pen occasionally and accidentally to any Ad
ministralion. For instance, one Of Mr. Clay.
particular and active friends, member of Con
gress, whom we believe he was DESTROYS tc
have placed in high Office after General Har
risou's Inauguration, a few months afterward.
was tried, convicted, and sent TO the New YorI
State prison for forgery. Yet. so far, the pre-
sent Administration has been peculiarly IRE.
even from such accidents. Shall il receive nj
credit for the exemption? We have daily evi
dences Of the malignant and unjust characte
of the opposition to President Tyler, even from
men who pretend to think that he is not wortl
opposing, but who are secretly in dread lest th'
People themselves should spring TO his rescu
asa faithful servant Less than fortnight ag
venerable member of the House Of Represen
understandable AT least for his age and tn
high station which he has occupied--deliberate
ly charged the Executive with design to pre-
cipitate the country into a war with Great Bri
tain, and made that the pretence for assault,
A few days afterwards. a grave Sens
TOR rises in the presence Of that body