Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-02-22


create confidence, we see and hear nothing
but denuncation instead of harmonious
action, we find nothing but unrelentng hos
t.lity.
Mr.. President, you and were in Congress,
in 1876, during the time Of the suspension OF
specie payments by the banks. What was
the spiri. of the Government at iha, time, sir:
Was it hostile, acrimonious, belligerant to-
wards The State institutions? Did it look on
/ them only to irown? Did 1t touch them only
to distress? Did it put them all under the
scourge? You know, sir, it was far other
wise. You know, that the Secretary of that
day entered into friendly correspondence
with them, and assured them that he would
second their efforts for resumption, bJ all the
means in his power You know, sir, that in
fact, he did render most essential aid. And
do you see, sir, any similar effort now? Do
you behold, in the bill before us, any thing OF
the spirit or the policy of Mr.. Madison, on an
occasion very like the present? Mr.. Madi
son was man Of such subdued self-respect,
that he was willing to yield to experience
and to the opinion of his country; man, too,
Of so much wisdom and true patriotism, that
nothing was allowed to stand between him
and his clear perception Of the public good.
Do you see, sir, any thing Of this spirt-of
the wisdom, Of the mind, and healing, and
restoring policy, Of Mr.. Madison, in this mea-
sure? Another illustrlous man, now num-
! bered with the dead, was then with us, and
was acting an important part, in the councils
Of the country. ] mean Mr.. Lowndes; man
not deficient in force and genius, but still
more distinguished for that large and com.
| prehensve view Of things which is more
necessary to make great men, and is also
much rarer, than mere positive talent-and
for an impartial well-balanced judgment,
which kept him free from prejudice and error,
and which gave great and just influence to
all his opinions. Do you see, sir, any thing
Of the spirit, the temper the cool Judgment,
or the long.sighted policy Of Mr.. Lowndes,
in all that is now before US? And Mr.. Craw-
! ford, then at the head Of the Treasury, ar
duously striving to restore the finances, to
re-cstablish both public and private credit,
and to place the currency once more upon
its safe and proper foundation; do you see,
sir, the marks of Mr.. Crawford's hands in the
measure now presented for our appreciation
/ Mr.. President, | have little to say of the
subordinate provisions Of this bill, Of the re-
ceivers general, or Of the dangerous power,
| given to the Secretary, Of investing the pub
lie money in State stocks of his own selec-
tion. My opposition to the bill, is to the
whole of it. 1t is general, uncompromsing,
and decided. oppose all its ends, objects,
and purposes; oppose all its means, its in
vcntions, and its contrivances. am opposed
TO the separation of Government and people;
! am opposed, now and at all times, to an ex-
elusive metallic currency am opposed to
the spirit in which the measure originates,
and to all and every emanaton and ebullition
OF that spirit. | solcmD!y declare, that in
thus studying our own safety, and renounc-
ing all care over the general currency, we
are, in my opinion, abandoning ono of the
plainest and most important of our constitu-
tonal duties. If, sir, we were, at this mo-
ment, at war with powerful enemy, and if
his fleets and armies were now ravaging our
shores, and it were proposed in Congress to
take care of ourselves, to defend the Capitol,
and abandon the country to its fate, it would
be, certainly, more striking, more fragrant
and daring, but in my judgment not a more
clear and manifest dereliction of duty, than
we commit in this open and professed nban-
donment Of our constitutional power and con-
stitutional duty, over the great interest ofthe
national currency. / mean to maintain that
constitutional power, and that constitutional
duty, to the last. 1t shall not be with my
consent. that our ancient policy shall be over
turned 1t shall not be with my consent, that
the country shall be plunged, further and
further, into the unfathomed depths of new
expedents 1t shall not be without u voice
OF remonstrancc from me, that one great and
important purpose for which this Government
was framed, shall now be utterly surrendered
and abandoned forever.