State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-31
MONTPELIER, (vT.) MAY 81, 1896.

impelled to sustain by the most powerful
and interesting considerations arising out
of the recollection who il was that held the
rens of Government of 1898. The gen
t!eman from Massachusetts has not chang
ed his principles, but the dominant party
have become converts to his doctrines and
policy. | infer that he is now engaged to
support them in all their measures; but this
is declaration feel, upon reflection,
have no right to make.
But, sir, alarming aud dangerous as
were the preteusions of the federal party in
l79S, it was less dangerous to the country
and its institutions, than the one which is
now seeking to pcrpetuate its power and
maNims. The party in power in 1913, had
the trankness and nlaniness to assume and
avow their principles. They openly pro-
claimed them, defended them with courage
and finally fell by them. But sir, the party
now in power shrink from the open avowal
of their real principles. They assume the
mask of republicans and while they prac-
tice upon some of the most odious maXirs
of the party in power in 1898, they do all
in the name of democracy and liberty.
Ifany one shall object to this discussion
because it savors of president-making il
opinion that topics directly connected with
politics of the day should be excluded from
this hall, ask him to reflect for moment
upon the fact that no subject at this day, oil
importance, does or can arise in Congress
which is not sustained or opposed, and
finally decided, upon principles and motives
which enter directly and deeply into the
presidential canvass, and ultimately decide
that issue. And, when, sir, the action OF
this House, and so great a proportion ofthe
business of the House, are dictated and
controlled by party views, and TO dcpress
or advance the prospects ofone or the other
Of the candidates for the presidency, shall
it he held improper to speak out, to avow
openly, and vndicate in debate the motives
and principles which actually govern our
votes: Sir, does not every gentleman
know that the very first business of the
session. mean the election of the princi-
pal officers of the House, and that one
especially, who is known to possess great
power and influence in shaping and direct
ING the entire business of the session-was
decided upon grounds intimately connected
with president-naking l hope l may be
permitted to refer to this part of the action
of the House without offence, since | cal
do so without the slightest feeling on my
part against any portion Of the members
who compose it. That election, sir, was
openly claimed and boosted of in the col
umns of the party press as test oil the
strength of the party attached to the inter
ests of the Vice President.
But, Mr. Chairman, it has of late become
more important than at any former perioC
in the history of the Government that this
subject Of president-making should he
taken up seriously, and made Il part of the
regular business of Congress. BY force o
that system of party organization and dis
ciplne which il now rapidly maturing ant
spreading itself over the country, it mus
soon come to pass, (if, indeed it is not nov
the easel that The election of Presiden
will determine every other question o
public policy or public interest for at lcas
four years, and perhaps eight. If this bt
so if it be true that every thing is to be
settled by the DEGREES of the party, and tina
the President, as the head of the party, i.
only the organ through which their deere,
is to be communicated TO Congress, then
appeal to you, sir, whether you tMrllamer
would not upon reflection, retract scnti
ment expressed the other day, and admi
the importance of discussing every ques
ton connected nearly or remotely with TIT
presidential election? Ircpcat that if til,
doctrine is to be established, that 10 mem
her of this House who PROCESSES 10 belon!
/ 10 the party in power can vote against
measure recommended either publicly o
privately by the President, without ncurinj
/ the imputation of deserving his party, (ant
such believe is the rigor of the new sys
tenn of party tactics in operatiun;) if what
ever the President recommends cannot b
resisted by the party who profess TO supper
him, assert that this subject of presiden
making is the first and most important tina
can and ought to occupy our attention.
the result of an election is to annihilate tn
independent power of action by Congress
aud put every Thing into the hands Of tn
President of n party, il is time not only Il
assert the right and discuss the question
here, but TO do ii promptly, freely and fully
and it shall not be my fault if it Is no
done. There is strong reason 10 belev
that the obligations of party are held s
sacred thai none who belong to the maJorit
dare 10 do any act which the Presiden
should forbid, or to fail in the support O
whatever he should recommend Have W
not lately seen the force of this obligation
to he so strong in the House, that the all
solute power of peace and of war wO
ready to he yielded up, in efleft, into tn
hands Of one man? Coming 10 this lIous
under the extraordinary party pledge
usual in popular elections of late, ] hope
will not he regarded MS improper or disrc
specttul to ask, if the President had, dnrn
the late crisis, said awe must have war,
would the party in this House have had tn
power to gainsuy it? War we must the
have had, aud the moral power was not i
this House to resist it, whatever may hav
been the private opinion of honorabl
members Of the wisdom Of such a meas
ure.
) No occasion can he more appropriat
for the discussion of the principles an
| ~ Iicns nE ll..a Cn..u,.., LaanLt ohm, ILn