Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-08-16
doned crow and turned adriFt to sink or

I'd some Of themselves Then there was a
wincing and a shrinking, but none dared
openly to complain. They did shudder
little when the cutter Was seen to go down in
the storm, but the exclamation was, Gen.
tlemen, we are grievcd for those who were
in the cutter, but far more grieved for the
danger of this present company" Laugh.
ter Yes, they did grieve little when the
lean and skinny hand OF adversely knocked
at their own door, and their pockets failed to
jingle with the bright gold which had glitter
ed so resplcndently in their promises to an
abused and deluded people. This awaken
ed some little belief that there might posi-
bly, lie some little temporary Inconvenience
felt; but the petitions from the thousands,
and the tens and hundreds of thousands,
which were inundating the tables of the
House, could not even gain hearing. Ne
YER had they been thoroughly awake till the
bowling hounds of their own kennel began
10 cry around them for supplies sup
plies !" more supplies-instant supplies-not
Tor the People, but for the Government.
Then the cry was, 1.-THE Government must
stop; the Government must go down.
We'll, Sir. said Mr.. p, if this Government
must go down, want it should go down Adj
mlnlstration first-HEAD FOREMOST! I do be-
4 Iieve that never since men have dwelt on the
face of the earth, and had rulers over them,
was there ever an administration seen in any
country OF the globe, or in any age of time,
so utterly callous to the sufferings or wishes
OF the people, or so reckless of their veal or
wo. And will say further, that do not be-
lleve that in any country Of the world would
such destruction of public property with
out the pretence of an invading enemy, and
proceeding from the acts of the government
alone, have been submitted to without ma
tlonal CONFUSION. No other people on the
face of the earth but the free citizens of this
Rupublic, would ever have submitted to it.
No, Sir,-not in Turkey itself. Had the
Sultan by his despotic firmen suddenly
thrown the subjects Of his throne as far back
| from their previous condition, bad as it might
before have been, as this country had been
thrown by the experiment on its currency,
he would the next night have slept in the
Bosphorus. And why has it not been SO
here? I'll tell you why the American peo-
pie well know. that they hold the remedy in
their own hands; they know that they still
hold the reins of power; and if their steeds
prove FESTIVE and dispute their pleasure,
they know another thing, that they hold the
whip as well as the reins.
We have had to fight hard battle; and
through the aid and blessing of heaven we
nave been able to save the citadel of the Con-
stitution rely upon it, the worst part of the
contest yet remains. We contend with a
veteran foe; though worsted they are not
vanquished-they have lost a battle, but they
will sweep round and reappear with a new
front, but under the old flag.
Sir, is it not so? even since the adjourn
ment. hear they have put forth new bull
letin, evincing determination still to hold
on to the same policy. Had been consult
ed, / should have counselled that very course.
They seem to be cemented. They have been
stepped so long in wickedness, that they are
under judicial blindness. They remind
me OF the simpleton who in great storm at
sea, being in mortal fear, went and dashed
himself TO the anchor, SO that if the ship d. d
60 down, he at least might be safe. So has
this Administration tied itself fast to the Sub
Treasury policy; and may the Genius of
Gravitation carry them SO straight and SO
profoundly to the bottom, that not a bubble
shall rise to mark the spot where they went
down! Imay as well speak the truth open
ly; for even short experience in political
life, has convinced me, that an open, candid
cou is the best and true course.
Ibelieve that part of the mischief which
this administration has effected, may be
traced to its very weakness. We have not
dreaded it as we ought to have done; it has
been suffered to gnaw as a worm, where 1t
would have been crushed as serpent.
One Of the gentlemen who has addressed
you, has been pleased to say that / have
fought a good fight; and recreant indeed
should ] have been could have turned my
back in such a contest. The reference pre-
sumo was to the late struggle in my State
for, though thousands of miles removed, your
intelligence has fully apprised you that an
inroad was made on our own rights, and ON
the Constitution, by the foul and nefarious
decision of the House of Representatives in
regard to late Mississippi election.
| 1t fact that the deep fundamental prin-
ciples of our Institutions have not enough
! been looked at. We glory in the lnstitu-
tons themselves, and consider them as the
| great bulwarks of our freedom while we too
much forget the great principles on which
they rest. These broad and general pripci-
pies of right, are like the roots of the ever
lasting mountains they lie deep-aro out
of sight and forgotten--but they are never
theless the pillars of the earth. We are apt
to think Of these principles as distractions
Us barren gcneralities-not coming immcdi-
, atcly home to our business and bosoms; we
cannot conceive it possible that any man
should once think of attacking them but our
security is our danger. They may be at
tackled. They have been assailed. One of
r these great principles of our freedom is the
, Elective Franchise, and this has been at
: tackled in the persons Of the Representatives
} Of Mississippi.
! We thought that this was thing so set
} tied, that no one would dream of attempting
: to disturb IL: but we contend with foe that
! knows nothing Of civilized warfare. They
assailed the citadel of our liberty and had
the people Of Mississippi submitted to it
had they yielded the key of this their last
refuge, their liberties would have been gone,
nor would they have deserved any longer to
, be free. But they were not thus stolid, thus
besottcd, thus base and dastardly they as
sisted the attack and resisted it most glori-
ously they were true to themselves, and
true to YOU: for this was your question as