The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-05
From the Richmond Enquirer
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

With all his sagaety the abest man is a very blind
animal. LANDS he can measure-terms and tides
presage'-but IN most other respects, he is as blind
as a mole. lie calculate the motions Of the lar
gest bodies 10 the Heavens. lie can foresee Eolip-
ses OF the Sun and Moon. He can even sometimes
pfognosticate the courses Of the erratc Comet-but
he Cannot foresee the political movements Of his own
species In most Of their most important elements.
Upon the results Of the late election for instance,
the wsest Of has been unable see scarce beyond
his nose.
View the landscape, as Il appeared this time twelve
months ago. The Wings sure Of the election
Of Mr.. Cay He had just been To New Orleans
where he had addressed his sangune followers, and
assured them that the signs bright and almost
decisive IN every quarter Of the Heavens. lie was
about to commence his grand Southern electoneerng
tour to make assurance doubly sure. All his friends
sympathized with his feelings. They believed the
election was decided, and that he only wanted the
forms Of the Constitution, 10 declare him the Presi.
dent OF the United States On the other side Of the
picture, behold the Democrats divided among various
candidates-Buchanan, Cass, Johnson, all had warm
decided friends. In Virginia, the struggle going
on with great spirit between the friends of Van Blu
rem and Calhoun. But look aoa and you little
" Lone Star" gimmering ieebly on the verge Of the
horizon. Many regard it-but is able to esti-
mate the irresistible influence, which, as it wheels
on IN its solitary course IT is destined to exert upon
the election, and, IN fact, almost to control it.
Trace Mr. Clay on his mad and electioneering Ca
reer. be arrives at Raleigh in April be has
reached an important point IN his journey, which,
Rousseau says of Pyrrhus, was only conducting him
to that unfortunate tile which destroyed his life
Beware, sir, Of that slaIred question which is to be
your rum Take not the advice Of the unforuna nate
councillors who are thronglng around you from Vir-
gina and Washington. He listens not to the arm
ing of Truth He writes that ominous letter which is
TO prove his Iun. be has in evil hour, and
rary to his own solemn Professions 10 his speech of
1920, touched the spring which puts into motion the
tremendous machinery that is crush all bis pros-
poets. The Mercury (Green) bears his celebrated
ann-Ie1as Raleigh letter TO his anxious friends al
Washington. They as blind as himself send it
FORTH and it returns, like curses upon his own devo
ted head. In vain he struggles against it, la vain
he has sought 10 prcpitiae the abolition vote In vain
does he then write letter after letter first to remove
the impressions IN the South and then To revive them
in the North-the mischief IS done and the rising
hurricane drives his barque to pieces upon the shores
OF Texas.
On the other hand, far more eminent and cooler
statesman writes of the ablest documents of the
age He demonstrates, in letters of light the const-
tuionahty ofthe acquisition of Texas but unfortu-
nately hesiiaes about the prac liability of its inme-
date annexation. The same irresistible influence
operates upon his destiny, and at Baltimore, where
| Mr. Clay was but a few days before taken w amid
the acclamatIons of the Wing Convention as their
candidate, only to be defeated, he (Mr. Van Buren,, }
worthy of better fate, superseded by another in
dvidual, taken up without his knowledge, without
even expecting 1t, and, it were from tne bosom OF
the people We shall not paint the violent struggles
which ensued, the shock OF the contendng hosts; we
shall not describe the blindness and idolatry and n
uation of the Wings who had not the courage TO
change their leader, but followed him like will o-,he-
wisp through all his blunders. We shall not pursue
them through all their arts, through all their foes
through all their humbugs through oil the infamous
lriCks, and amid all the thick darkness which obscured
their vision. Nor shall we describe the glorious
| 81 .V,rIa fl ~
t. principle, their contempt of numbugs and their un-
fnching devotion to the fortunes of The Lone Star
The esuits of The last teelvemonlhs events are
written in tie proceedings of this day. Who could
have torsseen them twelve months ago' Who among
the sons Of highly gifted as prophet as
place this 4th day of March lS45; and who is
This day to be honored by The list Office in be world
Memorable day. SHIFT the scene to Washington on this
remaik sble occasion. What do We see, Only on
Friday last the "Lone Star" of Texas has assembled
10 the zenith, and unltes in all her glory with the
American constellation. On the very next day
Saturday the LIST of March, two other new States
Iowa and Florida, rise, like sisters to the rank
and dignity OF fdll members of this glorious confede
racy Of t,ceny-nine States And now on this day
behold the further consequences of the powerful will
of free people Behold that immense mulriune who
are crowdng the in front of the Eastern Porico
of the Capitol of the Union. Behold that brilliant
procession which fills the Avenue bearing to the plat
form OF the Capitol the modest, unassumng and able
man, whom the people have drawn from his retire
ment TO place at the head Of the nation. No one now
asks, "Who is James X. Pokin The oath Of Office
he is now taxing from the lips of the Chief Justice of
the United States declare him be the President
His friend and colleague al his side is Just installed
Vice President of the United States
Behold, then, the sublime lesson which IL TINS
taught by fee government and an enlightened peo-
pie "lt you wish TO be happy, be free people Re-
pudiate all hereditary, pampered monarchs whose
majesty when stripped of ITS externasis but "a iesf-
aud choose your own rulers for yourselves Let that
choice be determined by principle and reason not by
humbugs and appeals the and let the evens
Of this day, which consign distinguished citizen
TO the retirement of Ashland and raise another (but
modest fellow czen) TO the w bite House at Wash.
ngton, teach all future asprants that noble ends are
only 10 be attained by noble means"