Litchfield enquirer., 1837-11-30
From the Courier and Enquirer.

We give below the testimony of the Hon. Richard Fletcher of Boston, one of the two Whg members of Mr.Cambreleng's committee of Ways and Means. It is isextraced from his recent speech at Faneui Ha and certainly makes some astounding disclosures. From this speech learn that the entire legislation of the last session dictated by the Executive-that all the bills of that session came from the Executive word for word-comma for comma; that these bills were adopted by the committee wifhout examination and then carried through the House by the force of numbers! What kind of legislation is this? What voice have the people in the making of their laws What popular interest is consulted in framing them What ht has such assembly to the title of the re- o the PeSpe They shoad De Ss.'eS the Crown-ficnds of Preregative-the Kings Own -any thing and every thing but representation of their real constituencies.
 During the session, the business projects upon which the House were called to act, came almost en-
 rely from the committee on Ways and Menns.-- There are nine members of that committee, only two of whom understood to be opposed to the general like to know the manner in which the business was arranged for the House. l will tell you the Ways the Means you will see in due time. You doubtless suppose that this committee of Ways and Means has some duty to do-some ways to devse-some means to find outsomc plans to originate and mature for the action of the House. The committee, you imagine, be done for the benefit of the country; consult ogeh to the best and lay the result of their deliberations before the House. lsthis your idea, MT Tr sidcn? Is this what you think, fellow citizens? If it is am sorry inform you that you labor under . very great mistake. I once entertained the same ideas; but soon fonnd my error. No such thing sir
 no such ,LIS ins cnain,a', Of the committee the President. the Secretary of the Treasury, snch bills as they wish to have passed by the House. The chairman puts the bills into his pockettakes them to the committee; without any examination, the major- y of the committee approve them; the minority can do nothing; the bills are presented to the House, and received as the doings of the committee; ,,
 "l aver to you that every important bill passed by the House, came to the House reddy drdcn, from the Executive. The Representatives are mere machines Every measure is an Execntive measure: mean by tho Eyecutve, the President and heads 0f depart. ments the cabinet. They originate every thing. put every thing into the precise shape they wisb wsrd for word, letter for letter, comm for comma, and the Ex ecutive majority in the House pass each bill forth with, without alteration, and so far depends upon them, without debate. just as comes from their mas ters at the White House
 "I had keoM of Executive dictation-of Executive usurpaton- Ey ecutive patronage. thought had something of it; but till visited the seat of gov ernment had TO conception of its true nature or its be concenrat ton of power in the hands of the Execu tive! l see in 1t most alarming danger-threaten- ing, fearfuy threatening the liberties Of the country as which fellow citizens, we do not overthrow 1t, most assur cdly it will crush md in crushing us in crushing the people, it will crush liberty, will crush the cons- tuition!
 "A resolution was introduced into the House from the committee on Ways and Means, declaring that it lS lneXpeuIenI 10 Cnarter a NduOu0l b0nk. Ou may feel some interest to know how that resolution was got up. will tell yOa You Avl recolect that there were only two opposition members on the committee The majority would do nothing for the people, and the minority could do nohng-exceptt to report the dongs Of their masters in the committee, and the House to their masters, the pe0pEe-and this at easf for one am resolved i0do. Very many petitions, from almost all the States, sent into Congress for the estal lshment of National Bank. These petitions as they were presented, by mutual understanding, were re. ferred, to the committee of Wsys and Means; and suffered to lie the table till the whole should come in when, wns supposed, they were to be taken up and considered So the matter stood, when the last day but one, which that committee sat, the chair man, without preface or explanation, introduced the above resolution. IL opposed by one opposition | member-the othev being ahsent-and the chairman yet lay on the table, but the majority passed the reso luiion without opening or reading one of ihem. Tho resolution was sent in, and bv help O the previous question was forced through the House. No doubt can De ensartained tlat this resolution came down from the Executive in the precise form in winch it passed. Here w1s c great, and most Innnlioid out Inge. on tho liberties of the citizens. Al least they have tho right to petition, they have no other and yet i limo ef the gTesis.i sIxiey, when lt vas ol the mo.s vialimpogance hat tho views Of the people shoad be eommnnlcated to their TepFeeen'sives here vas syoeeaslnl attempt the paF oi tho Executive 70 ou! o thi4 peFe0uEe, Co prevent tla volco oi the people tl1m b4lHa heard te erect barrier between she peopie and iliaiF eonaiiinsnis."
 The Nsw.oslssns PIoayuas says .llsEo Is an old whle-headed RendsssFpt asg, of eanlus, living lF ibe lever paFt Of inc city, wlo keeps ana ada on. hundred and eighty daeB. Ile hes laFae hvok hous. loF IkelF especial use. What Ae does wl.h off thesl . A