Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-08-18


came TO preside" all acknowledges" and if, In any
material instance, you remained ignorant, you were
less than many whose pursuit OF information
had been less diligent At the meeting of the Nine
teepth Congress- twas papable to the cursoy OBJ
that much of the talent of the Senate, and more
of It's passions, would be arrayed against the existing
administration: That for the first time in this country,
the experiment would be tried of opposition 10 men,
without regard to measures: That some ground would
be immediately chosen, OH which eNaCerbated feel
ings and bafled political specu!aons were 10 encamp:
That organizing principle would be applied 10 the
Chaos of heterogeneous factions aud conflicting ne-
And in consequence of the peculiar condition of
the world especially tle yet unxed relations between
Europe and South America and the effect of their ad
justment on the United States, that important
suggestions of foreign policy must proceed from the Elk
ecutive; which, sciatcrer might &c their character;
would be selected as rallying point for the predeter-
mined Opposition Such expectations were universal
and unrcscrvedly expressed, that il required no wi
Yards wand to designate the position which almost
every Senator would assume.
In this crisis o! novelty and anxiety, what would have
been the conduct of friend Of his country who had
been elevated the second dignity in the Gift of the
People, Ii lie had opposed those pretensons TO the
Presidency which finally prevailed, he would ncverthe-
less, have said with the HON you rancorously
prosecuted, "ct the tree be Judged by its uiin and
have involved in no unnecessary preliminary cmbar-
rassInen, the submitted by the President for
Legislative examination. Such would have been a pa
trios course; but il was not yours The Vice President
of the United States By People preside ov er
the Senate, took the chair of office, after the Senate
had under temporary cncums ances cdded 10 its Con
stitutionai character, the power of appointing the
Standing Committees, II the selection OF the Com.
mttee on Foreign Relations, the principle of ena-
bling the Administration Ito develop, fully and fairly its
foreign policy, seemed your perversc understanding
leaning con the side of powern you ought at least TO
have avoided the odum which you incur red by seeking
this Committee, almost exclusively, in the ranks of op-
position Yet, entirely aware that the sentiments of
only OF the five Senators whom preferred favor
able to the Administration whose would form
the subject of their Report; that had opposed the
nomination TO the principal scat in the cabinet, of CT
tiZen whose ftnes for il ble aud not
questioned by themselves even, and had thus indicated
that settled hostility 10 men, which would make hie hy
Improbable candid treatment of their measures;
aware that two others represented States wh m pre-
fcrred and alleged prefer still, rejected candidate
Tor the Presidency whose disappointment, and his
nartisans, severe and vindcve that of these
Senator'S supposed sympathise warmly in this
senmen and the other TO dissent from il: Estimating
all these particulars, you MISUNDERSTANDING organized
Committee wirh, from its very elements would, you well
knew, asen the slightest petcxt Of thwailng
tempt the Administration measures the
consideration OF the Senate And VIVA, is Onsio,es
apology? Why, "hat the venerable and patriotic Macon
'aced thu head the Committee, who has
been chosen president pro tenn of tie Senate Surely
Sir, respect for the feelings this patriare
Senator ought TO have deferred you from the sinua ou
which tie suspect al bitter irony, that I've WAS
quaihed by either abilities or knowledge, for the chair
which you placed him. Entertaining for Trim the venera-
ton that age, integrity, and long continued enea TO
the public always PROCURE even when UNIFIED with
narrowness OF mind which education enlarge,
covered by csaton of preu,lices experience
remove, will agree you should cIe re-
proach, 10y exposing him riticue. In appointing the
Committee Oh Foreign Relations, you perfectly knew tina,
Mr. Aaco"s iabos in would seldom accia
tory concurrence in such proceedings luminosity the
administration might stimulate ii atont. Who pcneG
the Report the Panama Mission: Was il The "ven-
cradle and patriotic chairman? No! it was a memhe. o.
the COMMITTEE, whose hatred Of the President and Sec
rotary oi State had been ayowed; whose abilities were
indeed, ola high order, but for nothing makabo
than for the faculty of obscurng the distinction between
truth and error; whose moral sense perverted
estimate discussions on the weigest national
only combats of intellectual agility aud who
fore earnest III proportion as he wrong. To
these pejudces habi,ues committed the tins, Of
reporting important recommendation, issuing from
an Executive who had come into Office under circurs,a-
Cos emitting him to candid if LIBERAL treatment, from
his adyersoTies, What the result? A measure, of
which shall now say only. that it emphaiically pup
uar, subjected to the operations of pracsrd sop
who delighted as much in ioIiuiug truth angler in
mpalng worm, and then offered Senate all
the odium with which one-sded and ingen ysis
could Cypress 1t. This result. you must, unless wfuly
blind. have foreseen; and therefore, in organizing the
Committee produce you intended every rule
induction with which am acquainted to trammeI unfair
Iy the Administration and by rendering it, if possible,
popular Hnline promo the selfish designs which
have ascribcd
But, Sir, the Committee Foreign Relations is no, the
only one, though IL has been convenient for you
present the accusaon in appointing which, charged you
Win impropficy TO say nothing of your emitting Mr..
Licy'i, OF Massachusetts, from the Naval Committee of
which he had. TO the complete satsfa of the ruic
oeeh previously ChaIimaD amt oil the substitution him
Of Nv Hayne, of South Caron, Jealous partisan of the
Opposition You placed on The Committee of Finance
Messrs. Smith, Berren Holmes, TIayne (agan,) and
Woodbury. whom four were also Of that political dcs
cfptiOn On tie Committee Indian Affairs, rich
the delicate sujti Of the Georgia treaty would
be referred Mrssrs Benton, White King, Edwards aud
Cobb; of whom Mr. Edwards only friendly the Ad.
mnistTaion the remaining four lis decided advers
RES aud OF these the Chairman, who had solemn
y exchanged his hatred of General Jarkson for hatred
Ct the Administration equally deadly but less venial be-
luleut. tiutf
the calculating spirit of party. The Judiciary committee
was composed OF Messs Van Buren,, Holmes owcn, Ber-
rIen and Mills, and contained only Senator gentle
nar admit with pleasure of eminent abilities who was
not decided III opposition. Tie Chairman might, you
knew. be safely relied w,e Recommendation OF the
Executive was intangible by argument, to assa i! with
all the s"biley and science Of educated political Jug
Gicr.
!; thus appears that each cf four highly important
standing committees, namely, those Fortjgn Rt59ioas
ftHdHcr, Ldian .lgairs, and the JudctarY, you placed
OILY single Senator who hostile the Admins
raion. Could this haze beer chance, ..a the ia
Tents, experience and virtue ~ the Senate ranks Of