The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-11-07

self while making the sacrifice of the former 10 the
latter that the bread OF his wife and children depend
ed upon it. And who will call the defaulter In such
case TO account The Execuiive3 This would
never be; and as TO Congress3 That, too, was pow
erless The proceedings of the last Congress, under
similar circumstances 10 those described, afforded q
sufficient proof that this was So
Here Mr.. II. alluded to the novel and monstrons
doctrine which has been preached under the late ad
ministration, that every officer OF the government
was accountable to the Executive alone; and he only
to the impeaching power of Congress- and insisted
that no people were strong enough to resist the
union OF the purse and sword Of government.
IL the bill passes, he conended the money of the
people would not be safe II would be less safe than
In banks where the stockholders interests require
the selection of careful directors and officers and
where there were many hands, and NOT a single
hand, to guard those interests. And to this point
Mr.. IL. read from the Congressional Debates Of
1885, an opinion Of one who, he wished could take
part in that debate, and sustain the views he had
once expressed, and which he would now quote
views which he was confident the high regards fol
his opinions, entertained by the members of that
House, would lead them TO regard with great re-
spect he alluded 10 Mr. Speaker Polk who, in the
course of debate in 1885, had said that corpora
tons were safer than any individual could be- the
depository of public moneys because corporations
were bound together by the strongest ties Of interest
with an immense aggregate ofswealih, which fur.
ntshed safe security, &c
But (said Mr.. H. who can tell but that, IL thai
cOulu descend the cnd1r ana
the House on this bill now he would not also be
found to have undergone some change Of sentiment
since the time alluded to? This would not be more
surprising than that one of that gentlemans friends
also on that floor should have changed his views on
the subject within the same term of time In debate
upon resolution offered in 1885 to that body by Mr.
Gamble, as to the best mode Of keeping the public
moneys, Mr.. Cambreleng was reported in the Con-
gressional Debates to have uttered the opinion that
the Sub Treasury scheme would find no friends
there, and that II was proposition too odious and
monstrous TO be entertained
Mr.. Cambreleng read, in answer TO this allusion,
an extract from his own prepared report ofthe speech
adverted to- to the effect that he had expressed the
hope that the time would come when banks as fiscal
agents of the Government, could be dispensed with
atogether.l
Mr.. III. remarked that the gentleman had voted
against the scheme at the time, and was reported in
the book of debates before he had time to prepare
carefully his report of the speech he had made
to have said that such a proposition could find nc
friends in that body. But still (said Mr. H. know
that opinions often change, like the gourd OF Jonah
in a single night
Mr.. II. here alluded to Mr. Fosters eulogy on the
safely fund system, which he admitted to be aPPro-
PIRATE and deserved And he eloquenty detailed the
consequences of that system to the prosperity of the
State-the springing up of her western cities almost
at the very sound Of the woodlands axe-the stretch
ing out Of long lines Of railroads those avenues Of
communication and social intercourse with the diff
made the West, and the West had poured back hel
gratitude in increasing contributions to the wealth
and prosperity of the State ;-and this the work
ing Of the safety fund system. Il had worked well
and now he would ask, what was the reverse in the
country2 The President now says that over-specu
laton is the cause OF our present troubles The phi
losopher, whose theory II that the earth rested
on tortoise, was puzzled to find place for the tor
toisc And what was the true cause of this distress
and embarrassment Mr.. III. said that il was the
war on the United States Bank by the late Executive
The first germs Of all that Executive power which
now Expresses us was the withdrawal OF the depo-
sites. That was the fountain whence all these bitter
waters flowed The hopes and wishes of the people
were involved in that institution. The boat was pro-
ceeding on its way in swift but equable course
when there had suddenly ensued a crash, which wa.
the prelude to bubbling cry of agony and despair
from the passengers and crew. The balance whee
had been removed by the ignorance or the wanton
ness of the engineer.
Mr.. III. had never been the friend or the enemy OF
the United States Bank nor of the local banks. He
had not worshipped Pompey, in all his pride Of
power and place, when armies had sprung up at the
stamp of his foot nor had he ever bowed the knee
to his great rival Yet would he not withhold from
the latter the justice which he should extend towards
him. as
Gin his mantle mufflng up his face,
Even at the base Of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell!
And now lies there,
With none so poor to do him reverence"
Alter some discussion Of the conduct pursued by
the State deposite banks which he contended had in
the majority of instances, been honorable and up
right he insisted that il was Inconsistent for the
friends of the administration to decry and destroy
them. They had eaten of the fruit, and should not
now cut down the tree. The United States Bank
had been ruined to aggrandize the State banks not
in accordance has been asserted, with the peoples
will The people would never have destroyed that
institution but as sacrifice TO the popularity of the
late Executive It was withered by the resplendent
"glory" from the brow of the victor of New Or
leans It was destroyed that the "weeds," as Mr..
Pickens had called the State banks, might grow and
flourish.
Mr.. H. commended that there had been time when
those weeds" were shallow rooted and might have
been easily eradicated. He then went on to show
that MIR. Van Buren, originated and rose into power
by the aid of the safety fund system. That 1t still
continued its influence, politically, and procured a
Van Buren, majority there of two-hirds; and that
Mr. Van Buren, was now kicking away the ladder
by which he had mounted, not even saying to those
who had been wondering at his ascent with upturned
eyes, Stand from under !" This part of the speech
was very minute in its details, and excited deep
interest. ..a. ..#.
Mr. III. said the bill before the committee had been
christened ga divorce bill" II was no such thing.
II was bill authoriSing "a fatal marriage"-fatal
TO the Constitution and to the liberties and happiness
of the people. II was not divorce bill. The "di-
vorce" had already taken place, without cause or
f1gnt, Dy the vi Ouc VI TIC pditcS anu ~ was TIC
nuptial benediction or another alliance that the
House were now called on to pronounce. He who
was
C but yesterday King,
And armed with Kings to strive"
Napoean Bonaparte loved Josephine. The con-
queror of Italy had laid his aurels at her feet and
whispered in her his aspirations of love as well
as ambition BY her were his troubles assuaged and
she was ever his good genius pointing him the path
to glory and renown and with her. as his companion
and adviser, he found himself upon the throne Of
Charlemagne. But no sooner did the dadem glitter
upon his brow than she, who had been ever true to
him. was cast off for the furtherance of schemes of
policy He was thus, but he would be safely and
ever thus, and he procured from weak Senate
divorce from her, and welded Louise of Austria,
who mounted his throne only 10 see his crown
snatched from his brow7 Sir there may be moral