The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-11-07
From tas Nahonsi Infehigsne0.
SKETCH OF MIR. HOFEMAN's SPEECH
ON THE suB-TREAsURY BILL.
Honse of Representatives. Oct II.

Mr.. II. would not offer an apology to the House
Tor addressing Il upon subject so fraught with the
highest good or the deepest evil TO his own constitu
enls, as that now before IT, He had been aware when
he first took his seat in thai body that he would have
TO contend against great power and patronage. There
has been time in his political life when he thought
the arm Of this Government needed to be strong TO
regulate some Of the consequences of the rapid in
crease, In extent and resources Of the country The
usurpations OF the Executive, which he had witness
ed for the last few years, had taught him different
lesson. He now found the Government too strong
for the people; and that some Of the memorable pre-
dictons OF the gentleman from South Carolina Mr..
Pickens) and his friends in regard to the influence
OF Executive dication and usurpation were in a fair
way 70 be realized. He had TO his seat prepa-
red 70 combat that usurpaton, and contend for the
lost rights OF the Sates and he thought he should
ind the bold, manly and chivarous OF the South
ron barred to aid him in that contest What had been
his surprise to find that arm on which he had relied
Tor such aid raised In the of the attack he had
resist That gentleman, (Mr. Pickens) had said
thai he had renowned opinions he had entertain
ed before, and yet he is lending his aid in the ad-
yancement Of scheme which Is to unite in one
hand the purse and the sword of this Government
and TO make by his adhesion and support the bill be-
fore the committee too strong for the opposition Of
those with whom he had been used to act in con-
cert
Commenting on the argument of Mr.. Pickens as
to the character and influence Of National Bank,
Mr.. II. demanded of that gentleman what would be
the influence Of an Executive in any action against
the rights Of the States. who could WELD SO for
midable weapon against those rights as all the re-
venues Of this Government And upon this sub
ject he enlarged extensively.
As to what had fallen from the gentleman in his
remarks OF yesterday in relation TO the North and
South as relatively placed in interest and in policy,
with regard to each other, MIR. III. was very elo-
quent and forcible. That gentleman (Mr. Pickens)
had threatened servile war as the consequence of
struggle between those interests and had promised
TO preach instruction to the laborers Of the North
m nIc thaS hat
tleman (sad Mr. H. is mistaken if he thinks that
there is any parity of reasoning to the aborers of
the North, or the slaves of the South. They were
not, as was so boldly argued, under the domination
orconrol ofthe capitalists They were freemen, con-
scious of their rights and privileges BY the labor
ing classes of the North the banner fthe revolution
had been unfured, and the fields of Lexington and
Bunker Hill been won. BY those classes there, even
men who sit in that hall sent thither and they were
alive to all the rights of freemen, which they sent
their representatives there to defend and advocate.
Mr.. II. regretted that this ball of dscord had been
started on that floor to fright the House from its
propriety" He was not unfriendly to the South.
Far from it.. Many of his early and most friendly
associates were connected with that section. He
should ever be found by the side of the people of that
section, in resisting any invasion of their rights.
But still he had paramount duty to perform-to
vndcate from attack, and to shield from reproach,
the people Of his own part of the country.
bold and frank manner in which Mr.. Pickens had
come forward to the aid of the Administration in
support of this bill That gentleman had not crept
into the ranks of his former enemies He had like
I'ulus Aufdius, in Roman history, boldly told his
new allies of his former battles against them he had
almost In bravado, indeed spread before them the
records Of his consistency as their uncompromising
opponent. They had taken him into their employ,
and being in the ranks of the enemy, he (Mr. H)
must defend his countrymen though 1t be Coriolanus
who heads the tOlSCianS against Rome!
The gentleman Continued Mr. H) is proud Of
the name of Loco Foco. Sir, is matter of taste.
[Mr. Pickens explained. He had said, in allusion
to remark made on that floor some days since, ~
an honorable member that he was willing to be SUCH
Loco Foco John Milton was, if he were, indeed,
one. He had not intended to be understood as de-
claring himself Loco Foco under the ordinary &C
ceptation of the term
Mr.. Hoffman said that he certainly did not mean
to misrepresent the gentleman from South Carolina.
He hardly understood what the term in question
signifed. But he is not surprised to hear the gen
teman declare that he is not of the followers Of
him who had once sworn that his mouth should be
the Parliament of England" and that his horse
should Craze in Cheapside"@ But he had eulogised
Milton as his exemplar. For that name, he too, Mr.
H. had great reverence. He remembered well the
noble defence Of John Milton of the subject and
yet this very choeric hasty, and often rash
in his opinions There was said Mr.. H. striking
coincidence, which he could but aude to- in the his
tory of Milton, applicable to our own times. The
same intrepid patriot who in his zeal for liberty had
aided in bringing his monarch to the block, after
wards threw himself into the arms of the Protector
| and supported the throne which was reared on the
downfall of Charles. Here Mr.. Fl. drew parallel
between the succession of the present the late Exc
cutve, and thai of the Protector to the King, and
between the conduct of the gentleman from South
Carolina and that of the great statesman he had al
luded to under the parallel change of circumstan-
ceS
Mr.. III. was opposed to the Sub Treasury bill, be-
cause il violated the Constitution of the countryif
not its plain and palpabe literal language, its spirit,
which is its blood, and which alone recommends
it to the people of the nation. That spirit is the
principle that the people shall govern themselves.
The mode of choosing public officers, the appoint
ment OF those officers duties, &C. are but the trap
pings of the Constitution But this principle, which
is its spirit enters into the abors of the arizan and
the researches of the scholar II should be the at
mosphere by which we should be sustained and
strengthened, and from which we should receive the
| buoyancy and vigor to perform the duties of good
citizens and patriots.
The connexion between the Government and the
people of this Union, Mr. III. looked upon as great
partnership. There should be common credit
discredit, common interest in all things between
them. The Distress if there be any of the Govern
ment, should be reflected upon the people. The
arm ofpower should not be welded over the govern
ed to be looked up to as paramount. The people
should not, while struggling amidst discomfort, en-
barrassment and perpexity, be insuled by the spec
tacle of their government walking free, unfeered,
unembarrassed, and in prosperity.
Mr.. FL. remarked that it had been said that this
was no new proposition; that England and France
had furnished examples Of similar schemes and not
long since though not parliamentary to allude par
cuary to it on that floor, the great Mormon Of this
golden bible (Mr. Benton of the Senate) had instan
ced Rome also as furnishing similar example. In
reply to these illusions Mr.. H. adverted TO the diff
ference between the institutions of England and
France and those Of our own country, and asked
why not model our whole government upon those
examples2 Why not establish the divine right Of
authorize a system of passports, and all the rest
And Rome, too Rome had her questors or public
treasurers! Yes, (said Mr.. HI she had and they
"grew by what they fed on" They followed the