Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-03-03

People should not have ndverted to the state
of opinion here compared with the state OF public
opinion in the country, ii the gentleman had not
founded argument on the supposed disposition
of the two Houses, and the fact. that they truly
set forth the public opinion. Bat since he has
brought such an argument, II IS proper TO examine
its foundation.
II general sense, undoubtedly. Sir, the me m
bers Of the two Houses must be understood to rep
resent the sentiments Of their constituents, the
people Of the United States. Their acts bind
them, rs their Representatives, and they must be
considered in legal sense. "A conforming to the
will OF their constituents. But. owing to the
manner Of our organization. and to the periods
and times of election. 1t certainly may happen,
that at particular moment and a particular
subject, opinion out doors may be one way. while
opinion here is another. And how is II now, five
may judge by the usual Indications! Does the
gentleman hope for no vote, in this body. for his
Bill, but such shall he, his opinion, in strict
accordance with the wishes, us generally under
stood, and most recently expressed, IN the State
from which that vote shall come!
| shall be exceedingly sorry, sir, for instance.
to see vote from Maine given for this Bill
hope may not. But If there should be such
vote, can the gentleman say that he believes, in
bis conscience, it will express the wishes Of a
ma Drity of the people Of that State? And so Of
New Jersey, and one, If not more States in the
West am quite sure that gentlemen who may
give their votes, will discharge their duty, ac
cording to their own enlightened Judgments. and
they arc no way accountable to me for the man.
ner in which they discharge it; but when the
honorable member from New York contends that
this Body now accurately represents the public
opinion, on tho Slb-Trcasury system, we must
look at the facts. And with all possible respect
tor the honorable member, | must even take leave
TO ask him, whether, in his judgment, he, himself,
is truly rejecting the opinions and wishes OF
ma jority Of the people OF New York, while he Is
and ~l,, Whnro Anoc
he find evidence, of the favor OF the People of tina.
State, towards this measure! Does he find it in
the city? In the country! In the recently cleo
ted members Of the Senate!-Can he name a
place-can he lay rcnue. for the popularity OF
this measure, IN the whole State OF New York?
Between Mon:auk point and Cattaraugus, and be-
tween the mountains Of Pennsylvania and the
north end Of Lake Champlain, can he any where
put his finger on the map and say, here IS spot
where the Sub-Treasury is popular! He may
find places, no doubt, though they arc somewhat
scarce, where his friends have been able to main
tain their ascendcncy, Notwithstanding the unpo-
pularty OF the measure; but can nc ind one place
one spot OF any extent, in which this measure OF
relief is the choice, the fvorite, Of majority OF
the people?
! Mr.. President. the honorable member has long
been in public life, and has witnessed, often, the
changes and fluctuations Of political parties and
political opinions. And will ask him what he
thinks of the hurricane which swept over N. York
i'm the first week Of last November. Did he ever
know the like? Has he before ever been called
on to Withstand such a whirlwind? or had he pre-
: viously any suspicion that such outbreak, in
the political elements. was at hand?-l am pur-
suadcd sir, that he feared such a thing much less
than hoped for it; and my own hopes, although
had hopes, strong hopes, must confess. fell far
short Of the actual result. And to me. Mr.. Presi-
dent, it seems perfectly plain. that the cause OF
this astonishing change in public opinion is to be
a. ~ rnl
, the Sub-Treasury Bill, Of tho last session. The
'sou.Isdxe 10 sSu!qocoa eq, In pssosisI 'soScsn
y sIsuurm uMo InoUc 'q5ncu ~ ,os qoiqM eSBs
-som oq,-sculSop pun sou!I,oop ,ulndod!aue 'ls!7
: 1omuoo-l,un pus 'ialoos-.iuc 81! q,!~ 'sScssom
threatened the State Institutions, and anxious on
E ly to take good care of Government, abandoned
the people to their fate,-thc message,-ihe mes
sage. it was, tina. did the great work n New Yori
! and elsewhere.
E The message was that cave Of Eous, out o
which the careering winds issues;
n "Cna Eurus1ue Notusquc r.unt, crebcrqu'
c s'proceis Africus'-
J. mingling seas and skies, dispcrsing tine mos
y powerful political combina tons, aud scatterin,
n their fragments the rocks and shores.
J. might quote the poet further, sir.
:. set vastos volvunt adj ,tora fuctus."
The political deep seemed agitated, to the VIC
% ~ bottom, and its heaving bosom moved on
= ward and forward the ''rastos fuctms,'-in Nau
~ teal phrase, the big rollers of public opinion.
, the Honorable member may say, or ma
- think, that all this was but the result of tran
- silent impulse, feversh ebulliton, sudde
:. SURPRISE change superficial, and apparent on|.
:, not deep and real. Sir ! cannot say. but
:, must confess that if the movement in Ne
=. York, last fall, not real, it looked more lk
:. reality, than any fanciful exhibition. which ! e.
!. er saw. If the People were not in earnest the
10 certainly had very sober and earnest way
"a being in jest.
W And. how, SIR can the Honorable member, Ca
-. any man say, that in regard TO this measure.
-, the House Of Representative. is certain,
- this moment to reflect the public judgmcn
- Though nearer to the People than ourselves, 4,
:. more frequently chosen. vet it IS known III
=. the present members were elected, nearly all
~, them, before the appearance Of the message
r September. And will the Honorable member
low me to ask. if new election of members
-. Congress were to take place in his own State,
r. morrow. and the newly elected members shou
o take their seats immediately, he should ents
~ tain the slightest expectation Of the passage
~. -" this bill through that House!
Ire Mr. President. in 1884 the Honorable memt
=" presented to the Senate. resolutions Of the Ii
. i.lature Of New York. approving the preyic