The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-05

commerce and speculative action, were justly
attributed to that Administration and It's poll
cy. Whether for good or for evil, politicians
might, and honestly did differ in regard 10
them, That was controversial ground that
II was not the purpose Of Mr. S. to tread his
object was not 10 cast censure, but 10 state
facts, and 10 give the credit Of that policy and
It's consequences TO the Administration that
was justly entitled to it. He had his OPT
Mons Of the policy, and he had freely stated
them on other occasions he would not re-
peat them now. The administration of Pre-
sident Jackson, with its fruits, WILL for good
or evil, form a prominent epoch in the histo-
ry OF the country. Whatever might be The
opinion OF others, il was not OF the present Ad-
minlsration and its friends to condemn the pre-
ceding one. Mr.. S. should rely upon The ,es-
tlmony which he was aboat to produce 10 the
Senate, TO prove that the time Of the outsEo-
ing OF the late, and the incoming Of the r.
sent Administration, the country was< a
high state Of prosperity. And he should
charge the present Administration with the
receipt of people in that prosperous state,
and hold it responsible for the maintenance
Of that state OF affairs.
On the 3D. day OF March, 1897, the Admi-
nistration Of President Jackson ceased. The
prominent part he had taken in changing
some part Of the policy Of his predecessor
impressed his mind with the proprieiy Of fol-
lowing the example Of the Father of his
country, and leaving for the benefit Of the ma
ton farewell address, in which it must be
supposed he breathed spirit Of truth and
candor, which an ordinary stale paper might
well initiate. II was his farewell address to
his people, his dying political legacy, in which
he would most certainly naugh, extenuate,
nor set down aught in malice" II was to
some short extracts from that memorable le-
gaoy, Mr.. S. desired to call the attention of
the Senate. Mr. S. then read the extracts !:
my public life has been long one, and cannot
hope that il has at all times heen free from errors But
have the consolation Of knowing that mistakes have
been committed, they have not seriously injured the
country anxously endeayo to serve; and at the
moment when surrender my last public trust. ieaue
this great People prosperous aud happy, in the full
)oymen Of liberty and honored and respected by every
nation Of the world"
1.-The progress Of the United States, under our free
and happy institutions, has surpassed the most sangune
hopes of the founders OF the Republic. Our growth
has been beyond all former example in numbers, in
wealth. in knowledge and all the useful arts which
tribute to the comfort aud convenience Of man, and
from the earliest history to the present day, there
have been thirteen millions OF people associated in one
political body who enjoyed much freedom and happ-
ness as The People Of the United States"
Such, Mr.. President, is the evidence fur
nshed by the late President Jackson of the
condition of the country when he surrendered
the rens to his successor. How does this
testimony correspond with the speech of the
Senator from South Caroind, Mr.. Calhoun!)
He charges the present condition Of the
country 10 the tariff of 1928. Mr. S. said
the Senator had not relieved the present Ad-
ministrstien from the difficulty Of being in
strumental mainly in bringing the nation 10 its
present state Of embarrassment for, if he
will look to the ayes and noes on the passage
of that bill, he will fnd who supported il.
Would he not find President Van Buren, of the
number! But the tariff Of 1928 had gone
into operation and performed all its mischief,
if such was its effect on the country, long be-
fore the solemn declarations of President
Jackson which Mr.. s. had read
The Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr
Buchanan) had traced our embarrassments to
the Bank of the United States But it will
be remembered that that bank had ceased to
act, and had no connexion whatever with the
Government long before the date of tn, fare
well address of President jackson.
The Senator from Missouri (Mr Benton)
attributes the state Of public affairs to the pa
per currency and expanded credit of the coun-
try and seeks relief in hard money crcula-
ton alone; but did not that Senator admit
that all the prosperity Of the country had ari-
sen under a mixed currency from the founda-
ton of the Government! Did he not see
that, If 1t was an excess on paper that pro-
duced the distress in the country, and the de-
rangement Of the currency, no such excess
was known during the Administration prece-
ding that of President Jackson And did
he not see that all The excess or redundancy
in the currency of which he complained had
taken place, and was in full blast, anterior TO
the parting declaration of President Jackson,
when he declared to the world that he left
"ths great People prosperous and happy"
Mr.. S. said he was apprized that, under
the strict rules Of evidence, the present Adj
ministration could 10, be charged with having
received a Iation of prosperous and happy
People upon the mere statement Of President
Jackson that 1t was so at the time he deliver
ed it over, Notwithstanding the fact tina, she
counses of the outgoing and the incoming
President were intimately associated. And
that Mr.. S. might not be said TO place the mat
ter exclusively on that ground, he would read
an extract from the inaugural address of Pre-
sident Van Buren,, delivered on the 9TH day
of March, 1897, and which appeared next
morning stitched up with the farewell adj
dress of his predecessor. MIR. s. then read
the following extract:
AT home, while our Government quietly but eff
cently performed the sole legitimate end OF pohcalln
situations in doing the greatest good 10 the greatest
number we present an aggregate OF human prosperity
surely not elsewhere TO be found "