The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-10-05

rule Of action that the Representative whatever be his
preferences. Is TO give the vote which his constituents
had given at the Presidential polls.
The Representatives Of the people, then. having no
participation such, IN the election Of President and
some OF them (the Members Of both Houses OF Con-
gress) being excluded by positive co1siiu-
tona prohibition, from being electors Of PRESIDENT
il not obvious violation Of tho spirit OF the Consu-
ton, well as gross and most mischevoos perver-
OF the representative trust. that they should be i'm
peroosly summoned, under the mandate OF this
system Of party tactics. TO pledge themselves TO the
support Of this that candidate for the Presidency
The wide sphere Of their constitutional duties the
other hand presents questions Of the utmost mpor
tsnce touching the public policy Of the country and tho
vital interests Of the people, IN regard TO which their
opinions and principles should be known and
eddy declared On their potes, Representatives, for
example, may depend the defeat Of schemes
(seekng the Legislative sanclion) for the dangerous
enlargement Of Executive power-for the increase OF
public expenditure and consequently iaxaton-for UNI
constitutional encroachments the rights Of the people
and Inc Satesfor system, yesterday OF ARTIFICIAL pro-
ieeiioa to-day Of unnatural aud destruepe icarfare
upon the interests of industry and trade measures all
involving the important consequences TO the pub
lie prosperity and the public liberty, and depending all,
for their contamination defeat, the Representatives
| Of the people. Such questions these. especially
those which actually pending before the public coun
ellis OF the country the Legitimate and appropriate
tests the election OF Representatives But no. follow
citizens, the accians Of party will not have so All
these great questions showed asde
and magisteriaIly told that the only issue IS,
..are you for Van Buren, or Clay as President" This
10 Aarons serpent in the hands OF the political magi-
| cians swallowing up all the rest.
And what fellow citizens has been the effect Of this
party uggery Of the Richmond Enquirer and It's school
Of political casuiss in regard the only real practical
which is at this time before the country mean,
Of course, the SubTressuy scheme and its dependant
train Of measures Why, that while decided majority
Of the people are conisssedy opposed to ,h. odiou.
scheme it Is altogether possible that msjorty Of
their Representatives in favor Of it, and may yet
put it upon the country How has this happened you
will naturally ask, fellow citizens. Why thusby sys-
tema,ical holding up the which they have made
OF Van Buren, Clay" in those portions OF the
try where the former seemed to he preferred while his
policy was condemned many persons, warmly opposed
to the Sub Treasury scheme, have yet voted for cand
dates in favor Of that measure, because those candi-
dates happened to be Van Buren, men, and il was me-
cessary they said, to support Mr. Van Buren, for the
Presidency! Have we not In our own State, every
where seen decided opponents Of the Sub Treasury
scheme, under the influence Of this deceptive issue,
thus strangely voting against their opinions this
great question OF national policy Is not mockery,
gentlemen, TO call system Of political management,
under which so extraordinary result is worked out by
party tactics, free Representative system in which
the opinions Of The people shape and decide the course
OF public measures On the contrary. is II not mixed
system Of fraud and duress. by which, under the forms
of Representative Government and by means OF false
issues and fabricated alternatives the followers of party
induced to surrender their most deliberate and So
lemn convictions to the will Of the President, aud he
dictates The lao. Should this odous and most dan
gerous measure become the law Of the land feel it
my duty, fellow citizens. to You in time there is
serious danger it WILL unless the people pu, forth
all their energy and decision arrest it, heavy
sponsbilty will rest somewhere. Ii will be upon
Us, gentlemen, who have adopted the only Of
rendering opposition to it effectua by sustaining
Representatives who are opposed to it, But it will
w ,yh thew
protested the most vehement opposition to the Sub
Treasury as dangerous TO liberty by increasing the
power OF the Executive, already too great for Re-
public and incompatible alike with limited Executive
and guarded Erehequer, have yet thrown up their
caps, with loud huszas, whenever Sub. Treasury
has been elected, and have at the time, done all
they could to promote the election of such. If they
can rejoice at victory thus obtained their
principles, let them do it. envy them their tri-
umph nor the moral feeling that can enjoy it.
Had the recent elections, which have developed the
danger, to which have called your attention. of the
possible passage Of the Sub-treasury scheme, been
conducted on their only and constitutional basis
to wit, opposition to, or support Of great leading
sure OF public policy most perseverngly and pernaci
ously urged upon the public councils-the country
would have been relieved from all apprehension of the
calamltous visitation with which it is threatened.
decided majority Of the people being confessedly op-
posed to it, they would have returned Representatives
opposed to It, And while the defeat OF the Sub
scheme would have been thus placed beyond all doubt
there would have been danger Of the bug bear alter
native oil the fifty million bank; first, because there
were men enough to be found Representatives who
are, at the same time opposed to the Sub. treasury
scheme and National Bank, and secondly because the
President stood solemny pledged to veto National
Bank during his term, coextensiye with that Of the
Congress just elected Neither would the darling OBJ
ject Of the re election Of Mr.. Van Buren,, to which
some persons seem prepared to sacrifice every other
consideration have been put moreeopardy by this
tural and constitutional course Of procedure if the peo
pie really desired his election for having retained the
decision Of the Presidential election in their own hands,
they would be free their votes upon him. pro-
vided they would WELD it, when that election came
in the autumn Of 1870
Profoundly impressed with the conviction that this
practice OF holding up the claims Of competing candi
dates for the Presidency as the sole test the choice Of
popular Representatives, and requiring them uncond-
tionay to enlist under the banner Of other Of
the rival cheftains, is practice frangh with infinite
danger to The liberties and public morals Of the country
and must inevitably terminate in claiming the Repre-
sentative branch of the Government to the of Ex-
ecutve supremacy, beg leave, in aid Of my own fee
BILE warnings TO recall you fellowctzens the solemn
admonons Of one, whose voice won't to be heard
with respec, by the Republicans Of the land. mean
John Taylor Of Carolne-ihe co-laborer Of Madison
in the great struggle Of 9S and 80, and Of whom Mr.
Jefferson has said that every Of his lfe and every
word he wrote proved him to be Republican.
This distinguished Republican Statesman in his book
" on the Principles and Policy OF the Government of
the United S,a,es speaking of the practice OF Le-
gisatures parties and individuals enlsting under
ddaes for the Presidency this instructive and
impressive language Representation" says he,
"limed to the alternative Of enlisng under OF
these parties ceases TO be instrument Of national
self government. apd dwindcs into instrument of
oppression for the prime minister his antagonist
We and despise the old wing and tory farce, the
new farce of inns and outs in England we hold in
detesation the corruption which ensts the Reprcsen-
atives OF rich and wise nation under the minister Of
Executive power or his expected successor; we de-
plore the contempt for public character, the apathy To-
yards public interest and The surrender Of The ind 10
selfshness which this foolish mpos on generates; and
xnfuve nsix Ranraaani niuna hall