The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-09
MIR. LEGAR T..

The correspondent of the Baltimore Patriot speaks
follows OF this distinguished member of the House.
and of his admirable speech on the proposition TO
raise the Committee Of Investigation
While am referring to this speech of the distn-
guished member from Charleston for the purpose of
presenting the clear and forcible reasoning Of a
sound, logical thinker, cannot turbear TO present
also to your readers The noble passage with which
h. closed. | never heard Mr.. Legare speak half so
we'll in point of manner, and the style OF the follow
ing sentences though they want the voice, the look
the gestures, which gave them life, bears the I'M
press Of finished rhetorician.
"Sr, my colleague, (Mr. Pickens) has spoken
withou, reserve on this subject-he scrupes not to
declare that there has been foul corruption in the
conduct of our affairs. do not go 50 far-pr badly
because know less of these things than he does.-
But do say that these strange portenS and prod
of fraud-these spectral terrorS of official profigacy
almost unheard OF in our previous history, but which
have so often Of late visited the glimpses of The
moon," make me fear that something is rotten in
the State OF Denmark II is time, sir that we should
all be reused up, and most heartily do felicta,e The
country the prospect that the South, at this i'm
por,an juncture, will be brought back to her proper
position in our federal politics. That position is
necessarily defensive and conservative. We have
nothing TO desire or TO hope from innovation or
abuse of any kind. Our only salvation is in the
Constitution as it was formed by our fathers honestly
carried out in all its principles and IN its true spirit
The sceptre is departed from us.-The axes and
None Of Us, il is probable, will ever more lead The
pomp of the triumph up the steep of this Capitol
But have still our power and our mission, and II
we execute them with courage and constancy, We
shall ene ourselves TO the gratitude OF the country
and Of poS;erly. We have the T,ibunitian veto to
re strain power We have the Censora aulhorityto
rebuke and 10 chaslise corruption. Standing, as we
ought aloof from the perverse influences OF ambi-
tion il should be our aim, il is undoubtedly within
our power, 10 maintain that high public morality
which is worth more than all constitutions, and
without which all constitutions, be h:y what they
mav are mere mockery. No language can cha
racteize the baseness and folly of the southern man
who would sacrifice the independence, the elevation
and the controlling advantages OF such position to
the slavish discipline and low ends Of faction. !
repeat it, rejoice, from the bottom OF my heart IN
the hope that my colleague and his friends are still
ready u lay bare their right arms in defence Of the
good cause; and never let me assure them, never
was prouder post assigned to brave men in
mighty battle than will be theirs if they but will it
| So" u.s..
Mr.. Legare will not be in the next Congress
unfortunately for his State and for the country! He
is 10 be succeeded by one, whose worst fault is
that he has part lot in the region OF the muses.
Mr.. Legafe will leave Congress with the respect Of
all; and the warmeS personal regard of many who
are acquainted with him Literature will hail with
delight one Of her best supporters and ornaments,