Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-07-24
LETTER FROM MR.. WEBSTER


not kept at my post by the pendency Of
particular public measures of great import
ance, would cheerfully make journey TO
New Hampshire, for the sake Of meeting
the Wings of my native State assembled
in convention. But it is impossible for me
TO leave my seat.
A Revolution is in progress, which SOON
er or later must and will reach them, and
the sooner the better. believe that the
election in November will show the
greatest change in public opinion, ever
manifested in the United States. Nothing
is likely to check the current of that opin-
ion, now running so strongly and swelling
so fast because nothing will be done, here,
to remove the evils under which the country
suffers, which have set in motion.
The first step taken by the Admin
istration was a decisive and fatal one.
The President, in his first message to
Congress, in September, 1887, announc-
ed his policy to be, to provide medium
for the payment Of taxes and debts to
Government, but to take no measure for the
maintenance of sound currency among
the people. His policy was wholly new.
Down to the very last hour of his admins
tration, General Jackson acknowledged it
to be the solemn duty Of the General Gov
eminent, to take care of the currency of
the country, and to maintain it, in sound
and convenient state for the whole people.
He insisted that he had fully performed
that duty, and that he had furnished TO the
country good system. These things
were among the very last Of his official say
ings. But soon after his own hand was
withdrawn from it, his system failed, totally
failed. The currency of the country was
thrown into confusion and then it was,
that the successor Of General jackson re-
nounced altogether, what he had thought
solemn duty ofthe Government, and avow-
ed strange policy of proving for Govern
ment and letting the People provide for
themselves. heard this declaration with
establishment and what then thought of
it, and what thought it would lead to,
may be seen by reference to my remarks
made on the subject at that session, have
called this a strange policy. 1t was rash
dereliction ofduty, a SORT of headstrong re-
fusal to execute plain constitutional obiga-
tions. 1t was bold throwing off Of duty,
from consciousness Of the difficulty of dis
charging it, without recanting former opin-
ions. The Administration cannot retrace
this extraordinary, this fatal step and its
consequences for month only or for
year.-They will slast, and must last, as
long as the policy itself is persisted in. 1t
is for these reasons that believe that moth
ing but change OF men, will restore to the
country its accustomed prosperity The
men at present in power cannot change its
measures and those measures cannot
bring us relief.
The friends of the Administration ex-
poet the public excitement to pass away !;
but this is vain hope. They look for re-
taxation of efforts among the people. But
what is to allay the existing excitement, or
what is to cause reaction! Is the curren-
cy OF the country in the course of being bet
tered {? Are the Southern and Western
Banks about to resume specie payments !?
Depend upon it, there will never be contn-
ued any regular specie payments, by all the
banks through all the States, until the Gov
eminent takes the care Of the currency IN
to its own hand. Are prices higher? Is
produce higher? Is exchange more favor
able Are the farmers, the graziers and
the wool-growers getting rich again Do
the hat-makers, shoemakers, carriage ma
kers, the furniture makers, and other me-
chanics Of New England, begin to collect
their Southern and Western debts I Do
they begin to get in their old dues and to
receive fresh orders Unfortunately, in
all these respects the country is in just as
bad condition as il has been. And the first
thing to change this condition, for the bet:
ter, will be the general belief that there is
TO be change of Administration because
men will look to a change of Administra-
ton 4; and nothing else, for change of
measures. They expect relief from no
other quarter. All that keeps things now.
from growing still worse, is the hope that a
change of administration is approaching.
1.-THE country were 10 hear this day of the
death Of Gen. Harrison, or any other event
greatly increasing the probability that the
present course Of measures would be con-
tinued for another four years, the instanta-
neous effect would be, still farther depres-
sion Of business, farther fall in prices, and
farther encouragement to labor.-There is
no confidence among men of business in the
country. This is what is needed. Men