The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-09

Buren,, or amongs, the great body Of the people who
ara IN opposition TO Mr.. Van Buren's measures
appeal te all, without distinction Of party, TO say
whether the measures Of Mr.. Van Buren's admins
tration have not been, from beginning 10 end, one
continued struggle TO build up executive power and
10 build up executive Electromagnetic use his own Ian
gnage In the better days of his history, for his own
condemnation, ito absorb all power from its legiii-
mate purposes, and TO eondense Il under one single
hesd--and that the executive" And this has been
done, gentlemen by son Of the State OF New York
viii not call him her fsvorite son. for you disown
HIM. A voice Ina the crowd cried out we wont own
him for son.") As ! told him to his face, he has
forgotten all those traditions which in his earliest his
tory bound him your service and 10 the principles
OF democracy. What did Mr.. Van Buren, say Ia a
memorable debate IN the year 1896 when reviewing
the history Of political parties in this country, and de-
filming his own position lie them when putting
forth the sccious creed Of his democracy and republic
cansm 10 aid him in aspersng the highest station in
this Countrywide executiye-he then thought proper
to give US with the light OF his experience and his
natured reflection the subject Of these remarks,
the distinction which he drew between the rival
creeds Of democracy and federalism. quote his own
words which he used in the debate Foot's resolu-
ionsi THE constant aim Of the federal party has al
ways been to absorb all power from its legitimate pur-
poses and TO condense II a single head the execu-
live; but ON the other hand, the true democratic
publican party Of the country had ever exerted its
power TO resist these encroachments and TO limit the
extent OF executive power
Now, on which side the line of this party distinc-
ton, drawn by Martin Van Buren, himself, has
your great or little magician been found CLaugh-
ter) On which side the line drawn by the magic fin
ger Of Martin Van Buren, does he himself stand and
his party and which side stand we the people
say we, the people, for ! of them for this is
no paltry and eyancscent contest between rival and
contcnding parties in the country--between wings
and democrats; but is great and vital contest be
tween the great body Of the people who seek to vind
cate their claim to the liberty which their ancestors be
queathcd TO them, and the Office holders, with Mr.
Martin Van Buren, at their head, at Washington.
(AYlaose !, /,
review some Of Mr. Van Burens own misdeeds and
bring the test of his own definition of Republican
ism and democracy, the character Of his admin
istration. ! mean not 10 speak Of isolated act but
will speak Of the general tenor Of his acts, and
will enter into arteries of those acts and measures
which have given distinctive character TO the policy
of his administration And il will be found that his
administration devel0pes train-not solitary usur-
pation-but train Iof abuses all pursued with one
unvarying aim to establish executive supremacy
or in other words, tyranny over the free people Of
these States.
Gentlemen, take his first and leading measure the
sub Treasury, or, understand il is called by Mr.
Van Burens advocates in the State Of New York the
Independent Treasury scheme TO make the govern
ment independent OF their rghtful masters the people
(Cries Of itis.D What is that boastful scheme by
winch the Wn0e country IL COnNu seu, ana WHICH, Dy
the tactics Of Mr., Van Buren,, has been fastened on
the necks Of the pcople7 Why, it takes from its
most legitimate depository the most vital and impor
tant power, the government, of the public purse, and
puts il into the hands OF the Chief Executive Magis
irate Of the Union. Let my honorable friend, Mr.
Silas Wright. argue like "a Philadelphia lawyer as
long he pleases in his conventicc at Brooklyn and
the truth will still bear me out in saying that to pu
the money in the hands of the Executive agent, and
those exclusively dependent him in Office is in fact
he lie the hal If
Of thu United States himself (Ycs, yes.)
Now, my friends let Mr.. Martin Van Buren, be the
Judge and the witness, and try this measure by his
own definition Of Republicanism and Federalism
democracy Is it Republican my friends to attempt 10
take the custody of your money which the Constitu-
ton places in the responsible hands Of your Represen
tatives and give it with unlimited dominion to the
President o.the United States through the instrument
tally of his minions and dependents (No, NOD
Mr.. Van Buren, himself if he were here would by
recollccting his former declarations be compelled to
stand corrected that head that is not ancient and
orthodox Republicanism. Il may be modern and a
Loco focoism. Immense cheerng)
Gentlemen, we are indebted TO Mr. Van Buren, for
another novel and alarming doctrine which he has
attempted to nterpolate our Republican lnsttu-
tons. You all win rccollect--you who have done me
the honor at any time to regard those solemn words OF
warning which, from time 10 time, from my seat in
the Senate have felt il my duty in the ear OF
those ominous words in the second annual message OF
Mr.. Martin Van Buren,, who, while renewing his
recommendation of the sub Treasury bill, did
der the pretext that il would divorce banks from the
State and in the same breath he urged upon the U.
States the doctrine that while all legal and response
BILE connection between the Government and the State
banks should be dissolved the Executive should have
unlimited discretion to employ the banks not, as he
and his gifted Secretary, Levi Woodbury. nigh,
my friend here Mr.. " p. Tamadge) used to say
that lis head was as muddy the Missouri (roars OF
laughter THAT you should leave them at perfect lbcr-
ty to employ banks when, where, and howsoeyer they
might think proper, for party expectancy, under the
plausible pretext Of the public good Il that rcpubl
can doctrine Or what is il, my friends Bring il
TO the test Of practical operation, and what is il but
this that after giving TO Mr. Martin Van Buren, un
limited control over the public purse by the lndepen-
dent Treasury he calls il, you gave him unlimited
dominion the moneyed institutions OF the coun-
try by giving him power TO employ banks or not as
he may fit the fiscal operations Of the Govern
ment What is this but than any constitutional
monarch in the country has What Is IL, when you
put into his hands such power but to subject the
banks the dominion OF Executive influence-to hold
out him the power TO subsdize and enlist the bank
ing institutions for the party services OF the President
of the United Statesl (lt is TO become a monarch J
Ave- what is il but you observe, To make him IL
mited monarch (Appause.) How - this J What
did Andrew Jackson, whom we delighted TO support
in his better days, and while believed him true 10
Jcfersonian democracy--what did he tell US WHY,
in regard to the public moneys the employment o.
banking institutions a fiscal agent Of Government,
that as little possible should be left TO the Executive
But Mr. Martin Van Buren, is the follower IN the
footsteps of that illustrous man-(laughter- but he
follows in his footsteps only To take the back.uack
(Rencwed laughter.) He comes forward, and in CON
tempt of this maxim of genuine democracy delivered
over and over again in his annual messages by Gen,
Jackson he tells you to leave every thing TO the Gov
eminent Now gentlemen Ii this democratic doc
trne What said jefferson in his first message 10
Congress and he is the highest authority on all
questions of genuine democracy Why that all exc
cuve power the public money should be strictly
circumscribcd by legal and constitutional hounds and
yet Mr. Martin Van Buren, is inpatient OF all legal ~