Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-03-06

has heen suggested. lie claims fur il the
character of ta,ogjc with the People
He makes out this Sub-'Yrcasury plan 10
be quite high in popular estimation Cor
tainly, Sir, IT thc Hon. member thinks SO,
be and see with different eyes, hear with
different ears, or gather the mems ul opin-
ION from very different sources. Iut what
Is the gentleman argument. 1t - this
The two Houses oi Congress. hc SAYS &c
fleet the wishes aud opinions of tho people
and with the two Houses of Congress. this
system, he supposcs, Is more acccptcblc
than any other.
Now sir, with the utmost respect for the
two Houses Of Congress, and all their nom
bcrs, must be permitted TO express a doubt.
and indeed n good deal more than n doubt,
whether, on tins subject, and at the present
moment, the two Houses do exactly reflect
the opinions and wishes of the people. |
would not have advertcd to the state Of
opinion here, compared with the state Of
public opinion IN the country, If the gen
tieman had not founded az argument on
the supposed disposition of the two Houses.
and on the fact, that they truly set forth
the public opinion, But since he has
brought such an Argument, it is proper to
examine It's foundation.
In a general sense, undoubtedly. Sir, die
members Of the two Houses must be under
stood TO represent the sentiments Of their
constituents, the people of the United
States. Their acts bind them as their
Representatives. and they must be consid
cred, in legal sense, as conforming TO the
will of their constituents. But, owing TO
the manner Of our organization, and to the
periods and times Of election, il certainly
may happen, that at a particular moment,
and on particular subject, opinion ont
doors may be one way, while opinion here
is another And how is it now, if we may
Judge by the usual indications Does the
gentleman hope for no vote, in this body,
for his Bill, bat sucb as shall be IN his opin-
ion, in strict accordance with the wishes,
as generally understood, and most recently
expressed, in tho State from which that
f, vote shall come
I shall be exceedingly sorry, sir, for in
stance, TO see a vote from Maine given for
this Bill hope may not. But if there
should be such a vote, can the gentleman
say that he believes in his conscience, ii
will express the wishes Of majority Of the
people of that State And so Of New
Jersey, aud one, if not more Statcs in the
West. ! am quite sure that gentlemen
who may give their votes, viii discharge
their duty according to their own enlichtcn-
ed judgments, and they are no way account
able TO me for the manner in which they
discharge it but when the honorable mem
Der from New York contends that this body
now accurately represents the public opin-
ion, on the Sub-Treasury system, We must
look AT the facts. And with all possible
respect for the honorable member, must
even take leave to ask him, whether, in his
Judgment, he, himself, IS truly rejecting
the opinions and wishes Of majority OF
tho People Of New York, while be is pro.
posing and supporting this bill Where
does he fad evidence Of thc favor of the
people Of That State towards this measure ,
Does he find it in the City, III the coua.
try In tie recently elected House Of
Assembly: In the recently elected mem
bcrs Of the Senate Can he name a place
can he lay reauc, for the popularity Of
thi, measure, 10 the whole State of New
York Between Montauk Point and Cat
tara gus, and between the mouutains ol
PENNSYLVANIA and the north end Of Lake
Champlain, can he any where pot his finger
'i lltt llhI's "HH a"y1 '''N - " i'yt Nh'''
the Sub.Trcasury IS popular He may
find places, no doubt, though they are SOME
what scarce, vhe,s lis friends have been
, able to maintain their asceEdancy, a2irih-
I standing the unpopuiarily Of the measure
bat can he find one place, one spot OF any
. extent. in which this measure ot relief o.
the choice, thc layorite. Of majority Of the
People
+ Mr Picedcnt, the honorable member ha'
I long been in public lie, and has Witnessed
I often, the change and fluctuations OF poit
D ical parties an! political opinions. Aud
< wiI, ak ham what be- thinks Of the hurrcau'
, which swept over New YORK. ln Ihe hr
70 week Of last November, Did he ogc
r know tie like. Has he before ever beet
s. called On 20 Withstand such q vht'aind
I or bad be previously any suspicion tia
4 such an outbreak 90 lhc political element
y was al hand! am persuaded. SIR that h
4 feared such n thing much less than h"Pe'
q forit; aud uy oau hopes, although ! hc
d hopes, must conlc.zs leli Iar short % ih