The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-09

his solemn manner when he declared, with an
appeal to his God, that he Of late had never
looked INTO the estimates of the Secretary Of the
treasury for the truth. ! also recollect 10 have
been accidentally in the Senate al another time,
IN The following session. when he was contrast
ing the amounts that had actually been received
from various sources with what the Secretary
had estimated as the probable receipts from,
them. lie pointed out, as before showed, an
error OF $46,6i4, l04, in the Secretary's esti-
mates 0f the available means for 1886, and an
error OF S27 81, S9S, in estimating the receipts
OF 1885. On another occasion, when speaking
Of the corruptions Of those in power, he pro-
ceeded to predict the fate Of the party with
whom he is now acting in spirit Of the bit
teresl reproach, he employed the following pun
gent language on the occasion:
The spoils party, without principles and without
policy held together by nothing but the hopes plum
der contained within themselves the elements of strife
Yes there a storm ahead and he advised them TO
look out That unfortunate measure OF the Admins
tration against the Bank of the United States was
now producing It's consequences"
Again, in the same speech, in speaking Of
President Jackson, in whose footsteps Mr.. Van
Buren, is pledged to tread. and from which he and
his friends say he has never departed, we find
him employing the following language: 'f
The President was elected as a jutlicions tariff
man; and although, said MIR. c., we of the South
doubted him, we were compelled to take him rather
than take tariff man elected him. believing he
would oppose the tariff; but he deceived us grossly
We compelled, however, 10 take him. rather than
take tariff man, and the other party preferred him
to nullifer The President on his election took the
middle ground and used his power and influence TO
buy up friends from both parties lie arropatet to
himself almost kingly power which was kept up on
the principles of the Spoils party most contami-
mating base and low minded system of policy There
were scarcely any ofthis Administration but would
under other circumstances, have united the South;
but he had divided il, and kept it divided With the
South divided there could be but little opposition to
any Administration. The North never could make
an efficient opposition. He would not go into the
causes of this, did he intend any dsparagement
the North BY the assertion he put il simply on the
ground Of the philosophy of the system. There could
he no cffectual opposition, then, but in the South /;
and, said Mr. c., they never gave us the chance Of
turning out an Administration but twice, and then
we did the business in high style and in short order
General Jackson was going out of power, and the Ad-
mnstration that succeeds him could not keep the
South divided. | tell the coming Administration said
he, to look out. The President certainly had high
qualities, which, said he, we do not look upon
istng in his nominee. He had courage and rmncss
was warlike bold and andacious but he was not true
to his word and violated the most solemn pledges
without scrupe. He had done the State too some
service which remembered greatly to his advan-
.age. But his nominee had none of these recommen-
dations he had not his friend from North Carolina
Mr.. Mangum) had remarked, any of the lion or tiger
breed about him; he belonged more to the fox and
weasel, and had not the frmness to keep the South
divided"
Who, Mr.. Chairman could have supposed
that this distinguished Senator, with such OPT
Mons about party, their principles and policy
and with the estimate he entertained for its
head, could, upon his first return to Congress
after the accession of this measeI President, on
that his overthrow and that of his
party were inevitable, because the victory was
not to inure to his benefit, would have reached
out his strong arm and saved the falling fortunes
of such party? Who could have supposed
that, in less than year after the numberless de-
of this Senator against Mr.. Van
Buren, and his principles, he would have thrown
himself into the arms of this very man, and
become the main pillar Of his Administration
And this, too without the President and his
party ever even protesting change of single
principle or practice?
Without iatiguing the House with reading
from the many other speeches Of the honorable
Senator throughout that whole Congress, of a
very similar tenor with the extracts just read,
will proceed to review and consider of what was
said of his party and its measures and policy by
gentleman Of this House, (Mr. Pickens,) who at
my request, see is in his seat. He will have an
to reply to any thing may say. OF
him and Of what he has said and done, feel
more at liberty TO speak at large.
Severe and cutting as was the language Of
this honorable Senator against the President
and Vice President, and the principles upon
which they came into, and were attempting to
their power, it was moderate and
tame when compared with what was said in
this chamber at the same session, by this col
league of his, Mr.. Pickens.) These gentlemen
have so long associated, and have maintained
such intimate relations to each other, that there
has grown up the most remarkable coincidence
in their thoughts and opinions so much so that,
whenever the member utters an opinion on this
floor, il is at once taken as an unerring evidence
of the opinion of the honorable Senator on the
same subject. The identity of their opinions is
SO remarkable, that il is thought by some if they
were the result of the operations of but one mind
they could not more closely assmilate. The
most remarkable coincidence of opinion upon
all subjects, has given rise TO some ill-natured
and surely very unfounded limitations that one
Of these gentlemen does all The thinking for
both
But, surely, whether one thinks for both, or
both think for each other, and use their common
thoughts as joint and common property, il can
not be denied they thought and spoke somewhat
alike Of Mr. Van Buren,, and Of those who
brought him into power, and are sustaining him.
In speech this honorable member delivered
in this House on the 23d of March, 1885, which
understand was carefully revised and written
out by himself, in speaking Of the then President
Tin whose footsteps Mr.. Van Buren, is pledged
TO tread) and his party, and their principles and
practices. he employs the following language;
- One of the first avowals Of principle the indi
rect pledge made by the President his famous letter
to the Tennessee Legislature in which he laid down
that member Of Congress should be appointed TO Of
flee during his member hip, and for Years after
wards: The next great pledge made in tho canvass
was that no should be dismissed from Office for
op'nons sake This principle was indirectly a,owed
by the war made upon those who were supposed to
have done 50. Then came the celebrated inaugural
IN which Reform Reform stood out in bold relief in