The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-09

Why, MIR. Chairman, without intending any
| dsrespect to the honorable member, must DC al
lowed to saw that to refuse obedience to hstrue-
lions upon such a shallow bubble, is trifing,
! contemplate and absurd in the extreme Sir,
would respectfully submit to the gentleman to
saw. if dog that has been well raised will not
90 out of the house when he is hidden, and will
not wait to be kicked out.
Now, sir, the resolutions adopted by the Lee
gislature of my own State, to which have al
ready referred, go much further than those OF the
Legislature of New York, of which the gentle
man so Loudly complains They much more
extraordinary in their character, it would seem
to me; and, from the tenor of the gentleman's re-
marks, cannot doubt but they would suit his
taste and that of his party precisely; Tor they not
only instruct the senators of that StS-e and re-
quest her representatives i'll Congress to vote Ior
this obnoxious and pestilential measure, but all
others, which have been or may hereafter be, re-
commended by the President! repeat, sir, that
and my colleagues are not only requested TO
support in good faith the "Independent 'freasu-
ry scheme" and all its concomitants, but all
others which have been may hereafter be-
f'brought forward" by the present chief magis-
trate-standing army and all!
Yes, sir,-here is a measure, intended to oPe-
rate as one of the adjuncts this tremendous and
fearful engine of power-l mean the Sub ILeasu-
~ bill, which proposes to organize the militia
cent Standing Army of two hundred thousand
men, to be at the beck and call of the President,
recommended by the Secretary Of War and en-
dorsed by the President himself This measure
has been drought forward" since the adoption
of those resolutions. But, sir, it is so bold
mevement-such an open and undlSgulsed at
tempt to clothe the President with absolute pow
err over almost one fifth Of all the votes in the
Union-it has produced SO much CONSERVATION
and alarm, and has become so odious and Often
sive to the people every where throughout the
country, that even their own friends IN Congress
do not dare to give it countenance. 1t Is SO PAL
pablv unconstitutional that the most ultra and
unscrupulous of the adherents Of power in Con-
gress will not venture to stand up in its defence.
The Committees on the militia in both BRANCHES
of Congress have reported against its adoption,
and could do no more, even on the part oil the
friends of the administration, than to make pit
tiful and beggarly attempt to white-wash it over
and shield the administration from the odium
which attaches to it, by showing that it rese!n-
bles in respects the plans heretofore propos-
ed by some other distinguished men, for organic
ing the militia of the country. And yet, sir, the
Senators from the State ofTennessee are instruct
ed, and the representatives requested, uncondi-
tionally, to give it their support
Now, Mr.. Chairman, | submit sir, to your
candor to say, if ever you have known a set OF
men, under any circumstances, to place them
selves in an attitude before the country, SO SUI
premely ridiculous Do you believe, sir, that
such an instance of consumate syccophancy, and
base party servility is to be found liz the annals
of the world ?
Sir, if those worthless, who composed the ma
ority of the last Legislature OF my State, should
ever gain have it in their power to instruct the
representatives of that heightened and indepen-
dent people, (cf which thank God l apprehend
there is but little daRger) should think 1t would
be well for them to wait until they see whether
the friends of the administration IN Congress VIII
support their own measures, before they lnstract
those opposed to them TO do so in advance.
But, Mr. Chairman, will only detain the com
mittee few moments longer with this part OF
the subject can command no language sutii-
GENTLY strong to express the sovereign and mefia
bic contempt entertain for these resolutions, and
their authors and which every honest and indie
pendent freeman of whatever party In that State
must feel. cannot speak Of them, sir, without
2enouncing them as the offspring OF a set OF base
and snbservient party-slaves, who acted under
the command of one of this most unprinclpled OF
all the aerls and vassa!s of power; and as tins
would be rather uncourteous and dlsrespectl0l TO
the ma jority of t sslature and the Governor
of my State, will not do so.
| will only express my firm and decided behel
that these resolutions, not only not In con
formity with the will of majority OF the people
of Tennessee, but directly opposed to it and that
her enlightened and independent sons Will never
be content until they wipe OFF the deep disgrace
thereby cast upon her bright escucheon. Nor
will hey fail to iniiict condign punishment upon
those political harpics who drove the illustrisus
and lamented White from their service and that
of the nation
Sir, need not. say in this place how much that
great and coed nan was beloved, honored re-
spected,-nay more-Imay say, almost idohzed,
by the people OF that State. He had been in their
service for forty years and had filled almost every
office within their gift, with fidelity and devo-
ton to their interest and prosperity almost with
out parallel in the history OF this nation or OF
world.-He was her noblest, purest-most en-
lighrened-mest patriotic son. His character for
honesty, integrity, frmness, and purity of inten-
ton was unsullied the driven snow.-1Ihe
poisonous tongue of calumny and dctractlon was
never able to fysthe smallest stain upon his pri-
yate or public character. Amidst all the viciss-
tudes and changes Ell party strife through which
he passed during his long and eminently useful
career, he was the same firm, lnfexlbie and con-
sistent Republican, and pursued the even tenor
of his way, looking to ether end than his
country's veal. With an enlightened and sound
Judgment, and an unWaverinS devotion 10 the
Constitution he adhered TO his political faith,
&C without variablcness or shadow of turning" to
the latest moment of his life. And he had been,
$50 clear in his great office, his virtues
Will plead like angels trumpcttongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking off;
And pity, ike naked newborn paoe
Striding the blast--or Heavens cherubim, horsed
Upon the sightless courscr of the sir,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye,
That tears shall drown the wind"-
But. sir, because he would not abandon all his
lons-cherished principles and chain himself UNI
conditionally to the car of power, because hc re-
fused to lend himself to band Of political pi-
rates and plunderers, and aid them in perpetual
ing their power, regardless Of every other consi-
deratIon but the spoils Of oiiice-becausc he re-
| fused to follow them in their own abandonment
Of ali their former principles, and join them in
their merccnary and corrupt crusade against the
credit, the currency, and every thing connected
with the happiness and prosperity of the people;
and bccasse he refused to connivc at their usur-
pations Of power, and their attacks upon the
public liberty, those tools and scavengers OF a
subsidized emissary of power, as soon as they
mo led him nc tba victim of their prescription