The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-19
A GREAT EVIL.

One Of the greatest evils in politics, and one
which il j. to be hoped the new President will
be enabled 10 reform, is the habit Of devsing
schemes for the future advantages they may
confer upon their projectors, who are most gen
orally neglected. Of the necessities Of the pre-
sent. Even before a newly elected Chief Ma
gistrate shall have gone through with the forms
Of his induction into office, we invariably OBJ
serve certain aspirants, of both political parties,
casting about for the means to secure the sue
cession. The present is always TO be barren
interregnum for the People; while TO the future
is allotted all the fruits Of great craftsmanship
and wise legislation. In Short the politicians
are ever striving exclusively for their own ag-
grandizement, to the neglect and detriment Of
the welfare Of the People.
If law could be made prohibiting the slight
est agitation Of the claims of any il AZ
who may desire to become candidate a
Presidency, until the beginning of the u ~, q
which the election is to be held, we VENT NJ
say that the People would not only be incal r.
bly, the gamers by ii, but that we would als
have men of ability and merit at the head of 4
Government. In such case, our public me. u
would be honestly intent upon achieving bene-
fits for the country, so that their names might
be remembered when the time arrived for a new
selection 10 be made. But under the existing
state Of things, the case is exactly reversed.
The query is, what will such man do if elect
ed7 And the habit is for the asprant to make
promises and pledges! Thus it is that the poor
People are ever overlooked for the moment al
candidate is elected, the struggle among the
ambitious aspirants is to convert the promse,-
future into another present, and TO look forwarf,
for themselves. .. IN
Fortunately President has at length be@.y
elected, who made no promises and peds.,,
aud upon whom the Office was imposed, I'M
sought by him. 1t remains TO be seen whether
he will permit his Administration to be appro-
priated for the use and behoof Of those who
may desire to succeed him, TO the exclusion Of
the just demands and palpabe interests Of the
People. From all the indications which have
so far come under the observation of OWNERS in
politics, since his election, it would seem TO be
the prevalent impression, that he intends TO
look neither TO the right hand nor to the left,
neither backwards nor forwards, TO aid or obge
any friend who may desire to succeed him, pro-
vided such assistance or obligation, shall in the
slightest degree detract from the just claims of
the People, or be in any manner in derogation
Of the obvious dictates of high official duty.
The People do not confer the office of Presi-
dent upon any individual, that he may transmit
il, like royal diadem, to any particular one of
his friends. IL is conferred for his present use,
for their collective benefit A President has no
right to direct the influence of his office in favor
Of a successor nor should his influence be
magn6ed, BY virtue of his Office, particle be-
yond that of any private individual Of equal vir-
tue and intelligence, in the selection Of a sue
cessor. If these self-evident truths were only
regarded by our political leaders, our Presiden-
tal ncumbents would doubtless be spared many
aunoyances growing out of cruel acts required Of
them, for the future benefit Of others.
But it is matter of unmingled congratula-
ton that President has at length been elected,
without being indebted to any particular faction
or section, or the leaders of factions or sections
for his success. His nomination was an i'm.
promptu decision Of the immediate representa-
tves of the People, and his election was the
prompt and effectual triumph Of their power
over the machinatiops of politicians by profess
sion Not only all the strong leaders Of the op- |
position, bur some Of his own party, we've sverse
TO his success, and did all they could TO defes,
him, Such result we are quite sure be will