The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-07-04
Fyou. ne Neso York Times.

~ ,hi. individual in present connection with this
as,inoushed station although we have heard rumors OF
his having resigned. We have not seen any evidence
,hat his resignation has been accepted and certainly
other individual fills the place II was one OF the "foot
.tsns OF The ustrious predecessor not 10 permit tho
people's Offices to remain far the payment
OF the salary was concerned there was always re-
cipient on hand for the crumbs which were dispensed
from Uncle Sans table, although IL frequently hap
pened that the favored beneficiary engaged in other
business and at another place from that required by the
official duties In this practice the successor has fol-
lowed very generally in the footsteps but it is not
out purpose, at present. much to inquire whether the
salary Of the attorney general is yet paid TO him. TO
exhibit ia brief review, the officer and the man who has
practically left the station to devote himself 10 the
siructon Of youth in the pure principles Of the noble
science OF law
The task is imposed upon part Of the duty Of
public Journal and we approach lie performance in
this instance, with than ordinary reluctance Mr.
Butler was the intimate friend Of Mr. Van Buren,; and
have entertained for him all the respect due TO his
industry and talents and the strong feelings Of attach
ment and regard engendered by kindred sympahes and
the pursuit Of a common cause. Mr. Van Buren, had
attained great credit among men, the period to which
now refer for sagacity tact and management; and
whatever conrarety Of opinion existed in the profession
and the community, respecting the grade and extent OF
Mr. Buffers talents and ability, It was before his en-
trance into official e universally conceded that he
Of purify Of character. Many persons, not poll
tcally friendly to Mr. Van Buren,, did oppose his
election because they believed in his character for pu
dence and therefore fanced that he would administer
the government for the common welfare. When Mr.
Butler nominated to the office OF attorney general,
many who did believe him to be intrnsicay greater
than Blackstone and Mansfield, Marshall and Kent
con6dcd in his reputation for purity and truth, and
pected the discharge Of the duties of the place with the
most scrupulous fidelity TO his honest convictions
and with the most unbcnding integrity The first year
of Mr.. Van Buren's Observation-Disclosures the first
days Of its cxistence-served to show how groundless
his reputation had been for sagacy, tact, prudence,
and wise and cautious government and the admins
tration nf the "revered chief did close before the
sanc,monious robe, which an ndugent and charitable
community had thrown the attorney general was,
by his own acts, cast aside, and no stood exposed,
broadly and unequvocaly, as the supple instrument,
the vascillang tool Of tyrans will So far from hav-
ing any opinions Of his own the attorney general made
opinions to order far from there being any certainty
in the law las expounded by this officer turned and
bent to follow the executive index" The scruples
of conscience, which common reputation had ascrbed
to the attorney general man, turned out to be- in
his official station, light the gauze of ancient Cos,
alleged to have been composed of ,cind We
venture to say, that there has been exhibited
unscrupulousness the discharge Of public duty
than has Characterised the conduct OF the attorney ge-
neral If he is of that class Of political partsans who
undertake 10 discriminate between official and moral
detection and depravy to prostitute the powers Of his
mind his perception of TRUTH the lights Of his reason
and the convictions Of his judgment the vile of
Others or selfish purposes OF his own while sitting in
his official chamber or in the discharge Of his official
duties and then attempt to enter the private parlor and
the sanctuary Of the Most High, pous, scrupplous
and conscientious manhe sooner he exposed 10 the
public and revealed TO himself the better it will be for
both. Then the young and con6ding will cease to be
msled by the false lights Of objectionable and wanton
misconduct emanating from the garb Of purity and
sanctity and the himself will perceive, that he
who is politically faithess is personally unworthy.
We shall give two instances Of the base subserviency
and prostitution of the unbiased judgment of the ator-
ney general which somewhat familiar the public
and wc ask any apologs that may be found to point
to another instance of equal profgacy in these degen
crate days 1t was reported at the time and has often
been repeated in common conversation and the public
prints that when the currency bill Of Mr. RIvEs, repeal
ing the odous specie circular, had passed boh houses
Of Congress- President Jackson referred the bill to At
torney General Butler for his opinion thereon. 1t was
further stated and has been denied that the attor
ney general promptly returned his opinion fully sustain
ing the bill 1t is well known that President Jackson
entertained the nveerae hostility the bill, and
had predetermined that It should not become law.
When this opinion Of the attorney general sustaining
the bill, presented to him, he in great rage;
and the referred back the attorney general
and the words Of the iusrous predecessor" there
upon the cabinet council reported to at the me
by intimate friend Of all the parties, were, ' Cen
tlemen, THE BILL CANNOT BECOME LAW, and II IS for
you to find out The reasons ,ehy IL should notr The
s.compIying officer OF the crown condcscended eat
document which has been given to the world to break
the torrent Of public indignation which expected to
fall upon the head Of the author Of this deliberate out
rage upon the constitution Of the land and Liberties Of
the people. 1t remains to be seen, whether the
cesso in treading in the footsteps will attempt to
gil Up that broad track upon the constitutional charter
He has kept the complying officer at hand TO JUS
tify the alarming inroad mysfy it to tho common APP
prehenson in cloud Of verbage and the subtley of
the ogcian but trust the republic may yet be
eued from the grasp Of those who aim at the pepe'u-
al ascendency."
The second example Of the miserable pliancy and
wretched subserviency Of this officer, which shall
cie was stated by Mr. Bond, Of Ohio his very able
speech, as follows:
When the Baltimore rail road was about to be To-
Gated at its termination in this cityhe company
suited Mr. Butler on some point as to the right Of way
under their character After full deliberaton, his pro-
fessonal opinion obtained in writing. 1t happen
ed that General Jackson felt about the To-
cation oths right Of way, and he expressed opinion
the same point, requiringa termination OF the road
which the company did not wish, and which Mr. But
Ter had advised them not to adopt. Gen. Jackson
furnished with the opinion Of the attorney general but
instead Of yielding, he endorsed IL Mr. Butler has
aot examined this case with his usual care let this
paper be referred back to him, with copy Of the char
ter, for his re-examination In due tme sir, the at
torncy general agrees with the president and gives
opinion in conformity with that which General Jackson
had expressed J"
We deem these instances deserving OF the most
qualified reprobation The who is guilty, becomes
wholly insignificant in the great, the paramount inte
rests Of the public, IN the purity of their government
and the preservation Of free Institutions II we have
retrogaded far from the days Of honesty, fidelity,
and simplicity in which our government was founded,
to be subject to the sway Of single wlllf all the
safeguards erected by the constitution against
tive usurpation, and lawless, unreasonable power,
are broken down by the general spirit Of base subservl