Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-02-16
DEB ATE IN HE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SPEECH or MIR ROBERTSON, Tor v,rorwrA)

condition Of The Erccriire Dopdrimtnis.
Delivered in The House %! Representatives,
on the 4ih and 5th Of Jrnuaiy,le37.
CONCLUDED FROM OUR LAST.
repeat that the pledge Of Mr.. Van Buron
10 carry ont the principles of Gen. Jackson
commits him to no settled scheme oi policy.
There may. slr, perhaps, be one exception on
n subject OF great interest to the country; ]
mean the disposition Of the public domaln.--
Upon that. fear, from the tenor OF the last
message, and more espcc tally from what fell
this morning from the gentleman from MsslS-
sippi, Mr.. CLAIRBOENE,) that his policy has
been already dcclded, and pledges gwen of
peculiar favor to the new States. That gen
lleman,if correctly apprchr rdrd his remarks,
Unlimited that such expectations had been
created which had induced himself, and the
State he represents, to support Mr.. Van Ba'
rem. n stranger TO thcm,in preference Judge
White, highly respected friend and neigh
Dor; and threats were held ont, Of refusal 10
vote appropriations, or to act with the party
in power, unless those expectations were
speedily fulfilled.
4 [Mr. CLAIRBoRSs explained. lie said that,
in the warmth Of argument. he might have
expressed himself in terms that did not prop.
crly convey his meaning. lie and hls con
stItuents regarded Mr.. Van Buren rs every
way qualified for the Presidency: believing
this. they were induced 10 support him in
preference to Judge White, because they
had reasons 10 think his election would be
more favorable to the views and interests of
the new States. lie meant to convey no.
II threat
Il Mr. ROBERTSON. am incapable, sir, Of
lmisreprescntng any thing said on this floor.
The gentleman's explanation leaves the INIT
tier ius as stated il, should not have ad-
! yerIed to the remarks he made had not sup
/ posed they fully expressed his sentiments. If
, his Judgment, upon reflection, does not op.
! prove them. waive any further observation
\ upon them. ! must acknowledge, however,
! sir, dat should have been pleased to hear
I what reasons the gentleman had for the ex-
pecta,ionS it seems he ard his constituents
entertain; and warn him, and the party with
whom he acts. that the old Stats, who sur
rendered this iniuense domain for the com
mon benefit ofall, will never yield their per-
feet right TO participate equally, at least, in
that (which was once exclusively their own
1 But except in the particular instance, Mr.
, Speaker, which have Just mentioned, if that
!, bc an exception, there is scarcely single
/ principle or measure which Mr.. Van Bhren
HniN lltl uNbIl W 'p''lh't' "i'b'h' ''p''i'E
his pledge to follow in the footsteps Of Gene
u raj Jackson. He will be borne ont in either
;! case by the precept or practice OF his prcdc-
IIcessor. In most cases he will find both; the
liprccept one way, and the practice the other.
l. Let him then. A. he may in good iaitD, a
dopt those which will bring about reforma-
, ton of the manifold abuses of the Govern
| mrnt and reduction Of its present waStciul
!, expenditures; let him set his face against the
= schemes Of the abolitionsts; dscountennnce
: an niquitous tariff, national bank, an uni jlst
and unconstitutional system of internal I'M
yfovemcnt lc, him abstain from violating the
rights of the States; fror the exercise OF un
delegated and doubtful nowers; from the cor
! ruping practice Of bcs,owing lucrative np
pointmrnts on members Of Congress; let him
sir, above nl following the advice OF his pre-
decessor exterminate the monster, party spi
rt. and take care that the public Offices b.
y II led with capable aud honest men; let hin
do this, conforming to the good old republ
can doctrines, and his measures at least shall
have my humble support, here or elsewhere
and,I doubt not. that of my friend from South
, Carolina, (Mr. PicKENs,) who has so indIg
nantlv and eoquently denounced The princi
piles that have brought him into power.
II Mr.. PILKENs requested his FREUD from
V Virginia would allow him to explain. He said
= he had declared Vncompromising hostility tc
n the principles upon which the new Admins
). tra,ion was coming into power, and that no.
c thing could reconcile him TO ratify those rrln
ciples by a reelection Of the man, although
he might be found supporting any OF his inca
surcs that nigh, be sound
Mr.. RoRrRTsoS said the observations al
luded to had probably been misunderstood
and hc was pleased that the opportunity hat
been afforded ofcorrecting any misapprehcn
sion.
Il But, sir, have too far already, | fear, vic
lated parliamentary order, though not perhap
congressional usage, IN following other gen
tlcmcn who have touched on the course q
the next Administration. The two Admin
istratlons are so connected or, rather, idcnt
f. fled, that it is difficult TO look at the one with
ont seeing the o,hsr. Like the colors OF Inc
rainbow, they are so happily blended. that Il
=. is not easy To say where one ends,or The ON
;. er begins. We behold indeed, not go mucl
q a new Administration as continuation o
= the old one, under new name; not SO prop
= erly succession rs regency that, sir, Is the
appropriate name-bound To carry out the
views, and obey TIC will of the reigning mon
p arch.
have enumerated. Mr.. Speaker, specific
N CndTHeS Indut ny EtHtciidh h'h N"SH'
= lsland; sufficient. perhaps, to occupy the at
tenton of the committee for the residue o
this session II the gentleman will not obc.
the suggestion Of some of liS friends, on'
Withdraw the amendment, I shall ask permls
sion to insert these charges in il, in order, ~
he will probably be Il member the commit
tee, tha, hc may have al opportunity aHordet
= him oi making them good. =,
. There il one other charge, howcvrr,found
- cd on occurrences Of later date, that ought