The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-17
MR.. VAN BUREN's RESPECT FOR THE
OPINIONS OF THE PEOPLE.


OPINIONS OF THE PEOPLE.
In his last annual message Mr.. Van Buren,
referred to the three modes Of collecting and
keeping the public money, that had been pre-
scented to Congress, at the extra session, viz
"The creation of National Bank the revival
of the deposite system, with notifications" and the
of such institutions" (banks.) In
respect 10 the last of these propositions, Ohe Sub
treasury said he, You hare had an opportuniip
since your adjournment not only 10 test still Jmthr
lie e1pedieney Of The measure, by the continued praci
cable operation of such parts OF are noo IN otce
int also 10 discorer hat should be sought for and
Regarded rilt te utmost deteyenee-THE OPINIONS AND
WISHES THE PEOPLE" n.
AT the same time, however, Mr.. Van Buren,
sought for reasons to justify himself in the be-
lief, and his friends in Congress for acting
upon it, that the opinion of the people had not
been expressed on the question at issue; and
that other considerations, than the Sub trea-
sury had operated to lead to the results of the
elections, that had taken place and to which
he referred, in the following extract:
Said Mr. Van Buren,: For one State only has
election been held Tor the federal Government,
but the early day at which il took place, deprves the
it might otherwise have derived from the result
You will, confident, yield to their results the
respect due to every expression OF the public voice
Desiring, however, to arrive at truth and just view
of the subject in all its bearings, you will at the
same time, remember, that questions of far deeper
and more immediate local interest than the fiscal
plans Of the National Treasury were involved in
those elections. Above all, we cannot overlook the
striking fact that there were, at the time in those
States, more than hundred and sixty millions OF
bank capital, of which large portions were subject TO
actual forfeiture-other large portions upheld only
by special and limited legislative indulgences-and
most OF, If not all TO greater or less extent depend
en for continuance of its corporate existence upon
the will OF the State Legislatures, to be then chosen
Apprized of this circumstance, you will judge whe
Their it is not most probable that the peculiar cond
ton Of that vast interest in these respects the extent
TO which it has been spread through all the ramifca
tidns of society its direct connection with the then
pending elections, and the feelings it calculated
u infuse into the canvass, have exercised far
greater influence over the result, than any which
could possibly have been produced by a conflict OF
opinion in respect TO question in the administra-
tion Of the General Government more remote and
far less important in its bearings"
In the foregoing remarks, it is evident, that
Mr.. Van Buren, had more direct reference to
the State of New York, This own, and the
result of the elections that had shortly before
taken place there, than TO any other How.
ever undgnifed it appeared to many, for the
Chief Magistrate of the Union to refer to the
result Of local elections in State Paper, which
Is regarded of such importance, as to be pre-
served in the archives of every government of
Europe, yet, we cannot believe the President
will now eschew the language he then uttered,
nor the principles he then maintained, above
quoted.
The people Of his own State, which repre-
sents one-sixth of the whole Union in the
House of Representatives of the Congress of
the United States, in addition to those of many
other States, have spoken in their sober
second thought" that I" never wrong and
always efficient" The only questions before
them were, the great ones connected with '.the
administration Of the General Government"
and " the fiscal plans Of the National Treasu-
ry." These alone, were the great questions
involved in those elections" There was no
bank capital "subject to actual forfeiture"
nor "upheld by special and limited legislative
indulgences." These questions had been
wholly placed at rest long since, and therefore
cxerted no influence whatever. And what has
the result proven7 Why, that there has been
no change among the people, between the pc
Rod when those influences were in full force and
operated, las asserted,) on the local elections
and the period, when the opinion of the people
has been expressed at an election held for
the Federal Government when all those in
fucnces had ceased to exist. These facts
clearly show that Mr.. Van Buren, was in error,
in the views he expressed as to the causes of
the result of the elections to which ne has re-
ferred.
Acting on his own principles, that "he
opinions and ,Dishes Of the people, should erer
be sought for and regarded Nth the utmost
we cannot bring our minds to the
belief, that the President will ever again re-
commend the Sub-Treasury in any shape
Nevertheless, it is confidently asserted here,
that he will. Should he do so, in what situa-
ton will it place many Of his immediate friends,
and hitherto supporters Of that measure We
allude particularly to Messrs. Cambreeng,
Moore, Titus, Broadhead, Vail, Degraf, Gal
up, Bronson, Taylor, Noble, and probably
some others. They have learnt the "oPnions
and wishes of their constituents by the most
clear and emphatic expressions ofthem against
The Sub Treasury. Will the President look
10 them for their support Of that measure, IN
he event of his recommending it again, when
he has told them, that those "opinions and