The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-03

"A
Question Of exprslsney only while lha latter involves
constitutional principle OF The utmost msgniuda aud
Inn ,oriaDce With these professions constantly upon
their lps 10 impossible We can close our eyes 70 ne
plarta Inconsistency ~ which her conduct insosr'
,h.,n Numerous aud conclusive proofs mighi be adj
dcsd m .hos that those who, like ourselves. utterly
ran,,,a,e Nar,onal Bank both Unconstitutional ana
~, .ne,ent bot who are DIiDcai 10 ihe Snptieasy'
are viewed hy the fe.ds Of the latter measure WIN M
,, ,..,e, susieioa and distusi than the open aud
sJge.,es Of Bank OF the United States hut
49, ,c one or two directly connected with me sun
~, az This address that eaono, omit inv'ing your
o,,,ir,lar attention 10 them. The nuorn hosu"s o.
M Riyes To the incorporation OF Nsaona' nd"h
m times aud under all circumstances Is 80 university
Enoyu 10 the people of Virginia, that M man mas ven
,ur,d to express doubt upon the SUBJECT ana yer
The st. Senatorial electioo portion of the friends o.
the administration in the House Of Delegates 'nc"u'"s
Two Of the most distinguished members oil that parry re-
corded their voies for Mr. Chapman Johnso'--a genie
man il in true Of eminent talents and great pnvs'e
worth hui the known and decided advocate Of the re-
charter Of the o. S. Bank, aud Who has differed WIN
The present aud late administrations upon almost every
Que ton Of principle expediency, whether pracuca
or theoreticsl lis equally noorious thai large po-
,ian Of these straight laced Republicans, did a. one tina
mediate brirp,y forward aud openly avo~ed Their rea-
dness to sustain 10 preference to Mr Rves, the resi-
dent Of the Court Of Appeals with all the SINS OF inc
Bank and Internal improvements BY the General 10
yerpnen, nnexpiaied and nna,oned Tor. excep! ny me
B,ren And that when the Van Buren, Convention
assembled containing as il did, large Infusion OF
representative purity. fresh from the people they
unanimously. and with characteristic CONSISTENCY,
called this distinguished gentleman TO preside over
tho deliberations Of this newly chrsiened Democratic
Republican States Right party" These examples are
.ficient TO show how little confidence can be rcposed
in the professions Of disposition the part Of The
supporters of the Subreasury to treat that question ss
one OF subordinate Importance the Bank question: or
IN n enfo inn w
ec furnishing no sufficient ground for withholding
from It's opponents their countenance and support But
il is idle To reason upon this subject. when there are
so blind as not 70 see the plain and papabe proofs
which every day presented Of the settled and
deliberate purpose Of the friends of this measure to
make il the test Of political orthodoxy.
The opinion is becoming almost universal, that
there is no necessity for the establishment OF Ma
tional Bank 10 regulate the currency or administer
the finances OF the country. The system of Internal
Improvements by the General Government, seems,
by common consent, 10 be abandoned, and the con-
lroversy about the Tariff for protection has been,n
is hoped. terminated by the celebrated Compromise
Act Of 1883. Should any Of these measures be at
any time unfortunately revived, we have The most
abundant guarantees Tor his future course IN regard
TO them, in the uniform coincidence Of opinion IN
past times between Mr.. Rives and the people OF Vir
ginia, and In his jealous and harmonious co-opeIa
tion with them in opposing thest unconstitutional
and dangerous stretches OF power. Indeed, we may
boldly challenge the opponents OF Mr.. Rtves, OF
point OUT one single prominent measure Of Govern
ment, on which he was required 10 act al any time
sine. he came into pnb,ic life, 10 which MS Repre-
sentative he has not faithfully reflected the public
sentiment or the State and discharged his duty 70 The
satisfaction OF the Republicans OF Virginia 10 re-
spect to no measure ha, he more unquesionaby been
a faithful Representative OF the opinions and ine-
rests Of his State than upon what was termed by The
Republicans in 1884 +" that odious Federal concep-
ion, The Sub treasury scheme. He has, with un.
