The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-26
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The Senate adjourned 49, 4#a
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
., III, SATURDAY, Sept. 20,
On motion OF Mr.. HAYNES, it was A
Ordered, That, from and after Monday next, the
daily hour Of meeting for the House shall DO 10 o'clock
81 THE rLoElpa wAI, Ere tsif 1as
Aier the presentation Of numerous petitions the
subject of the annexation Of Texas and the abolition Of
slavery in the District OF Columbia, "a list oil which VIII
be given hereafer)
The House resumed the unfinished business Of yes
terdsy morning, which was the consideration Of Mr.,
WIss's resolution for committee Of inquiry the
subject of the Florida War. when
Mr. WISE said, When came here, four years ago--
when was first elected by the people Of my district
was the friend Of power had not been here long be-
fore found that power needed friends 1t was TOO
strong already looked anxously TO the condition Of
our institutions. and narrowly at the enemies Of those
institutions and soon discovered that their greatest
enemy the concentration Of sll power IN the Ex-
ecutiye. IN III "
Sir looked at the public doman-he richest inheri-
lance with which any nation ever gitedmore vast
and fertile, and greater source OF revenue than
that which any crowned head Of Europe ever orded
over found this extended territory, the eminent do
main itself Of the government at the absolute disposal
Of the President; and, necessary consequence OF
this control over the public domain, saw the new
Sates OF this Union, within the limits Of which the pub
LIZ
looked TO other sources Of power. surveyed all
the little rs and all the great fountains OF revenue and
found them all pouring in patronage TO the Chief En-
ecutiye from triple coast on the lakes the Atlantic,
and the Gulf Of Mexico. saw more. looked to the
public press and found this too, the pensioned subsi-
died slave OF Executive will And, above ALL dis
covered greater power than ALL because II carries all
power with IT, welded by the President in the appoint
ment and removal Of all the officers Of government All
all these powers, and more, saw concentrated IN the
hands OF one man.
Thus there was some restraint, check provided
by the Constitution, and placed in the hands Of Com
gress this check, it was supposed, consisted IN the
custody and control Of the public purse. But between
the period Of my election and Of my taking my seat
here this check too had been seized by popular Pre-
sident; and indeed, had it remained where il was
placed by the Constitution would still practically have
been Of no avail because the President could and
at will control Congress by the power Of appointing or
removing its members to or from office.
From all this tremendous mass OF power saw clear
" thar offences must COMET must needs be So
il was inevitable There ,conld be corruption dicta-
ton oppression and all the other train attendant upon
arrogant absolute power Nor was this mere theory;
ii was not conjecture apprehension; it was fact
found party in power ninstcrng to popular Pres-
dent, whose maxim, whose practice was, 70 The pietors
belong The spoiis r. ..s s
No sir, no; had not becnNong here before was
entirely unicceyed. / found myself in wrong posi-
ton found that the country and its institutions need
cd friends and thereupon, at once declared myself
to be longer the friend Of Po,cer Forthwith, sir
set myself TO the work Of diminishing the power Of the
Executive in the best way possble--by exposing its
monstrous extent, its enornltes, and its abuses.
held this to be sacred dnty Of patriotism and IN my
own mind took the Hannibal oath to discharge it. come
what would, at every personal risk and sacrifice Some
one had 70 discharge the duty suffering country,
and could see no reason why should avoid its per-
formance foresaw its difficulties and its dangers
knew how fearful it to beard the lion OF power IN his
den but took up the line OF march But what were
the means The task seemed hopeless because 50 m
finite, and ! so weak. With what panoply was ! to
cover myself in undertaking and performing this deed Of
dangert Sir, thought long, and counted the cost
we'll but my mind at last inspired with the conyic-
ton that
" Truth shall restore the ligh, by Nature given,
And, like Prometheus, bring the fire OF Heaven"
resolved that my only weapon and my armor should
be truth. But how the truth to be laid bepre the
world What mode Of proceeding was to be Hopted
as its agentl What department of the government was
to be looked TO its friend 1t was solemn ques-
ton and sir, must confess that my mind emil
vened and somewhat cheered when it turned to this
House yes sir this House of Representatives Of the
People-the House of Commons-the grand inquest of
the nation Here here were the means Of nvestigat
ngof inquiring after fruh--of ferrctng out corup-
ton, and Of exposing abuses addressed myself to
this body with On the zeal and fixed determination which
the task demanded was confident Of its aid and its
cooperation, and thus thought shall TRUTH Fcpah
How sad was my subsequent disappointment! kBnt
was not alone in this great work had companion
every way worthy Of the cnterprise-he is abssnt-t
becomes me not 10 speak in his praise for though no
blood Of his runs In my veins, he is dear 70 me as
brother; Hound him than a companion and il
permitted to speak Of him my heart prompts,
would say Of himpowerful in intellect eloquent mag
nannnous, amiable, brave stretch my faculties as
would, press forward would to keep by his side
found that such his energy his zeal, his mghtness
Of purpose and Of soul in the onward march which he
resolved with me to pursue, that could not keep pace
with him, and he still beyond my reach That
man was Bale Pcyton, of Tennessee We both " con-
emned the sceptered hand like the wild wave" and
foreseeing all difficulties and dangers peris and respon
sbties to be met aud encountered, grapped with
task with hearts fixed that 1tn
Prone 10 the dust Oppression shall be hurpd
Her name, her nature, wither'd from the world y
We knew that the free forms of government were
than useless without free and pure administration We
knew that secret corruption dangerous, be-
more insidons, enemy to freedom than foreign
bayonets; that enemies from within were worse than
enemies from without and were settled in the be-
lief that il here, this last asylum the foundations Of
liberty sapped, and she must fall, the hopes Of
mankind must cease !. }qsf#H lsa ls
Our work was begun, and with il, sure enough, be-
gan our labors our perls and dangers. Our duty i'm
posed upon both the hard the dire and dangerous
cessy OF throwing ourselves, constantly, the very
spears OF power and its parasites. We brought
into constant conflicts with the party" The truths
which had 10 be told be told boldly earessly, I'M
fnchingy We had not only to charge upon party, but
upon persons Whenever we considered It our duty to
expose individuals Of "the party, always attacked
them openly, and sboveboard-ice wore masks--ice
were not ambguous-wE dealt not in generalities tee
were not to be mistaken in our meaning We wero
charged in turn, politically and personally When wo
have charged the party in power with bribery and cor
rption party in turn has been denounced bank
hirengs' We never treated the epithcts Of party as
personal TO ourselves and met party attacks best be-
came Us. When personal attacks were made upon us,
we met them with adequate resentment When insult
ed we repealed the insult as ii deserved and when we
Al