The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-06-29
POLITICS OF THE DAY.
Ffom he National Magazine q. Republican RspieT.
THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.

THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.
As the tide of political events sweeps on to
the tremendous issue Of 1910, the fields of
contest become more and more animated, and
the general interest more and more intensely
excited, The brief future, intervening be-
tween the present moment and the opening
Of the next Congress, is big with tac fate Of
parties.
Mr.. Van Buren, opened his administration with
ahandsome majority in his favor in both Houses
ofthe 25th Congress. That Congress rose with
decided anti-Van Buren, majority in its popu-
lar branch. To measures unired, involving
mighty interests both Of people and govern
ment, proposed with hastily formed conf
dence ofsuccess, the support Of that Legisla-
ture had been invited. With prompttusle
and decision unlocked for by the Executive,
and which was honorable alike to the firmness
and penetration Of majority OF Congress,
that support was refused.
Unfortunately for the new President, II be-
came Immediately and strikingly apparent,
that wide departures from the practice Of the
government were involved ia his proposed
measures, and that while they were calculated
10 increase to an unwonted extent his own
powers, they were at the same time directly
and practically q. war with the immediate in
terests OF the trade and commerce OF the
country. The business classes had been
plunged into depth Of calamity seldom ex-
perienced, and from paternai government,
measures calculated to restore the general
prosperity rather than retard il. were ANXIOUS
ly hoped Tor. A policy Of different tendency
was, however, persisted in, and accompanied,
ct this i'll chosen and unfortunate period, by
ruthless war upon every species Of credit, and
an unusual spirit Of intolerance, denunciation.
and prescription. Fortunately, as we think,
these virgin essays Of the new administration
recoiied upon itself. Its power Of harm was
immediately crippled.
The recommendation Of bankrupt law to
be passed by Congress, applicable only to
- corporations and other bankers" and which
would have given the government absolute
control over all the State institutions, proved
an utter aborton--iio one daring to present to
Congress, in obedience TO the Executive,
bill Of SO extraordinary cLir Ger.
The specie Circular, which made discrimi-
nations unauthorized by law, as to the kind Of
money receivable in the different branches Of
the revenue department, although still defend
ed by the Executive, was ordered, by Con-
gress, TO be rescinded
An Executive Recommendation to repeal
the law by which the surplus revenue was re-
CURED to be distributed among the States, did
not receive the sanction OF the Legislature.
An attempt to abolish the Deposte Act of
1896 did not succeed in Congress.
: The desire Of the Executive to possess
power to issue Treasury notes adj Hbitun,,
Congress would not consent to crafty.
There were other Executive schemes Of
less importance, but having the same general
aim, viz. the acquisition of power, which were
received with no less favor than the proceed
ing, by Congress which thus early proved
itself too jealous guardian Of public liberty
to be ensnared. and too independent to be
either seduced or terrified.
But, above all, the Recommendation of the
Subtreasury scheme was pre- eminent in all
respects. This contemplated n grand CEN
tralization Of all the immense revenue power
in the hands OF the Executive 1t looked also
to the utter reputation of bank agency and
bank paper, in the fiscal arrangements of the
Treasury, and required the adoption of cur
rsncy exclusively metallic. It was the off
spring Of splendid vision Of power-O Office
was the great Apostle that stood its sponsor,
and hope ran riot in its promises of perpetual
domination. It was the newly discovered
Ark OF the political Covenant, and the Execu-
tive Captain planted himself upon it, and his
train bands rallied around it, as around the
hope OF their salvation. BY this, the Execu-
tive resolved to stand or fall and with him.
his PartiZans declared their determination TO
"snk or swim 1t was presented for the
consideration Of Congress in the most plausi.
BILE language, i was possible for a willy Exc
cntlve to commend. 1t was profoundly con-
sidcfed. NO subject, we venture to say, since
the adoption OF the Constitution, was more
fully discussed. The great ability, and con-
summate artifice by which it was advocated
and defended, did not prove sufficient, how
ever, to cope successfully with the tremend-
Gus opposition it excited After tedious
debate. a fair trial, conducted with most anx-
lous care, and notwithstanding the use Of
every parliamentary appliance within the pos
slbie reach OF seductive patronage. and a
powerful, active and united party, this favorite
and cardinal measure of the new administra-
ton fell TO the ground. In every shape in
which il was presented. and its FIRMS were
almost as varying as those of Proteus, il re-
ceived the emphatic condemnation of the
lower House, and il met in the Senate a
moral death not less decided, in the acute
ANALYSIS Of Rives, the round inveciive of
Clay, the solemn warnings Of Tallmadge, and
the sledge-hammer logic of Webster. With
a pertinacity. and obstinacy, unexanpled in
the history Of any administration Of the go
verninent, the measure was urged upon the
10Th Congress four several times, and by that
Congress was four several tin,ee re,acfed and
rePud'ated. The extraordinary and anti re-
publican conduct Of the Executive and his
par'izans on this subject, the strange doc
trlnes ayowed in connection with it, and the
obvious downward tendency Of the entire ad-
m'n'stration to the lowest depths Of radical
i s led talented and respectable number of