The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-05-05
Dinner 10 Mr.. PeytOn,

In reply to Concentration addressed to the
sion Bale PeytOn, inviting him to par,ake of 4
Pubic Dinner to be given in williamsboro, at
such tune as be mig designate, the following was
received.
Naibash, Maria is, 1887.
GENTLEMEN: Al the ,ins received your
tnVTlahos, while at " ashington, 10 attend Public
Dinner. In Wilhamsboro'. incessant engagements
OF business prevented mo from making a suitable
reply. la retiring from the Congress OF The L.
ni,ee States, as have done, nothing could be more
grateful TO my feelings Than the appreciation of the
wise and the good. But, gentlemen, this rich, this
only reward which shoule be courted BY those who
prefer what they believe to be their eountry's good,
TO their own ease, or advancement, is much en-
HANGED on The present occasion, IN my estimation,
oy the reflection that il is an honor Il wish could
feel consciousness of having achieved any thing
worthy of ~ voluntarily bestowed, coming warm
from The hearts OF the descendants OF those Heroes
whose valor won our liberties; those sages whose
wisdom framed our once veneraied and now viola
red Constitution am proud TO be thus hailed at
your ancient Borough, by that unsdulteraied spirit
which fired the bosoms of = noble ancestry, and
which burned. and swelled, and spread, consuming
every Ses,ge Of Tyranny, and extirpaling the very
roots and germs OF servllity and base submission
W la"itss power. ltnp4ofe YOU ds you NeueFate
your sires, as you love your country, you esti-
mate your own liberties and the freedom of your
children to cherish those hallowed feeings-to 70
vert often to this Nations birthday, and remember
The spirit of divinity which then moved over the
people. Compare IL with the sickenlng c0rFap-
riogs the highhanded startling surpgfioRs OF this
Degenerate day. and ask yourselves soemnly and
toberly, ifthere is not much cause--not for despair
nor dssponasney-we should nersr despair OF the
Republic, so long there remains one fragment,
OF the wreck upon which to build our hopes--but
for that united setioa, that eternal rigi!GRee a.
moRgst all who love their country more than The
sp0is Of IFS Offices, which the price of safety and
of liberty. Look sround-survey the scene -
What an iron tyranHg the country has Just passed
under9 What corrupt desp0iism still avail il ,
Corruption Is 10 perpetuate, what Tyranny Great.
cd How came Martin Van Buren,, Chief Magis
trate Of the Nation Andrew Jackson SAID let
him be President, and he was President. How is
this creature of anotheIs will TO maintain his au-
ihorIiy2 by the patronage of the Federal Go
vernmeni; with the millions which are wrung
from the hard earnings of the people, will he pay
his legions, perpetuate his sway, and appoint his
successor If the American people continue dead
TO Their dearest Interests. PATRIck IlENaY, in the
inspiration OF his eloquence, did not conceive of
those rapid strides towards Monarchy, which |
have witnessed in the last two years of nv brief
public life | have seen party, to which once
Belonged President, once supported, aud upon
whom was placed my proudest hopes of all that
was pure and patriotic, faIsy the brightest expec.
tstions o. friends verify the worst predictions Of
enemies, and violate pledges solemnly given to the
country. have seen party, one of whose car.
dlnal maxlms was, that the patronage Of the Fed.
eral Government should not be brought in conflict
with the freedom Of Elections" acquissce Ia, and
claim for the President, the night to qppoiat his
successor. have seen Administration which
came INTO power upon the principles of reform, e.
economy, and strict accountability OF Public OH.
GERS, increase the expenditures from 6ftefa to t.ir.
fy-tlco mlllions-foster corruption in every DEPART
nent of the Government ID for long time re.
fuse inquiry into alleged abuses, and, at last. al,
tempt TO STIFF II, BY the appointment OF Commit
tees composed Of SIR to three against investigation.
] have seen the President Of the United States re.
Duke the House OF Representatives. for daring to
constitute such Committee Of inquiry into Execu
tive abuse, and the doors Of the Executive depart
rneut bolted and 5arrsG against Select Committee
Of the House Of Representative, while ar Execu
tive order issued, directing that obnoxious
members Of Congress should be made 10 swear to
Their Speeches, delivered on the floor, under the
Executive denunclsl0n Of being cGlumniators if
ihey CD not and OF perpetrating perarg If they
dId s@ear TO the truth Of charges which they had
made THIS have seen and ielt for was forced
10 submit to this engine Of Executive torture, and
sealed my belief wlih an oath. for which an pre.
pared 10 answer before my God and my country
And at the time this fatal blow was aimed al III.
freedom Of debate upon the floor &c Congress, the
President denied TO the Repreer ives OF the pco
pie the right Of lnqaflng Into alleged abuses and
claimed tor the heads Of his departments the same
Tlghl TO withhold that evidence against themselves
which the public 1rchires he, public property oil
the people, would furnish which feLon has 10 con
esaI has own eoaseioasnes Of guilt. have seen
the revenues Of tie country used a. a fund of no.
euniary speculation and political corruption IN the
hands Of Executive Officers, while vast Surplus
was refused, f0f the most patriotic and useful our
poses have seen The President assuming up,n
himself legislative powers, repeal a Law, or Joint
resolution Of Congress- which had stood upon the T
Statute BOOK for more than twenty years, and which
Congress bad refused to repeal, d an odioas di..
elimination made, requiring specie OF one class or
public debters. while another was permitted To nav
toto the Treasury Bank Notes in discharge Of pu6.
he dues have seen thi- unjust and oppressive Inn
Of the Enscutt1e repealed by such a msiofity in
each House OF Congress 10 place the ia syaye Of
Inc act beyond the power Of the Veto and the Pre-
sdent still defeat the by refusing 10 return
the Bill TO the body 10 which It originated /,
might seem there was nothing LETT 10 make tLis
the Government Of one man no eneroachment
which bad not been made BY The Executive unon
the otter departments Of the Government; bu, | /
Will add one more 10 the offensive catalogue. /
have seen and bad cause 10 know from the highest
sources, that Representative Of the American
people, ~ho discharged his duty became free
man, ~as not safe from personal outrage and that
The President Of the United States, ths source Of
patronage and i0untain Of power, the Commander.
ln.1hie' Of the Army and Navy. spoke in a man.
ner we'll calculated 10 stimulate his tollove,s