The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-17


The House being in Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of the Union for the purpose of considering and
ierring the Presidents Message
Mr. BELL said that the Message of the President Of
the United States must always be important docu-
mont-one which would be looked TO with interest," not
only az home, but abroada paper which would be
mined and carefully weighed not only with reference to
The casual and extraordinary topics which might engage
the public mind for the moment, but in reference TO
subjects less leeling and emporaryto the doctrines
the principles and the practices which appeared to be
eounenanced and Observation-Disclosures and practices
which calculated 10 endure which were funda-
mental which related to the organic construction Of our
system and he had risen TO make observations
more IN reference to these general and prominent topics
touched upon in the Message, than to the exciting and
absorbing Snb-Treasury scheme, or the mode Of col
Letting saiekeeplng and discussing the public revenues
and taking the views he did he should proceed at once
to notice some passages IN the Message which, in hts
opinion called for pablic scrutiny aud animadversion.
In treating OF our - stem OF government, and
particularly of the Federal Constitution, the President
informs that
1T has proved amply sufficient for the various
gencies incident to our condition a nation, formi
dabe foreign war; agita,ng collisions between domes-
tic, and, IN some respects rival sovereignes tempta
tons to interfere in the intestine connections Of neigh
boring countries the dangerous influences that arise
IN periods OF excessive prosperity and The anhrepab-
iican tendencies Of associated csalh these, with other
trials notices. formidable have all been encountered and
thus far successfully resisted"
Among the most prominent dangers to which our
form OF government Is exposed the President here emu
meraes "he anfrepubiican tendencies of associated
1ealh" l suppose (ssid Mr. b. it will be said that
he refers TO the association of capital accumulated in
the State banks but, in the opinion of the community
generally, this language will warrant more extensive
appication-an application far more operative, and de-
handing more serious reflection. But, before in
quire into the import and probable drift Of this ad
dress to the American people the subject of the anti
republican tendencies Of associated wealth." remark
occurs to me proper to be made on what appears to
be omission in this part Of the Message. observe
that notice is taken of the danger to be apprehended
from the concentration Of power in the hands of one
man, or of few Whatever may be said Of the selfish,
exclusive, grasping, monopozing, and antirepubcsn
tendencies OF mere iceath will not deny yet will
say that all these bad qualities and tendencies may, with
much truth, and far reason, be affirmed OF po
itical poieer and it must strike the mind Of every
wachul observer that in the enumeration Of the many
dangers to which country and its peculiar institutions
exposed-an enumeration made in order to put the
people their guard-the President has omitted to
mention the most formidable Of all-one which is known
to have existed in the experience and progress Of every
free Government and in the progress of every civilized
society from the beginning Of time. mean concen- |
trated power-associated official power. ! mean Ito
speak practically the concentration Of power IN the
Executive branch of the Government OF the United |
States. 1t is worthy Of serious notice that in paper
emanating this does, from the President himself and
which processes to set forth free people the most
prominent dangers which threaten their liberties and to
awaken their vigilance against those evil tendencies
which Turk IN the system, the which has always
proved the most fatal the tendency Of power TO accu
muate IN the hands OF one man. and the graspng and
monopollzlng tendency Of that power-is altogether
omitted Why is this Why not admonish the peo
pie, when speaking Of the tendencies Of wealth banks
elsewhere, that there another most formidable
danger in this and in every other free Government
which united all the evils Of mere wealth with the
fearful passion of ambition! affirm, them sir that this
enumeration of the perils which free institutions
are exposed is not perfect.
IL, said Mr. b., this warning given to the people in re-
laton to the ant-repubcan tendency OF associated
wealth" is only intended to be continuation OF the at
lacks heretofore made with much acrmony upon the
banking institutions of the country, will not undertake
to answer it in my own language, or by any arguments
OF my own for | have never felt disposed to become
the champion of those institutions but in the language
and by the arguments OF Of far weight and
influence both from the station which he fills and the
large share of respect and influence he has always
Joyed with the party in power-a whose late pot-
cal career directly connected with the extra
ordinary incidents Of the late administrations man |
who his present elevation to the hearty approval
with which his party sustained him in the most ques-
tionabe act of that Administrations man whose OPT
mons upon the question under were then |
received orthodox and ncontrovertibe. | aludc |
10 the Chief Justice of the United States, (Mr. Ia |
ney)
IMr. B. read from letter of Mr. Taney while Secre-
tary of the Treasury, to the Committee of Ways and
Means, of the 18th Of April, 1924, few paragraphs
strongly commendatory Of the State banks and
ing in very broad terms the indispensable agency in
country like ours Of banks and a paper circulation
founded on credit
But, Mr. Chairman, if | correctly understand the i'm
port OF the passage under consideration manests
laxi,y OF principle recklessness of consequences
such spirit OF desperation in the choice Of to
sustain power ought to receive the severest repre-
henson from every welwsher to our free institutions
This covert denunciaton Of wealth and Of the rich is
without doubt intended to be understood by those
whom it peases proof that the author OF 1t is friend
and champion Of the poor as distinguished from the
rich Viewing it in this light, it is sort OF argument
an electioneerng can't which, however shameful and in
defensibe, may be allowed in the public speeches of
ordinary candidates for in the Legislature for
some Office station in State, even for seat in
this Hall Of the Representatives Of the nation; but, in
a chief magistrate 1t is wholly unworthy and dees-
table.
The next passage shall notice in this extraordinary
paper is in these words
Each successive change made in our local institu
tons has contributed extend the right of suffrage,
has increased the direct influence Of the of The
community given greater freedom to individual exer
on aud restricted and more the polrers Of Gorcrn
ment."
In the remarks propose to make on the sentiment
here expressed would not be understood as finding fault
with the extension OF the right Of suffrage. In the
State OF Tennessee and the Southwest generally the
right OF suffrage has long existed in the fullest extent
nor am disposed to say aught against the policy Of
other States in this respect but have word or two
to say in reference the conclusion which the Presl
dent has drawn from this and other changes in our local
institutions He undertakes to announce to the world
that the effect Of these changes has been to increase
the direct influence OF the of the community, and
TO restrict and more the powers of Government"
Now, sir, however true this may be, when affirmed OF
the influence Of the Of the community in the seve-
raj States alluded TO- and upon the and policy
and the restrictions which may have followed upon the
powers Of the State Governments If it is intended by