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

snees ,oitA elections whether OF the State Qeneral
Government By q6icsrs Of ts latter, should b Deem
ed cause Of removal, for" said he "if 2 eenstiiA-
oaai remedy By The etecire principle becomes aohtng
If IL may Be mioihered By he enormous patronage Of
Lis General Gorernmenf'-and that, In fulhlment OF
this declaration, immediately amer his installation
in office, be caused circular to be issued by tue
heads OF department, announcing 10 all The classes
and grades OF federal officers The rule Of their con-
duct, that while ID not INTENDED TO restrain the
right of any officer to give his own vote In elections
Ia right conceded by all,) IL was deemed highy
improper aud Inconsistent with the spirit OF the
constitution and their duties under Il. Tor ofhcers
depending on the Executive Of the Union To attempt
10 control influence the Tree exercise Of the elective
right by Others"
Il was these vital Republican doctrines Of Mr..
Jefferson and Of the apostles Of liberty In every land
where the voice Of freedom has been heard, that
maintained and enforced to the best of my ability, in
the speech made in answer 10 Mr.. Wallis daring
and portentous report. These the doctrines,
fellow citizens, lying the very foundation OF free
representative government which constitute the gag
lac supported. II there be treason in them, my
cusors may make the most of II. There Is nothing
which said on that occasion which has moi the sane
tion Of my most deliberate judgment, and which 1
do not believe with my whole heart" II am 10
fall beneath the furious denunciation OF party, let
me fall say, for endeayorng to uphold the princi-
Piles OF Lock and Jefferson agansihe daring assaults
Of such MODERN PROFESSORS of Democracy as MIR.
Wall and his political friends.
In regard 10 MIR. Criiiendens Bill, did not vote
forii objected TO IT, because of what conceived
to be It's vague definition of the offence OF inter-
ference and also Of its penalties, Ga pecnniary
amercement OF $500, and perpetual disqualification
for holding office In uture,) which thought were
not in harmony with The mild spirit Of our system.
1t is but justice that high minded and distinguished
Senator TO say that he became sensible himself OF the
force OF these objections to measure which he had
brought forward in haste and without consultation,
and that he wished and proposed to obviale them in
a great degree by such modification of his Bill as
would make the punishment OF the offence simple
removal from office, (without fine or permanent dis
qualifications but the despotism Of party majority
refused TO him what has hitherto been considered
an established parliamentary courtesy-that of per-
hitting the mover OF measure TO put Il In shape
the most agreeable to himself, before the sense of
the body is taken upon it. offered, gentlemen, a
proposition of my own a substitute for Mr.. Crit
lenden's Bill, took care TO conch il in the rery
language OF Mr. Jefferson, (taken from his letter TO
Gov. Mexican and his memorable circular already
quoted) to afford the gentlemen of the adrni.
nistraton party, who SO often make use Of his great
name and profess to be his true disciples, an oppor-
luniiy OF showing the sincerity Of their faith by
voting upon The words of the great apostle of De-
nocracy" They met the trial, gentlemen In the
genuine spirit of modern party heroim; and in
despite of all their professions, did not hesitate to
vote down the aOords and principles OF Thomas JEFF
| erson! They thus installed in triumph. The doc
| trines Of MIR. Wallis Report as the acknowledged
| creed Of the ne,c Democratic party. We have seen,
gentlemen, since this high and deliberate sanction
/ given to these doctrines, how ready the President
has been act them ont by removals from office, of
men, whose honorable and satisfactory discharge OF
their public duties has not and cannot be impeached
and against whom nothing can be alleged, except
that they have declined to take part in those cleo
pioneering services, which are henceforward to be
considered as the indispensable return for office,
well as the original price of its acquisition With
the double stimulus thus administered to partisan
serviliiy among the candidates for public employ.
ment and to elecioneering activity on the part of
those who are already in the possession and employ
ment OF the patronage Of the government, what are
we 10 expect, felow-czens, but venal and sordid
party despotism, in which The PrGl0rian cohorts at
the capitol and the g,onary armies in the provinces
Of office -holders and ohce-seekcrs, will dispose, at
will, of The highest trusts Of the nation.
! have now, fellow-citizens, answered all the
counts of the Indictment against me; and call upon
you as honest and conscientious men TO decide be-
tween me and my accusers. Who fellow-citizens
has apostatsed from the genuine doctrines of party
as 1t was a few years ago,-for strange as il may
SEEM il is the charge OF apostaey that is ire
quenty and shameessly urged against me. In rela-
lion to the Subtreasury scheme what were the doc
trines OF the party in lS34.5? We have seen that
The whole party was then most yehemen,y opposed
to il, as measure fraught with incalculablc mis-
chiefs 10 the country. As the party were then,
am now, firmly and infexbly opposed to il. But
where are Mr.. Van Buren, and his supporters
In favor of it, and straining every nerve force il
upon the country. Who then, has apostaised-I,
my accusers2 As to The Bank ofthe United states
you well remember, gentlemen, the earnest and
powerful opposition of the whole party, under Gen.
agitations and commissions through which the coun-
try was carried to dissolve the connexion between
il and the Government Who, in spite Of the most
solemn VOWS OF Incorporating hostility" has
renewed that connection Let the President and
his Secretaries answer Who, true to the former
professions OF the party, has had the emery in the
face OF power, 10 expose the illicit and dangerous
character of that connections need not tell you,
gentlemen, for my accusers have told you But
ask who is 1t that has changed-the person accused
or the accnSrs? In reference to the new and alarm
ing doctrine preached by the President in his mes
sage Congress their last session. that the Exc
cutive should have discretionary power TO employ
Banks or not al its pleasure fiscal agents of the
government, what were the principles repeatedly
Incucated by General Jackson, and protessed and
avowed by all his political friends Why that ON
this subject Ereentire discretion should be strictly
limited and restrained by clear and positive enact
ments of taD. Who still maintains this creed. and
VINO IS II that has renounced il fora one better
suited to the purposes OF power2 Let the record
answer; and then say, gentlemen who has incurred
The sin Of apostacp-he accused or the accusers Z
Lastly, in regard to the doctrine openly pro-
claimed and practsed, as we have seen and threat
ening to sap the very foundation of representative
government that federal ofice-bolders may of right
and are in duty bound TO interfere and busy them
selves in popular elections, what did the party,
through It's highest and most accredited organ Gene
raj Jackson, al the OF his installation in Of
fee, sayl Why, that "the patronage of the Fede-
raj Government ought not and should not be brought
into conflict with the freedom of elections" In
lation 10 this vital and fundamental article in the
creed OF the party who then has apostatied? Icall
upon you to say, gentlemen who is guilty-is il the
accused or the aecu@rs ?
But there is another and higher view OF the issue
between me and those who have arraigned me on
this charge OF aposacy TO which beg leave TO ask
your attention, gentlemen, for moment. Who is
II that has aposlased merely from the doctrines
OF the party, as ii few years ago but from the
great and fundamental principles which have ever
been considered forming the distinguishing creed
OF the Repn6lacan party3 And here fellowcitizens,
Mr.. Van Buren, himself shall be witness and Judge
That gentleman, in a speech made by hin, in Fe-.
bruary 1928, on the question which had arisen in