Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-07-22
drew BrOadus, Mnsco arnett C. c. Griswod, (whose

United States was unconventional" "A bank of the
United States FIRST brought forward and sustained by
the federal party &c OF Mr. Tyler they say ale is
republican of the sect; his principles have been
tested and proved by the trying circumstances
With the most painful reluctance, Mr.. Willoughby
Newton, we appeal to you to confirm every word
We have charged against your party. We know your
diidence, and willingly would we spare you the pain
of testifying against your friends But you in
the Hrst instance voluntary nfnrrner, aud we must
needs have your assistance. You were one OF the
high priests of whiggery in 1910, and be pre-
sumed TO know all The mysteries. You helped TO
spread that 'net." Now don't ''cramp YOURSELF" out
speak out like man.
"On reviewing the events of the last fur years. no i'm
partial observer fail perceive that the disasters
which have beiallen the wing party, and cast blight
the prosperity OF the country, have resulted, in
great measure from the OF candor and fairness
avowing and maintaining principles, especially liz
Virginia We commenced the canvass of 1910 under
most dscousging circumstances. The wings proper
a small minority throughout the Union party
had been formed of the dscordant elements then
opposition to the administration of Mr. Van Buren,. O0r
eagerness Tor induced extend nets
TO embrace birds Of every feather. We only asked
questions of those who offered themselves allies
for the war, but convention at Richmond actu
ally rcpudated the leading principles and measures ofhe
wing party We thus entered the campaign dscordant
fighting for principle, and others Tor freedom,
and animated by but one common prncipe-ihat Of OPP
position TO the administration OF Mr.. Van Buren,. We
had long and arduous contest, and achieved what
supposed be glorious triumph But what advantages
have reaped from labors The fruits of all
tolls have turned to ashes lips; and may truly
excaim with Pyrrhus, 'One such victory, and
undone. The reachery of the present executive,
and OF OF his prominent allies derived cOunenance
and support from from wing address of 1870 And
impartial history may find difficult determine whe
Their the convention is most to be censured for lis inds
erection in putting forth such an address, those very
scrupuIous politicians for avaing themselves of
pretex for abandoning their party
If it will console you MIR. Newton, venture the
belief that impartial history Will find it half
difficult TO determine that question as you seem to
imagine.
So much of his political opinions General Har-
rson under the direction Of his committee per-
mItted to avow, rather to dssemble, before going
into the canvass of 1910 What followed is known
to the country. Their game of ''dodging" brought
the federaliss into power and proved that, like the
BOurbOns, they had ''learned nothing and forgotten
nothing" during their long exile from Office. The
hubbub of oifce-bcggars Washington killed the
infirm and worthy gentleman who had thus been
rled into the presidency, little than month.
But his official life short IL was, long enough
to enable him to unveil the base game which selfish
parlisans had been playing in his name. He called
an extra session of Congress- during which Mr.. Clay
famed IN the ascendant, and which had for Its object
10 folst upon the country at one fell swoop, the whole
system Of federal measures which, during the whole
canvass, federalism had SO carefully diSaUoced First
on the list stood great bank. This was the princi-
pal agony of The session. But the veto of Mr.
Tyler showed that, in overreaching the people, feder
alism had also Overreached ITSELF and henceorh the
President was divorced from his party. The regular
sessions came round, and brought with them n high
federal tariff, which Mr.. Rlves denounced as worse
than the tariff of lS2S-a great scheme of Land
Distrlbution-an attempted abolition of the Veto
Power-a big plan Of Internal Improvement-and as
fbp afural 10 Of Da
rupt Law to sponge out at millions upon mil
lions of debt. Never before in the history of any
country did any party shamelessy flsify all its
most solemn declarations before the people. Every
prominent federal measure studiously disavowed
in the canvass, and then with equal zeal pressed upon
the country IN Congress.
And federalism did its very best to play the same
game in the canvass of 1914. Tie same disgusting
system of bulioonery, with Slight variations,
which had been found successful IN the former can
vass of 1910, again attempted 10 be pracised on
the people. The log cabin was paraded-doggerel
verses out of the blue cover" set to popular airs.
were claned in their political synagogueS-every eff
fort, IN short was made 10 strike the grosser Senses
aud 10 divert the mind from reflection and the serious
discussion of principle. On the Texas question, the
complete Letter Writer" with pen fresh nbbed.
took the field. There the Raleigh letter Tor the
north, and the Alabama letter for the snuththe dsa-
vowal by Mr. Clay of any personal objection to an-
nexatIon" coupled with the assertion that such annex
alton ''woud be the adoption of war with Mexico
On the tariff question, the Letter Writer" had less
occasion to equivocatc. Twenty years of speeches
and votes had identified him with the policy Of PRO
lection" while in 1914 his dlsavowa of the principle
OF "prOtectOn," and bis votes for the compromise
act, were still fresh IN the minds of men. On the
bank question, hc content accept without dis
caimer, Mr. Webster's memorable declaration that
the bank-that same bank which federalism fabooed
Mr.. Tyler for veIoing in lSil-had become 'an OBJ
sOlete idea" III 1914 Bat, by this time the country
had learned to estimate Alright the political decara-
tons of the Bourbons." Men had learned that these
declarations however fresh and vigorous in u canvass,
had not vitality enough To survive a successful cleo
ton. In clecting Mr. Polk, the people showed their
wise distru>t of party, whose policy is to conceal
its issues from the people, aud whose advent to power
Is always followed by the swift Justification of all its
pledges.
And yet, plainly enough, federalism at this mo-
ment sticks to its dodge" Where, at this very
hour, the issues which, as party in opposition
II ventured TO rally upon, during the last Con-
gresS What has become of the loud CRY of s.Re-
peal" against the tariff of 1916, which was to ring
Though the country just the tariff was
enacted, and which, upon Mr.. WebSters solemn and
reiterated assurance, to resound in the Sena te
Chamber on 'thc very first day. Of the ensuing short
session What has become of the opposition to the
constitutional Treasury! What has become of the
Bank issue and of the Land Distribution policy
Federalism ''neyer mentions them now. One and
all, these cardinal points of federal policy appear to
| have gone TO the limbo of 'obsolete ideas" And
what has taken their place Opposition to the war.
This is now the ShiJJoleth of federalism And what
significance has this issue at the present moment
Is 1t meant to arraign the justice of the war! If So
1t comes too late when the is raging in the heart
of Mexico Is it meant to deny the expcdency of the
war To what Dracfical end i this whom NJ This