The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-08
TO THE PUBLIC.


In assuming the duties and responsibilities of
conducting Democratic paper at the seat of
our National Government. few words of ex-
PLANTATION as to the principles and policy by
which it will be governed, may not be consider
ed improper, or unnecessary.
In Constitutional Republican Government
like ours, the remedy, the peaceful, just and
efficient remedy for all political evils, is in the
hands of the People. They make the Govern
ment-from their consent, all lis just powers are
derived and when that consent is directed by
MIND, universally educated and intelligent then,
and not till then, is there effectual and perma-
nent security for either the Stale or the People.
We assume The position that intelligence is
the life of Liberty that an ignorant People
cannon long continue a FREE People; thus be-
lievng, the conductors of this paper will devote
their best energies to the diffusion Of useful
knowledge and TO the cause of universal educa-
lion; it is with them a question of paramount
and ai-connolling importance, and no effort
shall be wanting on their part to awaken the
public mind to a sense Of the imperative obliga-
ton which exists, of educating every child 10
the land. Ii is measure which we believe TO
be indispensably necessary to the perpetuity of
our free institutions, and its earnest advocacy
will constitute an important feature in the fu-
ture character of our journal
The conductors of the new paper about to be
established here, having long been connected
with the public press, in different sections of the
Union, full knowledge Of their capacity and
fitness for the undertaking in which they are
about to engage, is already with the People of
themselves they take leave to say, that the prin-
cipes of the Democratic faith, which with them
have passed the ordeal of years of thought and
study, have daily grown clearer and stronger,-I
more permanently rooted in the mind and
heart-and the paper they are about to publish,
is but the continuation of an effort, to which
the best years of their whole lives have been
devoted. For the future, then, they have the
highest satisfaction in appealing to the past
for that they have neither explanations TO make,
nor apologies to offer.
we consider government, in this country at
least, as designed TO be the agent of the popular
will;-that 1t was intended always to be the SER
want of the People; never their master, nor
their benefactor; that being Instituted for the
equal benefit and projection of all it has no spe-
ciai privileges to confer on any that the protec-
ton it affords should be general, not partial
universal, not specialization, not discrimins-
ting; to all individuals, not to classes and dis
tnctive interests; and that whenever it conlers
special privilege, special protection, on any in
dividual, or class of individuals, it becomes an
UsURPER, producing positive wrong and injustice
TO society. All the protection we should ask
from Government, is protection against IawIess
aggression not against fair and honorable com
petition.
We have high and revered authority for say
ing, "there are no necessary evils in Govern
ment." Whatever political or social wrongs
the People suffer, result from ignorance, or from
a departure from the plain and practical princi- ,
pies we have already presented We shall, $
therefore, feelmperatively called upon to oppose
unequal laws which confer SPECIAL PRIVILEGES q
with our undivided strength. We shall insist I
upon an absolute and unconditional Abandonment !,
oil all inequality in legislation--he repeal of all /
avs sancuoning oppressive monopolies, and the 2
practical dlsapprobalion of all usages which up
hold usurpations of political power Il
Maintaining these great doctrines, promulga- !,
ed by JEFFERSON and practised by JACKSON, r,
We are fully prepared to defend them at all risks o.
Ind at every hazard. They are interviewer <
With every fibre Of our hearts, and we shall de- V,
'ote our best energies in their universal diffusion Of
Ind APPRECIATION. 81
Thus far we have spoken, and 1T create Iii,