Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-02-15
From the New York Journal Of Commerce.
Mr. Webster's Speech Ola tn e
Suh-Treasury Bill.
IN SENATE-Wednesday, Jan.

"Let the Government attend to its own
business, and let the People attend to- theirs
"Let the Government take care, that ii
secures a sound currency for its own use, and
lei it leave all the rest 20 the States, and TO
the People,"
These omlnous sentences, Mr.. President,
have been ringing in my ears, ever since they
were uttered yesterday, by the member from
New York. Let the Government take care
Of itself, aud let the people take care of
themselves. This Is The whole principle and
policy Of the administration, at the present
most critical moment, and on this great and
all obso bing question of the currency.
Sir, this is an il-boding annonncement-'
1t has nothing OF consolation, Of solace, or cf
hope in it.
1t will carry through all the classes of com.
merce aud businesses, nothing but more dis.
couragement, and deeper fears. And yet it
is but repetition. 1t is only renewed ex-
hibitlon Of the same spirit, which was breath
ed by the message, and the bill Of the last
session, of which this bill is also full, md
which has pervaded all the recommendations,
and all the measures Of Government, since
May. Yet confess that am not, even yet,
SO familiar with it, so accustomed to hear
such sentiments avowed, as that they cease
to astonish mo. am either cropping in thick
and palpablc darkness, myself, in the objects
OF the Constitution, and the duties Of Con
gress under it, or else these principles of
public policy, thus declared, are at war with
our most positive snd urgent obligations
The honorable member made other observa-
tlons indicative of the same general tone of
political feeling. Among his dozen topics of
commendation of the bill before US, promi-
nent one was, to shelter the Administration,
from that shower of imputations, as he ex-
pressed the idea, which would always beat
upon it, as it beats now, when disasters
should happen to the currency. Indeed =
And why should the Administration be shell
tered from that shower? Is not currency, q
subject over which the power and duty OF
Government extend? Is not Government
Justly responsible for its condition? Is it not
of necessity wholly and entirely under the
control and regulation of political power p
is it not matter, in regard TO which, the
people cannot, by any possibility, protect
themselves, any more than they can, by their
own individual efforts, supersede the neces-
sity of the exercise by Government, Of any
political power? Sir, the government is Just
ly snswernble for the disasters of the cur
rency, saving always those accidents which
at oil times cannot be foresecn and provided
against. II is at least answerable for its own
neglect, if il shall be guilty of it, in not ex-
ercising all its constitutional authority for the
correction, and restoration of the currency
Why does IL. how can it, shrink from this re.
sponsibility2 Why does it retreat, from it.
own duty? Why does il seek, not the lau
rels of victory, not the reputation, even, o.
manly contest, but the poor honors of studiec
and eager escape? Sir, it never can escape
Tire common sense Of oil men pronounces
that the Government 10, and ought to be, and
must be, answcrablc for the regulation of the
curreDcy of the country; that it ought IA
abide, and must abide, the peltings Of this