Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1838-08-09

gone forth with the broad shield OF the con-
stitniiou TO fight the battles OF the country
in the midst Of the contest to this shield they
have held fast, and they at least can boast,
that they have brought il back, TO be IN fu-
ture borne before the country for its protcc.
ton and salvation. 1t is indeed fearful and
terrible thing inn country protesting to be
governed according TO the will OF the people,
when those very people ceasing TO expect
any good at the hands of the constituted au-
thorilies, find their greatest consolation IN
seeing those authorities deprived OF the pow
er to do evil. Such however, Is our case,
and appeal to you, whether, when the final
adjournment of Congress was announced,
YOU did rot feel as though an incubus were
removed from your breasts, in the Conscious
ness that you were at liberty for the ensuing
six months to pursue your various avocations
unrnolested by new experiments.
The course Of the administration, their
professcd and acknowledged course, in leav-
ing the people in the lurch, while all their
concern was exhausted IN providing Tor the
safety Of the government, may be justly com
pared to the conduct Of the officers and crew,
who, in the moment Of danger should $40"
away in the ships boat the best OF the stores
and provisions, and cutting adriit should icavc
The deserted and unhappy passengers 10 shiit
BE
did express it is true, for the sufferngs OF the
people. but they were awake ned to those SUI
ierings only when the disasters OF the coun-
try began to be followed by emptiness IN the
Treasury. Like Don Juan's reckless and
wicked sailors,
They grieyed for those who pershed in the cutter,
hut PRINCIPALLY Tor the bread aud butter
They did indeed experience some CON-
FUNCTIONS for the snircrlngs of the people, but
!, was only when the skinny finger OF ad,er-
sity began to be pointed at them when the
enpty pockets OF the office holders no longer
iingled with the fivorite purses of gold and
silver; when the supplies Of the governmen
ran low, when the lank and hungry hounds
of the palace growlcd at tho absence OF their
daily food, then it was that some feelings OF
sympathy for the suherings OF the people be-
gan To be felt.
This idea of saving the government and
leaving the people to shift us theycan, does
not correspond with my notions. Ii IN con-
sequence of the schemes adopted by an ad-
mInlstraton to prosper themselves at the ex'
pcnse of the people, the country must go
down, Heaven grant that IN such case, II
may at least go down, head foremost, t,-ad
mlnistrailon first.
Fellow citizens. sincerely believe, thai
=
has there existed an administration upon the
iace OF it, so utterly regardless Of the inter
ests of the people; nor do believe that III
any other country situated as ours was, winch
umvlsitcd by war, pes,.lence, famine, or othei
natural disaster, should suddenly by the acts
Of The government be plunged into such deeT
distress, the event would have happene,
without ciyA commoiion. Even IN despotie
Turkey, ifby some sudden firman, the coun
try had been thrown comparatively MS fai
back, as ours has been in the last two years
the Sultan who issued it, would be apt tt
sleep the next morning in the Bosphorus, hls
neck marked by his own bowstrng.
The Repre- esentativcs of the people have
indeed been engaged n a fearful and terri
Bile conflict, apd they have returned to invoke
the aid Of stronger arm, that of the people
themselves, for .hc still more terrible contest
that is yet to be fought. For though the
troops ofthc administration have been beaten
and rcpnlsed, like tho squadrons OF the desert
they yield aud fly only III the hope 10 form
again, and return To the conflict with re
doubled vgor. Not that have any fears u
The passage Of any Sub-rreasury Bill ; tina
rcheme is too Justly odious and too universal
ly secuted. Indeed it seems to me to judg
from their conduct in relation to this mattel
administration mad, and inspired them to pro
pose this fatal project rs means OF thel
own destruction. Even now, as1 understan,
they have Just issued new bulletin, in whic
the black flag is nailed to the mast and thei
determination avowcd with the Sub-Trcasu
~ to sink or swim,- procedure which re
minds me Of story that read in my schoo
boy DAYS, think in one of the classics, whicl
de.crsrs simplcton, who, in the midst OF
storm, overcome by the terrors of impending
shipwreck tied himself TO an anchor, in or
der that when The ship went down, he NIGH
still safely float on the surface! The ad
ininstratlon will find that in cinging to The
Sub-Treasury scheme, they have tied them
eelvcs TO an anchor, and may the genius q
gravitation smilc over the descent, and n
bubble rise TO tell their fate!
You have been pleased to say. or to joi
rather with your applause in the sep,ime'
at the gentleman who spoke of me as havin
fought the good fight. desire to express
.you my heartfelt satisfaction that the INTEL
Sgrncc of this community, so readily pcrcei'
ed The inroad attempted TO be made upo
their liberties, in common with the libertlt
Of the whole country, by the foul and inf
mons decision Of the House of Represent
tlvcs--for make it habit 10 speak honestl
openly 0nu ueclueuIy-i say ine :O'I uHu "
famous decision in regard'to the Mississippi
election. Had that attack succeeded, one Q
the fundamental principles Of the constitu
tion would have been violated and destroyed
On those great fundamental principles ever,
thing depends. and yet they arc too frequent
ly regarded as mere distractions, we are to-
apt to neglect them and leave them unguard
ed, under the idea that no audacity will ven
ture To attack them. Such principle is tn
elective franchise, the very palladium OF til
constitution; nhd had the people OF Mlssi'
sippi submitted to the attempt Of the fedcri
government. to deprive them Of it, | shoul
have despaired OF the republic; not singl
principle of the constitution would have bee
worth straw. When we look back and sc
this bright gem Of our common rights so nea
ly stolen awny are we not strenuously cnllC
upon, is not every citizen Of the countl
sircnuously called upon to keep an untlrir
and never ceasng witch, against like insit
ous attempts against the great fundamcnt
principles Of our dearest rights and lbe
tics?
Let us look now ot the great battle wbi'
is raging and see if ! do not tell you tru
when say that every patrot, ought like q
........Ia ..... ,,c Ito ravnlnt nm In kppn CO