Criticizing President James Madison's Policies
Digital History ID 250

Author:   Columbian Centinel
Date:1812

Annotation:

A Boston newspaper editorializes against Madison's war policy.

Document:

The Prospect Before Us

The Madisonian interest is daily decreasing like a rope of sand, while the friends of Peace, Commerce and Liberty in all quarters are hourly rising like a pyramid of granite. Facts are stubborn things.

A gentleman lately from a tour through the eastern part of Massachusetts (Maine) gives the following result of his observation: Every thing wears the aspect of decay and grief. It is truly melancholy to see the dismantled state of the shipping; to view the ruin of the merchants--the poverty of the mechanics. No business, except here and there in the refitting of some paltry privateer. This state of inactivity and wretchedness has already greatly injured good morals, those guardian angels of order and happiness. Now are the baneful effects of the unjust and unnecessary War confined to the seaboard. The country is equally impoverished. No...sale for their lumber, and other products. Without money or credit, and generally in debt for the necessaries of life--and the prospects of harvest very scant. A land, or other heavy taxes (which must be laid) to support an unpopular War, is only necessary to complete their ruin! But amid this darksome gloom there is a light coming forth, thank God! which cheers the heart of despondency--the light of Truth and Justice;--and whilst a Federalism is stretching forth her renovating hand, Democracy is "vanishing into air, thin air." The voice of the People will continue to be loud and deep; and the War-Makers be whelmed in confusion and contempt.

Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute

Additional information: Columbia Centinel, September 5, 1812