Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-01-04

/ w" w pursuance Oh u,cn Own
interests.
Blu, thi, is dealing too much in renerali,i,s for
my own interest, and is riflinc. comparatively,
WIN subject OF NEST scrions moment. I will
SP'cl'y more signal and warning instance Of
rN''nihe interference with the Legislative action
OF the House by the Prcsidcn, himself the facts in
relation 10 which can verify and make good before
the House and the Nation.
SIR, the power of the President over SINGLE
| appointment alone, comns ndcd, on this floor lhir-
lN-iNc votes at least, in favor OF one of the most
important Executive acts which ever apitated this
country or affected lis interests On no other urs-
ton Than the great Dcpositc Question If last ses-
SION, Nerly believe, and have reasons 10 know
| would, If required, make oath in support OF the
orlnIon-that the oritv of the House was de-
cidedly against The ACT of tho President, in reason
conNlciion, and conscience. But, Sir, the true
SENSE OF the Commons was stncd. The Speaker
OF The House was kept in that chair, (poinling 10
the Speakers Chan, y with an Executive promise
IN his pocket until the work of the master was fin
iShcd. There sat the Speaker, like IA cancer ON
the body polite, which ramifcd its roots 10 more
man two oi three, or two or three dozen seats ON
lhs floor. There were no less than four Chair
men OF the principle Standing Committees, with
thcir eyes OF aspiration fixed upon that HIGH place
each longing To be- successor to the incumbent ;
I .,
also on an important Committee. To say nothing
OF the subordinates ON these Committees, who no
doubt were some OF them willing To have their
Cha'rmcn respectively elected Speaker, 10 create
Il lar vacancy or themselves, II is surcl, moderate
IN calculation TO say that each of those five
dIdatcs had at least half dozen of Jealous friends
they were poor indeed if hey had not. Each
candidate looked to what is here called " ddm,n-
sfratio" r"tes, "a term which imports fxcc,i
tive interference, by the bv--to elect him, and ac-
cordin- 10 my arithmetic, Sir, the FIVE with their
SIX friends each, made thirty five votes, that accor
ding To the worth OF the prize Of the Speakers
CHAIR We're morally certain to be" administration
rotcS." Less than onc-third of that number OF
votes would, if changed from one side to the other,
have changed the vote of the House on that vital
question; and | presume that one here, Who
sees and knows what all Src and know, tan
doubt thai these tllirvhve votes, taken as tie least
possible nunler 10 be affected, we're not inlln-
cuccd by, but left free and independent Of ENecn.
tive influence By the aid of these two Offices,
The Munster 10 England and the Speaker Of the
llouS" "l Representatives, the one Executive, the
other LcgislatiSe--one of whom Gle President az
points, and the OIL er he does Hrf actually appoint
tie President, suppose, was not enabled 10
command a majority on his floor What may
not our President do in legislation when Ee has cur
y Which, loi it be understood, do not intend to
he involved in any personalities,
Tie goodman taNs dat lr" LOOKS 10 tie
voice Of The People, --Ay, sir, and do |, and
We all. lie time is now short--In tue time,
Nlr-ycl little willie longer, and that Voice shall
come UP 10 US and high places in tones Of thun
der
The gentleman saws that have denounced
the President. Denounced the President deny it
sir. Twice have supported the President for
his Office, with zeal If not ability, which might
exert itself equally ardcut again, under the same
circumstances, But, sir, nor for the President,
nor for m, self, will conceal facts and truths from
the People, when they are so poincdIy called for
both by the gentleman and the good of,hc country.
Has it 10 tins, that political truth dare no, be
told lest the President be denounced Yes, SIT,
there is IA party which makes the President" ii
scapc Goat for its sins, and which always takes
shelter under his great name. There are those
who, il thor acts be denounced always raise the
cry of" dcnunciallon against the President WHO
he's as much reason as any man know OF, 10 pray
Hud To SAVE linn from some ID ms friends. WHY
should denouncc the President in the discussion
of this question lie does NOT, hope, call for tins
resolution. For the counily's sake, ! hope he
does not desire this debasing ohscqulousness from
tins House. No patriot can ask that one depart
mcnt OF our Government shall humble hstH 10
another. Sin, hope that the gentleman himself,
fine appr,hcndcd what do from this resolution,
would withdraw ii and Spurn ii. have iLat re-
spect for linn 10 belie,e-hc knows tina, am per-
sonaly his frend--ihai II he iorcsaw tie effects
which think forcscc from this, his measure so
Illuminating 10 this House, he would abandon il at
once. h"', sir, must say, not, however in allu
SION to Inis instance, that there are too many
voluntary and eranous offerings Of iealiy and flat
tcrv made 10 the President, which must nauScate
him who is attempted TO be battered by them,
which gall the spirits of frcemen attached 10 hlm,
and which impair the spirit of tree institutions 10
which those irccmcn are still more attached. Sir,
the nndrrfings always transcend, infinitely trans
ccnd the utmost ambition Of kings themselves IN
doing honor and HOMAGE and too often are our
Presidents compelled to be answcrablc, and made
to be odlous, for the o1icousncss' Of adualion and
praise | never will halt, however, in the path OF
my duty, because the Presidcn, or his parasites
stand in my way.
The gentleman has said that he did not expect
such debate as tins to arise upon sch propo-
sition. ! should have been surprised indeed, il
no voice here had been raised agains, such propo-
si,ion. This is no small matter either III point OF
the money of the principle which is proposed to
be- sqnandcred and Frustrated and beg tine gem
tlrnan to reflect that the line OF march towards
the concentration and consolidation Of power is al
WAYS begun by short steps at first, which are grad
ually and imperceplibly stretched INTO vast and fast
strides Fastening onwards to the certain and tear
in end of dcSpolism!