Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-03-23
VOL. XE--No. sci

!
the Senate, have we seen the displays of
his lofty and impassioned eloquence. AL
though shared largely with the Senator in
his apprehension for the purity Of our insti-
,utions, and tho permanency of civil liberty,
disposed always to look at the brighter side
Of human affairs, was sometimes incliued
TO hope that the vivid Imagination Of the
Senator had depicted the dangers by which
we were cnconpasscd in somewhat strong
or colors than they justified. The arduous
contest in which we were so long engage
was about to terminate in glorious -
ry. The very oblec, for Which the1
was formed was about to be accx
At this critical moment the Sen
he left us for the very purpose
the success Of the common cad
up his musket, knapsack, an
and j lined the other party.
horse, foot, and d agoon, and hGy
Composed the whole corps. He went, as
his p esent m Isl dstinJ ushod ally ccmmen.
ced with his eXpungiug resolution, solitary
dnn alone. The earliest instance recorded
IN history, within my rec election, Of an al.
y drawing off hl- forces from the combined
army, was that Of Achilles al the siege Of
Troy. He whhlrew with all his troops,
and remained IN the naighborhood, in sui
len and dgn'fied inactivity. But he did
not join the Trojan forces; and when, du.
ring the progress Of the siege, his hfuI
friend fell in battle, he raised his avonging
arm, drove the Trojans back into the gates
OF Troy. and satIated his vengeance by
Saying Prinm's noblest and dearest son,
the finest hero in the imnor al lad. But
A Achilles had been wronged, or imagined
himself wrongcd, in the person of the fair
and beautiful Briscis. We did no wrong
to he distinguished Senator from South
Carolina. Ga the contrary, we respected
him, confilcd in his great and acknowledge
ed lblllty, his uncommon genius, his extcn-
sjve experlnce, his supposed patriotism;
above all, we confded in his stern aud in
flexible fidelity.
Nevertheless, he left us, and joined our
common opponents, distressing and dis
trusted. He left us, as he .ells us in his
| Edgeflald letter. because the victory which
our common arms were about to achieve,
! was not to enure to him and his party, but
exclusively to the benefit Of his allies and
their cause. | thought that. actuated by
patriotism, Chat noblest Of human virtues,)
we had been contending together for our
common country, for her violated rights,
! her threatened Liberties, her PROSTATE
Constitution. Never did suppose that
personal or party considerations entered
INTO our views. Whether, if victory shall
ever again be about to perch upon the
standard of the spolls party (the denomi.
nation which the Senator from South Car.
DINA has so often TO his present ales,l he
will not feel himself constrained, by the
principles on which he has acted, to leave
them, because it may not enure to the
benefit Of himself and his party, leave 10
be Nus e be ween themselves.
The speech Of the Senator from South
Carolina was plausible, ingenious, abstract.
metaphysical and generalizIng. 1t did NOT
appear to me to be adapted to the bosoms
and business Of human life. 1t was aerial,
but no, not very high No in the air, either;
not quite as high as Mr. Clayton was in
his last ascension in his balloon. The Sen.
ator announced that there was n single al-
tentative, and no escape from one or the
O her b anch Oft. II ta'ed that We must
AXE tho bill under consideration or the
substitute proposed by the Senator from
Vrg MIA. | do no. concur in the statement
Of the case. There is another course en-
brarcd IN neither branch Of the Senator's
alternative and that course is to do no.
hing; always the sest when you are not
ccrlnln of what YOU ought to do. Let US
suoose that neither branch OF the alterna.
tive is acccp,cd. aud that nothing Is
DONE What then would be the conse.
ouence? There would be restoration Of
the law ofl78o, with all its cautious provi-
sjoDs and securities. provided by the wis.
4 dom Of our anc stors, which has been SO
tramolel UPON BIZ the ate and present Adj
minisrrn,lons, By that law, establishing
III, Treasury dep9rtment, the treasure Of
tho limited ates is to be received, kept,