The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-21

verted and Tree institutions turned into pracii
cal despotism. They are men who know their rights
and knowing dare maintain them" his the unhinch-
ing and unwavering maintenance Of those rights, on
my part thar has sent me back again 10 a seat from
which unhoy conspiracy against the liberties oil
the People attempted 10 exclude Sir the place A
occupy soughtby me. But Tor the prescription
have suffered, and the persecution have endured,
no Involvement would have been sufficient TO have
called me here second term. Sir, was prescribed
and prosecuted for the honest faithful, and upright
discharge Of my duty to myself and 10 the country.
'-he President recommended measure which mel
Their my Judgment nor my conscience approved, and
which ], with General Jackson, Mr.. Van Buren,, and
the whole party had, but short time before, con-
demned as "dsorganizing and Revolutionary, and
subyersiye OF the fundamental principles OF The Gov
eminent, and Of lis entire practice from 1889 TO the
prssent time" On the first recommendation of this .
measure by Mr. Van Buren,, viewed II as we all did
a few years before have not changed my views
from that time to this. Under these circumstances
what would The Senator have me dol Would he
have me ign bly, surrender my own judgment TO
the Will Of the Ey 'culve on question involving
the great and pal amount Interests OF The counryi
Would he have me- like an arrant coward, basely
abandon the rights Of my constituents, through lear
OF being taunied with an abandonment oil The parry
Would he have me sell those rights in the Execu-
tive shambles, and pocket the consideration OF my
treachery2 Had been possessed OF a more plant
conscience, or Of more easy virtue, could have
done all these things, and then boosted Of my fidelity
10 party and received Executive favors the price
of my humiliation and disgrace. Sir, l will speak
not of myself but will speak Of the lofers made
10 a distinguished friend associated with me in OPP
position TO this measure-offers Of the highest Off
cia stations within the gift Of the President, and
which might have tempted the ambition and under
mined the integrity Of any man who was not proof
against The seducions as well as the threats OF Ex-
ecutive power2 Would The Senator have had US
yield to such Influences II he would, even bis POI
tcal morality must be at much lower ebb than
had supposed it. If he would not, why do we hear
in this august assembly, language which so little
COMFORTS with the dignity Of This body, the self
respect and character of its membersl Sir, leave
10 the Senator from Tennessee the undispuled pos
session of such field Of controversy, and the pride
Of wearing all the laurels which he gather from
such contest. All The malignity which party vas
sails party press vent on me will not turn
me from The straight forward path Of duly lam
maintaining the same principles have always
maintained. If the Senator, who formerly main
lained them with me, has now abandoned them,
cannot help il. 1t is his matter, not mine; and let
me assure ffn that his abandonment acquires no po-
Iitica sancy in my sight, because the party may
have. proved as recreant 10 principle as himself
Sir, party names without principle have no charms
fol- me. | am in name and in principle what
have always been. My constituents understood that
fully when they sent me here. There is no dife-
renee between them and me on the great questions
which now agitate the country and whilst tremain
here, trust shall so discharge my duty as to JUS
ufy the confidence they have reposed, in me BY an
expression of their political friendships moi less fiat
terng than that of any friendships which the homo
rable Senator can boast.
[Mr GRUMPY, at the close Of his speech predicted
the disappointment of the opposition in November
NEXT and said nor will any poet be needed TO CO.
ebrate the deeds OF their hero. By small change
of names, il has already been done by one OF The
best British poets:
Charge, Chrttenden. charge on Tallmadge on
Were the last words OF Harrison. j
Mr.. TALLMADcE coninued. Sir, the honorable
gentleman has undertaken.to predict The discomf-
lure Of the Opposition al the next election. He has
not been content 10 do il in humble prose, but, I'M
der the inspiration Of his theme has turned poet and
has RECALLED us, after long incubation, witha pa
rody upon couple from Marmion. TO be sure, the
measure is not very accurate bu that not the fault
of the Senatorial poet, but of the unpoelic names OF
the Senator from Kentucky and myself. Now, the
venerable and honorable poet will, no doubt, excuse
me- il / mount my Pegasus, and try my skill al parody,
impromptu He will perceive that labor under the
same difficulty that he did--and although the mea-
sure may be as hating as his own, there will be
more euphony in the names tel the honorable
Senator then, that in the account Of the great battle
to be fought in November next by the People against
the minions of power, instead of the despaing an-
guage Of his muse, he win hear the inspiring notes
OF victory,
Fly, VAN buren, fly, run GRUMPY, run
"Were the FIRST words of HARRIsoN."
Mr. Grumpy said he was pleased TO the homo
rabe Senator from New York, in snch happy
humor and he thought they were both in fair way
10 have their personal difficulties satisfactorily adj
jusled. He would, therefore, propose that the ac-
count Of wit and poetry be considered balanced
(Mr It. nodded assent.) But said Mr. Grundy,
must add one or two more remarks before close
The honorable Senator from New York, in his re-
ply TO me- has said that he had not len his party, but
that the party had left him. Now, | know OF no
better way TO Judge of man, than by the company
he keeps: and find the Senator from New York,
who formerly acted with US associated with The
honorable Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. Web
ser whom have generally found in opposition to
myself and who has been pretty uniform, too in his
opposition Hence conclude that il is the Senator
from New York that has changed, and not myself
and my friends.
Mr.. TALLMADGE re,oned, that if association was
the correct rule BY which 10 determine the changes
or the principles of men, he could prove, as concu
sively as demonstration in Euclid, that the change
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