The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-01-28 00:00:00, page 3

in America. W hoever attends coolly
to their present proceedings, will soon
be able to appreciate its Sterling value.
’I he greatest portion of that time which
should be devoted to cool deliberation
for the nation’s good, is consumed in
party and personal recrimination ; in re
flections upon the administration, or ir
ritating sarcasms upon each other. Let
the following be taken as an example.
IWu Sloan is one of the most flaming
patriots (Duane himself not excepted)
in the United States. lie is the uni
form admirer and eulogist of the admi
nistration, and is supposed to stand as
high in their confidence as any other
man. Mr. Lyon is also a flaming pa
triot.; but of another kidney. He is
vvhut is called a Quid : that is, a man
v ho pretends to be loo honest to follow'
an% pai ty, but w hose honesty is in fact
so suspicious, that no party deems it
worth paying 1 or. I hese two sterling
patriots, frar nobile frat rum, as Mr.
Kandoiph says, have lately made an ex
traordinary display of patriotism.—
Which is entitled to the laurel, let the
reader judge.
v^n the Glh inst. a bill to continue the
augmented salaries of the Secretaries
and other officers, was called up. Mr.
Randolph moved to postpone the bill,
c contended that unless our prospects
rc changed, the salaries of the officers
ought not to be augmented. H insisted
that when the exigencies of the nation
t.eic such, that (lie merchant was bro’t
to the verge of bankruptcy, and the far
tnei s produce Mas iottmg upon his
hands, tho e persons m ho had long lived
ii] on the national tr asury, ouglit not to
be exempt from the general calamity.
Livermore supported the motion,
and adduced similar arguments.
INii. oioan made some observations
on lie subject, in which he took occasion
!? * 7 r°!Jate lllc l,,nguage of Messrs.
Kandclph and Livermore, lie said it
m as disgraceful to Americans, and if
l-.ngland was allowed to have deputies
<*n that floor, he knew not any language
and arguments they could use, better
calculated to further her interests and
designs.
“ All. Lyon said he intended to vote
lor the bill on the Speakei’s table, and
against the postponement; and he would
have hit Jt merely for his vote to have
annou.K - d his opinion, had not expres
sions he considered indecorous, fallen
hont the gentleman from New-Jersey.
, That gentleman tells us, that if the Bri
tish minister was to send members to
this house, he could not be better served
than he now was. This is a repetition
ot that knock-him-down argument,“Bri
tish influence —an argument made use
of in this house with closed doors. I did
not lail to notice it then. That gentle
man talks about his indignation. I feel
indignant, sir, on this occasion—my in
dication rises, to see the minority in a
certain question, told that their mouths
are to be stopped by this all-powerful
cry ol “British influence.” I despise it;
it cannot attach to me, sir; but I detest
this brow-beating course of procedure,
because it is at war with that freedom
of opinion which every member of this
house is entitled to and has a right ^o '
enjoy. I detest it, because through i{ a
deadly blow is aimed at freedom of de
bate in this house—at freedom of action.
It seems that, for fear of this weapon
called u British influence” being hurled
at us, \vre are to shelter ourselves under
the cloak of the majority on every occa
sion. Gentlemen are to look out sharp
to see which way the majority are going,
as, if they should be mistaken they are
! to be lashed. For such a state of things
I am not prepared—nor will I patientlv
submit to it. I have no reason to think
in.ii. any member ot this house is any
more under British influence than the
gentleman from New-Jersey. I am sure
there is not one gentleman in the house,
but what understands the course he is
steering, and the course he ought to
Steer, as well if not better than that gen
tleman. It may be very proper for him
to follow what leader he pleases—in that
I will never contend with him. Beloi t
I sit down, sir, let me recommend to
that gentlemen to give us no more of
this kind of insolence—it will not by me
be received from him.
u Mr. Sloan said the gentleman from
Kentucky was mistaken, if by loud talk,
big words, or threatening looks, he tho’t
he could prevent him from disclosing
bis sentiments on that floor in any lan
guage he thought proper to use. He
denied that he had said any member of
that house was under British influence,
and explained at some length what he
had said.
u Mr. Lyon.—I will take the liberty
to tell the gentleman from Ncw-Jersev,
that if I did not repeat every word he
said in the exact order in which he said
them, I well understood him—I could
not misunderstand lum ; and I will re
peat, sir, that I do not consider that gen- *
tleman before any other in this house, on
the score of patriotism and sound judg
ment. I am not at all surprised to hear
the gentleman say, that he will not pro
fit by the gentle admonition he has just
received. I know too well how to ap
preciate his understanding, to expect *
the admonition would have much effect
on him ; but I still expect that it will
have some effect on those who have in
flated him on this occasion. It is well
known this gentleman has several hobby
horses, which he rides, sometimes in
tin n at other times a few gentlemen on
one side or the other, mount him on to
one or the other of them, as accident, or
their humour, or his, happens to con
spire. Sometimes he is mounted on ttr
the vice-presidency, and that serves him
for a palfrey to tilt about upon, to the '
very great amusement of his quondam
friends. Sometimes he strides the ca- *
pitol, and rides that about the house,
whispering loud about the removal of
the seat of government, while his hear
ers turn their backs to laugh, or pretend
something else has affected them, for
fear of spoiling the fun. It seems, sir,
this day he has been mounted on a po
ney no way wise—a poney called “Bri
tish influence.” This hobby horse, I
imagine, will not carry him along so
safely and quietly as the others
“[Here the Speaker interrupted Mr.
Lyon, and he sat down.J
jur. sioan said, in the observations
lie had made, he had no allusion to the
gentleman from Kentucky. He was not
replying to him, and the only observation
he had now to make was, that if the gen
tleman thought the cap fitted him,3 he
was welcome to wear it—he should not
pull it off.
“ 1 o this Mr. Lyon loudly replied,
I'liat cap can never be made to Jit mtf
head.'*
Such is the language used on the floor
of the national legislature, when a thick
gloom overspreads us ; when “shadows,
clouds and darkness rest upon us.”—*
Have we not just cause to fie alarmed,
when We find our dearest interests in
the hands of men capable of thus dis
gracing the legislative functions ; thus
degrading Congress hall, with alterca
tions unbecoming a gin-shop or a but
cher’s stall ? Yi t we ought not to be
surprised. A Butcher and the Keener
of a dram-shop, must each indulge his
vulgar propensities! no matter to what