The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-04-06

Extract from the speech of Mr.. Benton
of Missouri, in the Senate of the United
States, on the expunging resolution:
"President Jackson has done more for the
human race than the whole tribe of hack
politicians put together, and shall he remain
stigmatlzed and condemned for the most
glorious action of his life Z The bare at
tempt 10 stigmatize Mr.. Jefferson was not
merely expuuged, but cut out from the jour
nal SO that no trace of it remains npon
the Senate records The designs are the
same in both cases; but the aggravations
are inexpressibly greater in the case of
President Jackson. Referring to the jour
nails of the House of Representatives for the
character of the attempt against President
Jefferson, and the reasons for repulsing it,
and it is seen that the attempt was to GRIM
MATE MR.. JEFFERSON, AND TO
CHARGE HIM UPON THE JOUR
NAILS WITH A VIOLATION OF THE
LAWS; AND THAT THIS ATTEMT
WAS MADE AT A TIME, AND UN-
DER CIRCUMSTANCES, INSID-
IOUSLY CALCULATED TO EXCITE
UNJUST SUSPICION IN THE MINDS
OF THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE
CHIEF MAGISTRATE.-Such was pre-
cisely the character of the charge; and the
effect of the charge against President Jack
son, with the difference only that the pro-
ceeding against President Jackson was ten
thousand times more revolving and aggra-
tated; commencing rs it did in the Bank,
carried on by violent political party, pros
ecuted TO sentence and condemnation, and
calculated, if believed, to destroy the Pres
ident, to change the administration, and to
put an end to popular representative gov
ernment. Yes, sir, to put an end TO elec-
tive and representative government For
what are all the attacks upon President
Jackson's administration but attacks upon
the people who elect and re-elect him, who
approve his administration, and by approx
ing, make it their own! TO condemn such
a President, thus supported, is to condemn
the people, to condemn the elective princi-
pie of our Government, and to establish the
favorite dogma of the monarchists, that the
people are incapable of self-government,
and will surrender themselves as collard
slaves into the hands of military chieftains.
Great are the services which President
Jackson has rendered his country. As a
General he has extended her frontiers, saved
city, and carried her renown to the high
est pitch of glory. His civil administration
has rivalled and transcended his warlike ex-
ploits. Indemnities procured from the
great powers of Europe for spoliatons COM
mitted on our citizens under former admin
istrations, and which, by former admins
trations were reclaimed in vain; peace and
friendship with the whole world, aud, what
is more, the respect of the whole world, the
character Of our America exalted in Eu-
rope, so exalted, that the American citizen
treading the continent of Europe, and con-
templating the sudden and great elevation
of the national character, might feel as if he
himself was an hundred feet high. At home
we behold brilliant and grateful scene (;
the public debt paid taxes reduced-the
gold currency restored, the southern States
released from a useless and dangerous pop
ulation,--all disturbing questions settlcd,-
gigantic moneyed institution repulsed in
its march to the conquest of the Govern
,nent,--thc highest prosperity attained
and the Hero Patriot now crowning the list
Of his glorious services by covering his
country with the panoply Of defence, and
concentrating bis measures for the restor-
ntion and preservation of the currency OF
the cons,itu, ion. We have had brilliant
and prosperous administrations /; but that OF
President Jackson eclipses, surpasses, and
casts into the shade, all that have preceded
it, Aud is he to be branded stigmatizcd,
condemned, unjnsily and untruly condemn