The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-28


THIS is case NJ which there should be no delay. jus
tice says--Hop. Bot, taking measures 10 Induce my
neighbo Who does ihe matter as 90, 10 DO JUS
tcc may no, be able make II the work oil day, OF
month, or year His movements are not subject TO
pOlshons aud while 10 my own case, considerations oil
erped,eaey as il is usually understood. about To be
diseparded in Tho other, am not only at liberty, but
may feel most strongly bound TO exercise the wisdom
thai dweIs with prudence, tina, SO may more speedily
and etfee,ually gain my brother.
thus speak reference, primarily, TO the efforts Of
the North persuade the Souhto undertake. in earnest
the work Of emancipation which efforts, II should
be forgotten, constitute The great oork Of North
cru Abolition But what have said involves princi.
pie bearing upon the question Of political action.
have heard maintained that wrong to vote,
any case, for a STAKEHOLDER hold slaves. There
might be truth 10 this in in which my vote. with
held from hun and gwen 10 an opponent OF slavery.
might, without inuroasly affecting other great
and vital interest," have decidedly favorable influence
on the cause OF abolition And this is precisely the
question which presented itself 10 upon the late
election OF Speaker; and which presents itself now, IN
reference to the election Of President and Vice Presi-
dent. How is abolition TO be benefited by my with.
drawing from the great contest about to be decided
between Power and Popular Rights and giving my vote
for Mr., Scattering. or not voting at all
Mr. Speaker though feeling deeply on the subject OF
slavery aud ardenty desiring It's abolition, do not
stand here exclusively devoted to that interest There
other great interests 10 be attended in this nation
besides that OF aboll,ion and should be false to the
trust reposed in TO thrust them aside as I'M
worthy of regard especially in me CRITICAL CRISIS
through phieh they are n0,c passing.
Aud What this crisis IL is the point Of extremity
in great struggle which has been going on Tor ten
years-a struggle involving some OF the most essential
principles Of the Constitution. IL is now 10 be de-
cded whether the People to be permitted the free
Of their intelligent uncontrolled sutffages 10 make
the Congress and the President and thus govern them
selves, whether the President shall the vast pa
tronage Of the Government TO corrupt its othcers-de
ceye the People make both branches Of Congress
strengthen his abused power, and perpetuate IN the
hands OF his chosen successor whether IN fact we are
have Government Of Executive influence, or Co
vernment Of iaws-a constitutional Government Of
three branches, or unconstitutional Government OF
one question: in short, between Executive power on
SIDE and Liberty and the Constitution on the other
Such is the question BY a long course Of nsd'ous
usurpaon has the Constitution been practically chang
ed Shall The change be RATIFIED and confirmed by me
popular poice thus involving the country in the mrs
chef Of the change itself, and the pcrnfclons conse-
quences OF popular sanction OF the usurpaton aud
corruption which produced il, This is the question to
be decided
If the power now actually exercised by the Execu-
tive had been embodied IN article headed The IRE
siden shall hare porr," and proposed TO the Conven-
ton Of ST part Of the Constitution, who believes
that it would have obtained single vote 10 that body
Or # 1t had been proposed by the hrs Congress as an
amendment to the Constitution, would have received
single vote in a single Stale IN this Union! Nobody
will venture TO say that il would And yet, now the
very question involved in the question OF con-
tnung power Administration which has used, and
is still using, the corruption Of its nsurpatlons TO
gain for them the popular sanction and thus give Them
to all practical purposes, the force and effect of Consti
tulional law.
IL suits the purposes Of some however TO represent
the great question now IN contest OF "mere dol
lars and cents'-hanks and rency--safe unsafe
keeping VI the public moneys and IN that light to be
altogether unworthy Of comparison with the question
OF Human Rights involved IN the cause Of abolition.
Now. SIR though as mere question Of currency 1t lisa
question Of Importance IN its vast and complicated bear
ngs upon Of the highest interests Of the people,
yet the question Of Poicerof practical change of
The Constitution By cneroachmenf and popular aeguics-
cenee regard as Of incomparably Importance.
And so does the Administration For all the rash
perments which have struck, as with paralysis, the
industry and prosperity of the country have been
dertsken and persevered in, for The sake Of otoer for
the sake of doing. effect, just what have asserted
has really been done changing practically, the Govern
men and Constitution OF the country, by concentrating
all power in the hands Of One Man And SUCH sir, is
now the great purpose OF the Administration In its per-
sererng efforts carry The Sub Trea-
sury scheme, BY excrtion OF Executive influence
equal 10 which has sgnaized the corrupt
periods of British history
There arc know abolitioniss who deeply con-
nevertheless say that is vain to attempt reform by
efforts 10 overcome the Administration; that the only
way to accomplish 1t is to abandon The present OPPOSE
non, aud rely on an ultimate triumph OF abolition TO pu-
y all the parties, and restore the Constitution This
Mr. Speaker seems 10 me very much like abandoning
all commonly approved remedies for disease aud CIV
irg up the patient TO die reliance upon restoration
to health by resurrection from the dead II betrays
utter nsensby TO the reat effect Of sanctsang The
usurpa,ons of which have spoken, by rcelectng TO
The Presidency their Chief Aulhor-an effect which
wolves not only practical change Of the Constitution
the final mschies of which no body calculae--but
such a ,cidc diffusion of the LEAvEN OF CORRUPTION,
and such consolidation Of the power when has intro
duced it, as place the country well nigh beyond the
reach of remedy Where is the Wing AboltIonst who
is wllug give up aud leave this fearen to act and
this power gain strength the hope Of ultimately
saving The country by Aboltionl | have great conf
dence the pur, ing power OF abolition principles but
cannot be blind not to see that corruption may,
IN the Unprecedented activity Of its aueaag process.
reach The rery remedy rhich IS relied on 10 effect IT'S
cure.
| have thus given summarily my views Of the ques-
lion aud the cris,s And now, sir, not, the
OF such crisis, when the true friends OF popular
right bucklng on their armor for death struggle
with corruption, TO lay down my aud from
the battle field | not. when the knife is drawn to
sever the monster which has for years been wind.
ing itself around the country give up. and Say
let him wlnd his last fold. aud crush the last bone No
SIR mo- shall help to fight out this battle if Heaven
spares me.
And now sir, where Is THE MAN around whom
rally the man whose shall be a strong
tower-thc who is 10 lead to vlctery. There is
thank Heaven. such a man Ills name is waited TO us
the wmds tina, sweep the AIleghanics and comes
back in laundering echoes from the Atlantic shores
The West tho East, the North the South unite pro-
clam WILLIAM HsNRY HaRR,soN as THE MAN.
And who is WILLIAM HsNRy H,RRisoNl Sir, he is
the noble Of noble sire, whose stands next
TO that Of Thomas jefferson the Declaration Of In
dependence A man who has shown that he has ro-