Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-04-10
REMARKS OF MR.. McDUFF1E,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

OF SOUTH CAhoLiNh3
In the House of Representatives, on the Sd and
4th of April, 1ss4-on the Resolutions sub
mitted by the Committee of Ways and Means,
relative to the public deposltes.
Mr. McDIJFEIE said, in opening the debate
nm this great question, | expressed the opinion
that the President of the U. >. had perpetrated
an act of usurpation under circumstances Vi M
;ustice and oppression which warranted me IN
saving that the s'rights of widows and orphans
had been trampled in the dust by the loot OF a
tvrant.n The honorable gentleman from len
nessee who sits before me- (Mr. PoLK,) ana TO
whose honorable bearing, (said Mr.. McDUFFIE)
shall always be proud to bear testimony, In lhe
reply which he made on that occasion, was
pleased to complain that had made TINS grave
charge against the President OF the Y. b, ano
seeming to regard it as self evident, had not
condescended to offer any argument to sustain
il Sir. | am not disposed to deny that the no.
norable gentleman had very sufficient grounds
for his criticism, though confess myself utterly
alta loss to perceive any just grounds Tor MS
COMPLAINT. If / failed to establish the charge,
either by the facts or by the argument, that fail
ure must have redounded to the advantage OF
the distinguished parsonage against whom the
accusation was made. Be that as it may, now
propose to supply this desideratum in my form
er remarks-lirst asking leave of the House TO
make few words in explanation OF the course
then deemed it my duty to pursue
Before ! left home in the autumn, saw, or
thought saw decisive indications of design
on the part of the Executive branch OF the Go
vernment to assume postionin relation TO the
source and extent Of its powers utterly subver-
sve of all the limitations of the Constitution,
and absolutely fatal to the public liberty. And
it was in reference to this apprehension, ana
with view of ascertaining whether or not 1t
was well founded, that my opening remarks
| n pOthinO
| lowed the expression, tn skirmlshlng attack
| of the advanced guard upon the outposts OF the
adversary-having it in view to compel that ad-
| versary TO come out form his entr enchments, eX-
pose his position, and from his line of battle IN
the open field. And must be permitted to say,
| that, however those remarks may have failed IN
| their other purposes they have been emlnently
successful in this, their principal design.
| The honorable member from Tennessee,
whom. must be excused for calling the COM
mander-in chief of the forces OF the admlnistra-
ton, in this House, did come out, and boldly and
manfully assumed his position; and whatever
military critics may say Of the generalshlp dis
play ed by that honorable gentleman sir, for one
SHALL always be ready to bear testimony that the
position which he assumed was the only one he
| could assume without leaving uncovered the
very point which it was his duty to defend. But
after having maintained that position with a
gaIlantry and skill, in my humble opinion, Wor
| thy of better cause, he found himself driven
back, his line broken, and his forces disorgan-
led Under these circumstances, prudently
availing himself Of signal of retreat sound
ed from Pennsylvania, he retired very quietly
behind his entertainments, under cover OF the
previous question, to try, no doubt, what rem
forcement could be gained from hope, ii not
what resolution from despair"
And now, sir, having rallied and re-organized
his broken forces, repaired his broken armour,
and obtained such additional supplies OF ammu-
milton and of arms as could be procured from
his magazines and arsenals, he has again come
out into the open fied, -but not, be II remarked
| to resume the position he was compelled to
abandon-but to form an entirely new line OF
battle. upon totally different ground, artfully IN
terposing what he no doubt deems an lmpassl-
BILE obstacle,-the Bank Of the United States, be-
tween the President Of the United States, and
the offended majesty ofthe Constitution and the
laws.
But my honorable friend from Georgia (Mr
WmDE) has met the tactics of the honorable
gentleman from Tennessee with movement
Of corresponding skill, that will compel him to
resume his original position unless ne should
again deem that discretion is the better part oil
valor" and retire behind his entertainments as
he did BEFORE and under similar protection.
But, sir, ask pardon for using this military fl
CURE in these piping times of peace" and es-
pecaliy under that pacific star, which now
rules the ascendant.
shall now proceed to execute the purpose al
ready indicated by attempting to supply the de-
ficiencyin my former remarks, which the honora,
bic gentleman from Tennessee was so kind as to
point out. Sir have read history with someatten-
ton and for the last two or three years my mind
has been irresistably carried by the downward
tendency and mnous signs of the times, to those
portions ofthe history ofnations which trace their
progress in the rapid descent from the enjoy
ment of free institutions to the endurance of de-
spotc forms of government. And after survey
ing the whole field which history presents, cover
ed with monumental beacons inscribed with les
sons of wisdom-if nations would learn
wisdom from experience, venture to make the
assertion that there is no instance in the history
of any civilized government Of modern times in
which the progress of usurpation has been more
rapid bold, ingenious, and successful than it has
been in these United States for the last fifteen
months. Sir, the last of the Tarquins was hurl-
ed from the throne of his ancestors; the first OF
Caesars was slain in the Roman Senate Charles
the first of England, and Louis the sixteenth Of
France, were severally condemned and execut-
ed; all under the charge, with different specif-
cations of having subverted the fundamental
laws, and conspired to usurp the supreme pow