The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-15

4
l Pile Of the new States.
The Globe then attempts to ridicule the efforts of
Senator PREsTos, in utter violation of Justice and
| truth. Not his arguments or his Eaets--those are
commodities which can seldom be brought into the
service of the cause il sustains-but Mr. Preston,
1unaer! Mr. Preston is admitted by the best Judges
10 be of the finest orators in the Union and this
effort is said to have been distinguished by some Of
the finest passages ever executed BIZ him. 1t is, we
suppose for this very that il is made the sub
ject Of the Globes willess disparagement.
This friend Of "equal rights" and largest free
dom" asserts also in connection with the subject Of
the lands that Mr.. Rives was quite used up by MIR.
Walker! That is thing which, six months ago,
the Globe would have denied il possible for MIR.
Walker todo. But since Mr.. Rives has had the pre-
sumption 10 expose the hypocrisy Of the adminstra
tion in relation to the Divorce Of Bank and State and
its hairless intercourse with one Of the subjects of its
feigned wrath the Globe must unsay all il has ever
said In his favor, and that it has heretofore
given false testimony hundred times in his behalf
The truth is, that Mr.. Walkers attempt TO convict
MIR. Rves OF inconsistency was dead failure, and
the Globes efforts equally vain and unsuccessful.
The question In 1887 only had reference TO tempo
rary measure affecting certain settlers and pre-emp-
TONERS. The Bill ofthat day involved no such policy
as is contemplated in this Graduation Bill, against
which, The Globe very well knows, Mr. Riyes voted
last session also. Mr.. Rives' policy has always been
and is now, to entend as much Hberality TO the nep
states as IS reeonciieable pih Justice 10 the old
II strikes us that il i'll becomes MIR. Walker to
| charge Mr.. Rives with inconsistency" His own
house Is glass, this subject, and immnently ex-
posed And lest we should be charged with making
random assertions, we beg leave TO call public aen
ton to the following extracts from speech of Mr..
| Walker in jan, 1887, on Mr.. Rves' Currency
Bill:
Sir said MI. Walker, being deeply solictous to
1 preserve unbroken the ranks Of the Democratic
party in this body, participating with the people in
grateful recollections of the distinguished services
rendered by the Senator from Missouri TO the De-
mocracy OF the Union, he would pass by that Sena-
mr.. Benton here arose from his chair and de-
manded with much warmth that Mr.. Walker
should mol pass BY one Of them. Mr. w. asked,
| What one Mr. y. replied in an angry tone Moi
one sir. Then Mr.. w SAID he would examine
them all and in spirit of freedom, that he would
endeavor 10 return bto,o for bior, and that if the
Senator from Missouri desired, as it appeared he
did, an angry controversy with him, in all its con-
sequences in and out of this House he could be
gratifed
Sir, said Mr.. W.. why has the Senator from Mis-
souri, assailed the Committee on Public Lands
and himself, as the humble organl He not
the author of this measure, so much denounced by
the Senator from Missouri, nor had be said one
word upon the subject. The measure originated
with the Senator from Virginia, (Mr. Rives) He
was the author of the measure, and had been and
still was its able Jealous, and successful advocate.
Why then, had the Senator from Missouri, assailed
him (Mr w y and permitted the author of the mea-
sure 10 escape UNPUBLISHED Sir, are the arrows
which appear TO be aimed by the Senator from Mis-
souri, al the humble organ of the Committee on
Public Lands, who reported this bill, intended to
iniiet wound in another quarter2 Is one Senator
the apparent object Of assault when another is de-
signed as the real victml Sir, when the Senator
from Missouri, without any provocalion like thun-
derbolt from an uncouded sky, broke upon the
Senate in perfect tempest Of wrath and fury, burst
ing upon his poor head like tropical tornado, did
he intend 10 sweep before the avenging storm an
other individual more obnoxious TO his censure.
Sir, said Mr.. W., the Senator from Missouri has
there repeated the prayer "God save the country
from the Committee on Public Lands" but, Mr. w.
believed that if the prayer Of the country could be
heard within three weeks, 1t would be God sare us
from the witd visionary rtinoas, and impraeticabk
schemes Of The Senator Of Missouri TOR exclusive gold
the country but Of the Senate aciA scarcely dissent
ing roce. Sir, If the Senator from Missouri could,
BY his mandate, in direct opposition to the views of
the President, heretofore expressed, sweep from ex-
Slence all the banks Of the States and establish his
exclusive constitutional currency of gold and silver,
he would bring upon this country scenes of ruin and
distress without parallel-an immediate bankrupt
cy of nearly every debtor, and almost every creditor
probation in the price of all property and all pro-
ducts and an immediate desertion by States and in
dividuals, of nearly every work OF private enter
prize or public improvement. The country 1rontd De
inroiucd in universal bankruptcy, and near the
grare of the nation prosperity wonid perhaps repo@
the scattered fragments of those great and glorious in
stutons rhich gires happiness TO millions here and
hopes 10 millions more Of dtsenfhratment from despotie
p0,rer. Sir, in resistance to the power of the Bank
of the United States, in opposition TO the reesablish-
ment of any similar institution, the Senator would
find Mr. W. with him but he could not enlist as
recruit in this ne1r crusade against the banks OF MS
| orn and erery 0thcr State IN the Union.
Again said Mr. Walker "But the Senator from
Missouri tells us that this measure of the committee
is repeal of the Constitution BY authorizing the re-
! ceipt Of paper money in revenue payments. so,
then The Constitution nercr has had an existence; f0r
Tie period cannot be designated hen paper money icas
not so receivable by the Federal Government. This
species of money was expressly made receivable for
| the public dues by an act of Congress passed imme-
diately after the adoption of the Constitution, and
which remanedin full force until 1871 1t was SO
received, as matter OF practice, from 1911 until
| 1916. When again by an act of Congress then pass.
ed, and which has just expired it was so authorized
to be received during all that period. Now, although
these acts have expired there is that which is equi-
vaent 10 law still in force, expressly authorizing
the notes Of specie paying banks OF the States to be
received in revenue payments. Il IS the Jo,nl resoli
ton of 1916, adopted by both Houses OF Congress,
and approved by President Madison"
Mr. Walker now, in place Of challenging the
Senator from Missouri to combat " in and out of the
House. as he did then, appears to be pupil of his
and to be lead wholly by him.
Now, Senator Walker goes with the Senator
from Missouri in his eitd, visionary, and i'm
! practicable scheme for exclusive gold and siiuer
which he declared would lead to scenes of ruin and
distress withouta parallel"
Will the Globe be good enough TO explain the
consistency Of Senator Waker2
~ We humblY and sincerely admonish all