The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-08-11

dram resolutions. according 10 Parliamentary Ell
quelle, Is appointed Chairman OF the Commiliee:-
He of course attends the Convention with resolu-
lions cut and dri a" for the occasion, probably
having been submitted before hand 10 the inspection
OF choice few OF the knowing ones. The com
mittee, having been announced, retire with mock
gravity, as II 10 adopt resolutions, ana 70 discuss
Them in the committeeman The resolutions Of
| Mr.. Chairman, thus previously made up (End IN
this case leeming with ialsehood and abuse,) are
read with all due solemniiy and though they con-
tain propositions and assert principles OF vital im-
ponancc the interests ard liberties Of the people,
| are adopted insianer and in seLce unless some
gentleman Of the law, big with eloquent eoncep
TONS" aspiring yro in politics ambitious Of
fame--full of "sound and fury" struggling for vent
and anxious to soar with scarcely nedeed wings
into the regions Of eloqnence, be present In such
case the audience Is carried away captive IN The
chains of their oratoIy and surrendefing al dcre-
ton b the power OF the political Ciceros, make The
welkin ring with aoclamaions OF approval. And
resolutions thus adopted, by such Convention, thus
elected thus constituted, thus packed and attempted
to be foisled of the country, as evidence Of The
| opinions OF the Republicans OF Chennngo. Such
may be their opinions but such Is not very sa-
tisiactory mode OF asceraining them.
To The responsibility Of the men who composed
| the Convention take no exceplions-as men,
they are entitled 10 and possess my Iespect-lheir
opinions as individuals are worthy of my regard.
| But when they take upon themselves 10 speak for
you, In style drnunciatory and Insulting insist
upon my right to demand Of them The production Of
4
power OF attorney by virtue OF which they presume to
mpeach the conduct, and question The motives Of one
who has ever been faithful to you, who has no private
or personal interests 10 subserve, and who in this
matter has been moved by the impulse OF an honest
belief that he was performing a sacred duty he
owed to you and TO the courlry Until they do pro-
duce such authority, until they prove that they we're
elected by majority OF the electors Of The county,
shall treat the resolutions, far MS they profess to
show forth the opinions Of the majority OF such cleo
tors, with all the contempt they merit. Had the
Convention been content with the expression OF us
opinion merely-had H. In courteous language, re-
quesied me TO vote for the Sub.ireasury BILL II would
have saved me the trouble OF this defensive response
4 That, however, would not suit the views Of those
who were selected TO do the dirty work" Of their
movers and employers, at whose bidding have been
denounced as "derelict from The path OF duly
These extra and special conversations Of delegates
/ in Chenango, believe are unusual. How, ask,
was this Convention gotten upl Was il the result
Of spontaneous movement Of the people, Had
1 the people become alarmed for fear that should
prove regardless Of interests Of the country
| for which we all feel common solicitude, and in
| which we all have common sakel Or was it
gotten up to an order promulgated from the Palace
al Washington HAD supposed that the gentlemen
delegates, from an acquaintance OF twenty-one years,
had better understood my character. than 10 suppose
| that could be influenced by the operation Of ma
| chinery set In motion by any fountain, whether
springng from the Capitol or elsewhere. And, fell
low citizens, for what am denounced have had
the courage 10 be honest Regardless OF all personal
consequences have had the independence 10 think
and act for myself! In the face Of power, at the
hazard Of party prescription, have stood firmly and
faithfully by your interests and those OF the Repub
lic-and for this The blood hounds OF party are un-
| leashed from their kennels they are on my track,
and with eager scent in hot pursuit of their
tim. Will you see him annotated TO appease The
| offended deies Of the modern Molochs, the high
priests Of the Loco foco mysteries, will you
| 10 the rescue, and save him from the jaws Of the
| foaming, frenZied pack Not TO my personal re-
scue (for ask for no station or place) but TO the
rescue Of those sound Republican principles for
| which have contended, and for which am doomed.
! And for what, ask again, am proscribedl For
| the exercise Of an honest difference of opinion
from the President in regard 10 the Sub-tIeasury.
When with emotions OF gratitude Iacceped at your
hands The high and responsible station of your re-
preventative in Congress- took it as freeman,
from the hands OF freemen, free to think and 10 act
as duty might Prompi and love Of country inspire.
Did you send me here to be the tool the of the
Executive; to do his bidding by insiinc,-o with
his eyes, to hear with his ears, and 10 be the mere
| registrar OF his rcscriptsl Is this Republican doc
trine1 Are the Representatives OF the People mere
| au,omaia To be worked by the pulling Of Executive
wiresi II So why not at once make the President
a iyrant by investing him with the legislative robe
| is mockery 10 talk OF independent Legislation ii
such doctrine prevails. II results in this II mem
Der oil Congre dare dissent from an Executive re-
commendalion il follows, that he becomes the OBJ
/ ect of reving, OF ostracism, and oullawry. Are
| the messages Of the President edcts2 II SO, why
pass through the idle ceremony of discussing them
i in Congress3 Let them at once be enrolled as the
| law of the land. This course would save much
| time and expense in the attendance Of members, and
| vastly simplify the machinery of Government. 1t
/ would save much self-degradation and debasement
of members and dispense with the valuable services
| Of the fawning sycophans Of power. Then we shall
know on whom the exclusive responsibility OF mea-
snres should rest. Now ltle puppets of legislation
share in the responsibility which, If this doctrine OF
subseIveLcy BE- correct, they should not as they
dare to travel only, in the direction pointed out by
the Executive finger board Ii this doctrine be cor
| rect, abolish Congress, invest The tenant Of The
/ White House with the imperial purple, and declare
| him supreme dictator for life. Has II come TO this,
that dissent from the President subjects the dissen
ter to the indclion of party penalties and TO election
| from the pale Of the Democratic church Z II so,
| who would wish to hold rank in the party by such
an humiliating tenure2
| The resolutions referred to are dictated by the
same intolerant spirit which prompted the editor of
| Globe, announced in Congress by leading admit
nistration the obfciat organ OF the Execuve)
in October last with characteristic mendacity, basely
and malicio,isly to intimate, that my vote in relation
to The printer to the House had been influenced by
Mr.. Bidde. With meanness peculiar 10 him, he
copied from kennel penny sheet printed in Phila-
had frequent interviews withthe President OF the U.
S. Bank and leaving 1t TO be inferred that had been
tempered with by Mr.. Bidde. But Of this, perhaps,
ought not TO complain. only share the common
fate of all who have had the hardihood To doubt the
executive infalbiliiy in regard to the Subireasury
recommendation. This feed sanderer who de-
lights and reves in the buchery ofcharacter is still
the official organ Of the Executive, ever ready 10
cruelty the victims of executive vengeance Had
he lived in the days of Danton and Robespierre his
character, temper and appearance would have been
| ready passports to their affections. Had he applied,
as he undoubtedly would, for the appointment Of
chief superintendent of the guillone, be would have
set competition a, defiance. He would have mered
and secured their plauds, and as suitable reward
| for his zeal and devotion, would have been deco
rated with the fitting order Of knight of the Lamp
49, -