The native American., 1838-06-09

Al from tie hles thai our documents nave peeh Pot
luied with such foul stuff 1t is because II was
there that the PresideM has been made the un-
willing instrument of transmitting it to tins
House. Did il find its way there without such
..critical" or otherwise, as made the
Secretary acquainted with its true character! This
is impossible; forno person can glance at the very
caption Of the article, or scarcely at any line OF
IL without discovering its true nature.
had supposed, sir, that nothing was mt Tor a
Mace upon The files or records of our Executive
Departments, which was not also fit for the pub
lie eve; and that every thing which might pro-
pery be deposited there might, at any time, be
drawn from thence, and presented to this House,
and TO the nation, without any violation Of dignity
or decency. But il seems that the Secretary of
the Treasury has contrived to accumulate upon
his files such matter as having accidentally found
the light, he is ashamed of the President is
ashamed of, we are ashamed Of; and all are anx-
ious to hurry it back into the special care and
keeping Of the Financial head of the Govern
ment.
Mr. Speaker, we were told this morning by the
honorable member from New Hampshire, Mr..
Atherton,) that If the Secretary Of the Treasury
was distinguished for any thing, it was for untir-
ing assiduity in dscharging the laborlous duties
Of his office. Whatever eminence, sir, that high
functonary may attain by patient toll and plod-
| ding industry, he will be yet more distinguished,
apprehend, in the future hstoryof this country,
as having been the first head of an Executive De-
partment who converted the public archives ofthe
Government into receptacle for disgusting IL
bells upon the People Of the country whose SER
want he is. That these foreigners, new landed
upon our shores, should, latter eating from our
basket and drinking from our cup turn upon
us, and '.pour their senseess libels upon Peo-
pie at whose fresides they were warmed" is
quite enough to task the forbearance of gene
rous and hospitable nation; but that the high Of
fcers Of this Government should lend themselves
to the work Of rescuing from oblivion, and pla-
icing upon lasting record--that they should make
our public archives the repositories Of these stale
slanders, from whence they may be drawn forth
under all the sanctions Of official appreciation, to
be turned against the characters of the living or
the memories Of the dead, is such perversion of
official responsibility as ought not to pass with
out animadversion.
Mr.. Speaker, the citizens of my own State
seem of late to have become the peculiar objects
| of Executive assault. At the commencement of
the session, their representatives were compelled
to sit here and listen to the grave charges prefer
red by the President in his Annual Message; but
a few days, ago, and it was deliberately and so
lemnly declared on this floor, in the face Of the
assembled Representatives Of the nation, that our
principal city had been, from the commencement
ofthe Government to within few months past,
the victim of the unjust and oppressive legislation
Of that State well as Of this Government; and
now, sir, portion of our citizens are attacked
with foreign arms, welded with all the force and
dexterity of the Secretary of the Treasury Sir,
if the Federal Government must war against the
people Of the States, cannot but regret that its
pugnaclous favors are not little more generally
distributed.
/ New York, il seems, is to be assailed not only
by imputations upon the political integrity and
independence, but also upon the private charac-
ters Of her citizens. And more than ALL her
whole career of egislaton-ay, Of DEMOCRATIC
legislation-from the very origin of the Govern
ment down to the late free banking law, is boldly
denounced as characterized through all its course
by injustice and oppression towards a portion of
her population, whose rights and interests were
committed to her care, whom she was bound, by
every consideration Of honor and duty, to cherish
and protect, but of whom it is alleged she has
made victim and a sacrifice. The language en-
ployed by the chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means Mr.. Cambrcleng) in debate the
other day, was this: "New York has been, from
me commencement Of our Government, The vic-
Inn Of unjust and oppressive legislation, State
ani National.'
Now, sir, this is a grave and serious charge.
It ought not to be lightly made; for, if true and
wherever it is believed; it ought to, and it will,
disgrace the Government and people of that
State in the eyes Of the civilized world-if true
it would justify revolt and rebellion by the People
Of that city. But sir, it is not true. The legis-
laton of the State of New York, toward that no.
bic city, has, at all times, been liberal and Just.
| The. Speaker. The words upon which the
gentleman from New York is now commenting
were spoken in debate upon another subject, and
cannot be replied to in this debate.
Mr.. $. proceeded. am aware that, in this re-
spect, was trespassing somewhat upon the strict
rules of debate. My object is answered, howev-
er, by calling attention to what regard as a most
unfounded charge upon those who have so long
held controlling influence in the legislation Of
my State, and upon those who have, in all past
time, occupied seats in her legislative halls.
will conclude by assuring gentlemen, that fl
the People ofthe State of New York, in their in
dvidual or representative character, are to be made
the targets for the bolts of Executive vengeance.
and if this city and this hall are to become the
vantage ground from which those bolts are 10 be
discharged, they will find New York buckling on