Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-02
N6ctoag oesU Sga JoSw~
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH Q, 1851.
u See First Page of Daily Paper, for New Adj
vertsements, Ship News, SC.


Mr.. TYLER.-We ask attention to a sketch in an,
other column, of this gentlenan's Speech in defence
OF Mr. Tazewcll's motion to eXpunge the appropria-
ton 10 the Turkish mssion-a sketch which is evil
IDENTIFY very imperfect, but which seems TO show the
general character of his argument.
The high and disintci ested stand taken by Messrs
Tazewel and Tyler on this OCCASION is worthy ofthe
Old Commonwealth, which has ever postponed in
iercst TO the honorable but sometimes unprot able
and sometimes thankess duty, of protecting the Con-
stitution in its purity, and imposing restrictions on
lawless power. 1t has been our misfortune not al
ways to agree with Virginia in her construction Of
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to think her righteous
over much, in her Constitutional relision-but we
bow i'll admiring Difference to the Roman spirit which
has ever erected itself against encroachment and
which, when her voice omnpotent to command
dsdained to profit from the power, and preferred to
remain in honest poverty to enrich and adorn herself
at the expense Of the Constitution.
Contrast the conduct of Tazewen and TYLER on
this occasion, with that of others-wth that of Mr.
Van Buren,, the counsellor of the Turkish mission
whose shoes worn when lie assailed Mr.. Adams on
of the mission to Panama, he may be wearing
still-wilh that of Berrien, Eaton and Branch, all
whom were scandalized at the stretch of power in
accepting the invitation to Panama, without the con.
currence of the Sena' e--with that of the ''econd
Jefferson himself, who came TO save and rescue the
Constitution from violence-we say, contrast the
conduct of Tazewell and Tyler, with that Of these
men, grasplng the very power they denounced only
four years ago-and let every citizen of Virginia
feel honest pride in the devotion TO principle OBJ
served by her representation.
When the Panama question deeply agitated the
Country-when Van Buren,, Berrien, Eaton and
Branch were representing it audacous exercise
of unlawful power-when the Hero at the Hermitage
condoling with them the violation of the Con
stitution by MIR Adams-when the Indignation of the
country was invoked to hur Messrs Adams and Clay
from power for the very acceptance Of the invitation
To Panama-could any man in his senses. have posi-
bly, imagined, that i'll four years thereafter, these
identical persons, then in authority, would assume
precisely the same lawless power, commit precisely
the violation of the Constitution? Could it
have entered into the imagination of man. that apos-
tacy fragrant, crgiversaion ffoptless, be
found on the face fthe earth much less among men
clothed with the character of Senators? Yet so it
The Panama affair, has not only been acted over
again, but exceeded.
u a correspondent of the Charleston Courier,
makes the following assertions in regard TO the Gen.
eral Post office. Can there be a greater reflection
on the character Of the Govern: ent than its per-
hitting the direct charges of abuse and corruption
against the General Post Office to go unnvestIgaied:
And not only permitting them to remain uninvesti-
gated, but throwing every possible obstacle in the
way of enquiry? What is such conduct but an adj
mission in fact that something is rotten in Denmark
that enquiry would lead to the detection Of corrupt
practices, damning the administration under which
they occurred, and which winks at them, by smoth-
ering fair and full investigation. What vas NJ
Gruudy's resolution, excluding the testimony of per
sons formerly connected with the Post Office but the
expression of fear that such persons could tell more
than it was convenient for The administration to bt
known? Was not the Committee competent 10 iudg
Of the credibiIity Of Witnesses Why tho sudden ant
arkablc declension in the revenue the Genera
Post office Immediately aft the retireucnt of Judg
McLean2
IF we mistake MOI, there gentlemen of hgl
respectfully in this State who know something o
the corrupt practices alluded to- A subservient ma
jorty having defeated the enquiry demanded BY pub
lie opinion, and the grave character Of the impnta
tons, we hope they will advance, and declar
what they know, that at the next session of Con
gess, when that body will have sufficient time, abus
may be ferrced out and neither station nor the sar
ccdotal habit protect corruption from exposure.
Correspondence Of the Charleston Courier
"WAsHISGTON Frs II
There is doubt in tbs place, that abuses Of the mo
Joss character exist IN the Post Office Department Il Ina
bccm shown that il the first fifteen months Of the Adnnis,r7
ton of the present Head Of the Department. loss orupwau
OF Sl5OO0O had oCcuCd rather dimnutou the ru
OF the Department 70 that II said that this was eau
ed by the brides given ayore Contractors and avorr
fosimasteI 1T hoped aud expected that report Of son
knd wa be made by the Select Committee previous to Il
'eImnaon OF the present Congress II the majority shou
make report favorable to the administration of the DeUaT
Wei, mere IS no doubt that neutrality-suspicious. by
me majority IN talent-wil make counter reDort which II
peoPe lar near viii have Opportunity 10 pese Noihr
iIner required than candid and dspassonatc ezaminac
OF the two to ensuc such Judgment as viii sustain II
minority Tor nothing can he stronger than the facts which ha
been submitted to them as the materials for eliminating r.
port Every effort has been made and every cxc1 -onr
ICES 10 be made, by the Head Of the Department IN er,
the inquiry, and to throw difficulty in the vga7 Of those VII
are the minority IN the COMMITTEE
TIE DISCLOSURE. Con. Jackson mas beo