fiachiag steadness and undannied frmness resisted
the thrice-repeated attempt 10 enlarge Executive
power and put into The hands Of the President the
means OF corruption, disclosed In a measure calcu-
lated TO alarm the Republicans OF the Old Dominion
and indicating hostility 10 State institutions, which
augurtd IDLY Tor The rights Sales la his ne
has consistently and steadily walked IN the foot
steps of the illu ariuus predecessor Of Mr. Van Bu-
ren and m int lined the position which, in common
with the whole Republican party, and indeed in com
mon with almost the en- ire body VI the ppositiun
party, he occupied in 1885. #s
| For what, then, Is he to- be inundated? Is It be-
caus. he has been faithful I, his principles, or not
sufficiently submissive 10 pary2 Is il because his
poc ii morality Il not sufficiently elastic, 10 enable
nin 10 turn .r,et al The word OF command Is
that he prefers the service aud approb ion Of this
gboi old Com nonwedlh 10 all he rank aud station
waich power can b-stoW, and will not :" bend the
pre- ,nant hinges vi the knee that THRIFT may follow
,aWnngP Or SIT, thai like Arislides, he j 10 be
o>trdcised for HIS Very viruesl rhefe are some
probably VIII feel thai the daily beauty aud Integrity
81 his lie and conversation make them u ely, and
WAC, Ike the hump backed yrdni, view hi as
spider 10 their pain, and would have 1t cru>hed"-
| He gored in The pruad character OF Virginia
S.nat0r, conscious That he was honestly and truly
dscharging The responsible dulles Of hi, station, and
! he manuy scornei 10 make pledges calculated 10
destroy the moral force OF his opposition 10 ,sures
which he deemed revolutionary, dsorgan Zing and
democrat ENG, and ftaugh with tue most pernicious
consequences 10 the prosperity OF the country
When We see those calling themselves Republicans,
although th.y approved The Sub treasury, avoWing
IN ve hi ~ het I he
give assurances OF future party devotion TO he Ad-
niniLrdtion, when the Illuminating and almost dis
gushing spectacle is exhibit VI men who agree with
him 10 condemning The Subireasury as most PERM
cious and who have been cheering him on in 0ppas.
ing it. vel demanding his expulsion from the Senate
with all The violence OF love 10 hatred turned only
BIC use he will not pledge himself sustain the u
tnre acts Of the Administration and promise in adj
vance TO /" sink or SWIM" with Marin Van Buren,.
When we find the ull.a pariisans OF the Wing party
requiring proofs of his party devotion the interests
OF The Opposition as the condition oil their support
Wnen we see all these things, are we not fully Jus
he ia asserting IN The great question: the vlal prn-
ciple involved IN this contest, was whether the Sc
nate oil the u s. should b. reduced to mere instru-
mtnt to accomplish the purposes, and execute The
will OF the Executive OF Whatever parry might be in
the ascendant We SO regarded it.. And SO view
ing il, the contest sweled immensely beyond qnes-
on OF preference for William G. Rives Tor his SUI
perior alents ana Political orthodoxy; II became OF
infinitely more Consequence than the defeat Of the
Suotreasury project, destructive as We believe that
measure to be in p lcal, economical and financial
view Hb:came great question Of political ethics,
reaching 10 the foundations of the edtce OF civil IL
berry linvoves the stability OF the pillars which
our Republican institutions rest Let be once es
| tablshed as the recognized and cardinal canon Of
party hdelity, that mo politician shall oppose the will
OF his partizan chief stubbornly refuse To accom-
pany his opposition with professions of future sup
port, and continued allegiance without being shot Tor
desertion or branded with iynoinny as an aposate
and il l. obvious, that all political responsibility OF
the President is at an end and every barrier to The
possession of absolute ,wer is thrown down. Re-
preventative independence and fidelity the people,
are converted into treason To the Executive and al
though the exlernals Of Republican Government
may, ior while, be preserved, We shall have estab-
an pIe 4