The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-09-25

over the country. The friends fthe Administration
filled their pockets from the bank Golfers and adyen-
tured into 'he widest regions excited by that spirit Of
speculation, which had been raised with the influx Of
wealth The treasure which was considered unsafe
in the vaults Of the National Bank was thus thrown
into the hands of individual spectators, with the
sanction of the Executive. The result might have
been foreseen. II was foreseen by those who com
posed the Opposition, who vainy but s,renuously,
sent forth solemn circumstances against cause which
could only be productive of panic and distress The
panic and distress All the efforts Of the frends
o. the Administration were directed to convince the
people that they unreal-mere spectres raised
by the Opposition work the public apprehensions
Ia the mean time, vigorous crusade preached up
agains, the Banks, who had merely complied with the
wishes and instructions of the Executive and it was
announced that the vaults of the Treasury the
only safe and proper deposares of the public treasure
Mr. Van Buren, accordingly submitted his Subtrea-
sury scheme to Congress, where it found no favor.
1t was rejected. He appealed to the sober second
thought Of the people" II was again rejected
Violence was finally resorted to-the representatives
Of sovereign State, commissioned under its great
seal, were denied their seats IN the House and
of unauthorized claimants were admitted into the LIE
gislave Hail. by whose votes before any evidence Of
their election received the odious measure, twice
rejected, was carried through, amidst repeated viola
lions Of the standing rules Of Congress; and, under
series of unprecedented coercions the Subtreasury
plan became the law of the land. Thus Mr.. Van
Buren, has possessed himself Of the control of the
public purse and one. great stride towards despotc
power was achieved by the triple agency Of sophistry
fraud and violence
But it was necessary to the perfect contamination
Of his purposes that the sword should also be in his
hands And for this purpose, the project Of stand
| ing army conceived This is to be effected by
| an evasion of the constitutional provision which
to the States the regulation of the militia An
army of 100000 militia is to be placed at the disposal
| of the Executive, under the of volunteers An
unconstitutional dangerous irresistible power is thus
to be called round the Executive to be moved by his
breath, whenever he may desire to qleu an.
rection" of the people-to those who might
otherwise oyerawe hm-to introduce among US that
great feature of all tyrannca governments military
superintendence-top put down all freedom ofspeech"
to terminate the right of the people to assemble
peacefully to discuss matters concerning the govern
ment-and to remove the last barrier against despoc
rule Our space will not permit to 60 into detail
of the manner in which this design has been thus far
pursued Let the reader who desires light on this
point, read the full and able expositions in the adj
dresses of the Central Committee of Fauquier County
and the eloquent speeches Of the members Congress
and public speakers who have discussed the subject
The powerful resistance which has met this bold and
audacious scheme, from every part of the Union, Is
cheering proof that the people aware Of the danger
to public liberty which it involves Alarmed at the
gigantic form in which popular Indignation has array
ed itself Mr.. Van Buren, himself shrinks from the re-
sponsibility Of his measure, and resorts TO the
meancst subterfuges to escape the odium with which
it has been assailed To ward off the peril of defeat
the coming election, he has cast of the dignity OF
his station, rushed into an unworthy controversy OF
words and torn away the veil which has hitherto
cealed his true character from the public eye So far
his personal biography is connected with the history
of his country, he has furnished her annals OF the
effect which it may produce his individual repetu
tation. it is not for us to speak.
Let Mr.. Van Buren, he reelected and more des-
perate effort will be made TO carry out the scheme of
Standing Army. Who that forgets not the scenes OF
the last session. and the fraud and force by which the
Sub-treasury bill passed, will doubt for mo-
ment, as to the which will be adopted to arm
the Executive with the sword2 Ii will then be too
late for the people to reflect Despotism will have
consummated its purposes. Tho day Of conventions
will have passed away for the of liberty will
go down in blood and one dreary and interminabe
night of oppression will close in all the bright pros
poets which the revolution of l776 opened for en-
joyment, and in which revelled and grew prospe-
rous until the administrations of General Jackson, and
Of him who boasts that he would tread in the foot
steps Of his ustrous predecessor" inflicted their deadly
blight in the Republic