Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-08-09
Conclndrd.

re iDreStdenttdt question IN Congress
And now, sir, what is your reply TO the
demands Of betrayed and abused People,
urged, and ably urged as they have been by
the Peoples Representatives on this floor 2
How do you meet the facts and arguments
which are pressed upon you2 Sir, you do
1t by endeavoring to stfe investigation by
deprecating discussion by holding us up,
as the chairman Of the Committee on For
eign Relations has done, as debating club !;
and. in short, by every conceivable device
which can tend TO divert the public mind
from the great questions we are struggling
TO bring out in their true magnitude and i'm.
portance before the country.
1t was in the spirit of this system Of eva
sion that gentleman from North Carolina
(Mr ByNuM) yesterday told US that these
heightened discussions would not be tolerat.
ed by the People that these attacks on the
Administration were intended to act on the
next Presidential election and that il was
mot our business to make Presidents" but
10 attend to our appropriate Legislative du-
ties. 1T is dangerous practice" said the
gentleman. "for US to be employed in max.
ing Presidents"
The gentleman from North Carolina
seems very much alive to the danger of our
being engaged in making President. Bu,
where have slept his apprehensions for the
last ten years, while the President has been
making members of Congress; while he
has been reaching out the long arms OF Elk
ecuiive influence, North South, East, and
West, aud bringing into these Legislative
Halls men who would act in obedience to
his will And where were his fears when
Vor Ia L. L
discover any danger" in that operation -
No, sir none. But now, when we seek to
unmake him whom General Jackson made,
the case is amazingly altered 1t lis "a dan
gerous practice"
one.the necessity which mpels 10 discussions
and Investigations here, looking 10 Presi-
dental election. But, sir, how are they TO be
avoided2 Are we TO sit still and see the Elk
ecutive bestriding the country with his colos-
sal power, and not warn it ofthe danger2 Is
corruption to go unrebuked2 Are the gros-
sest abuses TO pass uninvestigated2 Is this
body the grand constitutional inquest of the
nation, invested with the power even of i'm
peaching the President Notwithstanding his
claims to the representative character,) and
are we to be told that discussion shall cease,
investigation be suppressed. and the Execu.
tive held TO no responsibility to the people,
through their Representatives, because it is
not their business to make Presidents D.
The abusers of power may thus talk. They
do not want motives for it. But the People
hold very different language.
Sir, am aware that the Presidential ques
ton has come to engross large share of
attention of Congress- and that discussions
bearing on it interfere. often very injurious
ly, with the ordinary business Of Legislation.
Once It was otherwise. But in fatal mo-
ment il was determined TO "put down. a
"pure" administration. The combination
was formed--the forces marshalled and
these Halls were made the chosen theatre
forthe onset. Day after day. and month af-
ter month, were they made to resound with
the most groundless clamor, and the bitter
est invective, against the administration
which it has been declared in advance,
should be Frustrated. IL was then that the
Presidential whirlpool was set in motion,
which has become a rapid, raging mael-
strom, drawing and engulfng every thing
wiihin its vortex.
And, sir. how can it noD be otherwise,
when the Administration, brought into pow
er by means of the professions and pledges
have described, has disappointed conf
ding People; when the President has, "rush-
ed madiy" from this constitutional sphere !;
placed himself at the head of a party; used
his patronage to build it up, and sought 10
make all the State Governments and all the
branches ofthis Government revolye around
him as the great centre Of the whole2 Sir.
it is the abuse of po,oer that has kept this
maelsirom in motion. Let the Executive
restore the balance OF the Constitution which
he has disturbed; lei him go back to the
constitutional sphere in which the predeces-
sors of General Jackson were content to
move let him cease 10 perver his patronage
20 selfish and party purposes let him be-
come the Mgh-minded. liberal. disinteresfed,
constitutional Chief Magistrate of The nation.
and the malestrom will cease to move, and
this Hall will be restored to what il was be-
lore the conspiracy was formed to put down
the pure Administration.
But, sir. until this is done. investigation and
discussion must and will go on here II we
will mol investigate & discuss. the people will
send those here who soiH The great central
izing, all-engul6ng power of the Executive
must and will be resisted. II will be in vain to