Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-09-03
SPECTATOR.
F5r the Spectator.
DISCUSSION IN BATH.


Mn. EDrToR:-The discussion between w.
Fl. Terrell, and ]. w. Grigsby before the
Williamsville Club. which was commenceda
month ago, was concluded last Saturday.
give you an account of it, not to claim ii vic
tory, or chronicle defeat, but to place be-
fore discerning publisy the arguments used
10 sustain This sinking administration. Boast
ing is as common in political as in military
bulletins. Both parties frequently claim vic
tory, and the public have lost confidence in
such statements. 1 will state facts, and wish
to be corrected if misstate them, and here
call on Mr.. Grigsby, or any of his political
friends, to correct me III any error into which
may fall. ] do not intend either, to use the
lash of ridicule. leave this fictitious aid TO
those who feel that they need such support.
Truth does not need this weapon, In her
cause, s'what is borrowed of tinsel is deformi-
ty.'' The members of the administration
party in these parts are honest men, and gen.
tlemen, who no doubt feel convinced that
they are right. My desire is to place in this
form before them for their reconsideration,
the positions taken by Mr.. Grigsby. feel
assured that the candid must see their weak
ness.
MIR. Terrell opened the debate with great
ability, triumphantly maintaining all his for
been the President of party, and not of the
whole people, and that the consequence had
been oppression to the people and favour to
his party. He showed that this must be the
necessary consequence of the doctrine, that
"to the victors belong the spoils." The
very maxim proved, that the victors thought
that they had right to spoil and Cypress the
vanquished. He proved by reference to the
acts of the administration, that this had been
the case. That the operations of the govern
ment were directed to personal aggrandize-
ment, and private benefits, in its appointment
to and removal from office. In its legisla-
ton; its tampering with the currency and
credit of the country; its profuse extrava-
gance; its favoritism; its party drill; its inter-
ference in elections its operations were not
directed to attain the greatest good 20 all, but
for the benefit of the iavoured few. He prov
ed by reference to the journals of the house
that the practice had extensively prevailed of
taxing Office holders for party purposes. He
read the testimony of several witnesses exam
ined before committee, to prove this fact,
who rositively averred that they were required
to pay sum of money, as the terms on which
they were to hold their Office; and the threat
of removal from Office was held over them in
case of noncompliance. He cited the case
of Mr.. Selden, of Virginia; Niles of New
Hampshire, and several others, 10 prove, that
while the President was holding out the idea
that he bowed submissively to the will of the
people. and was true democrat, the rejec-
ton Of a partizan and friend of his, applying
for Office at the hands of the people, was
sure passport to his favour. Seldan, warm
Van Buren, man, resigned an Office to oppose
Bolts, under the promise that he should not
be loser. The people rejected him, and i'm
mediately the President gave him Office.
Niles offered for Governor, was rejected by
the people, and the President at once made
him Post Master-General, and other instan-
ces equally in point were given. MIR. Ter
rell contended that the language of this con-
duct was If the people reject you, ! will
support you'll they refuse you office, will
give you Office. Transfer your allegiance
from the peopleto me. Seek my favour and
I will stick to you, the people to the contrary
Notwithstanding. He proved that the will of
the people had been disregarded in the pas
sage of the S. T. Bill and yet Mr.. Van Ru-
rem was called a Democrat, and bowed to the
will of the people.
Mr.. II. proved that the government had laid
its hands on the credit of the country, and
gave this as the most active cause Of popular
Indignation. BY the assumption of unconsti-
tutional powers, it had deranged the currency
and was attempting to fix OF the people sys-
tenn of finance, destructive to state rights, to
the dearest interests of the people and bene-
fetal only to Office holders providing one
currency for the people, and another for those
in Office. The first object had been to strike
down the u. States Bank, and then the State
Banks; and thus destroy all Banks and
lastly, to centre the whole money power Of
the country in the hands Of the executive, al
ready possessed of kingly power. He show
ed that in this process, the greatest treachery
had been practised: first in praising the u. S.
Bank as solvent, honest and beneficial; then
III abusing it. in extalliDg the State Banks
and In turn abusing them and attempting by
an unconstitutional bankrupt law. in viola
ton of state rights to ruin their credit, thus
depreciating thepeoPle's currency. He show
ed that the effect OF the $. Treasury was to
depress property; to- increase taxation TO stop
improvement; 10 break State Banks; to ruin
all who happened to be in debt; and cause a
general transfer of real property, from prop
erty holders to money holders; to favour
shavers; to create money monopoles, and in
crease the power ofthe Executive.
He showed the unconsttutionalitv Of the
Army Bill, and its oppressive tax on the peo-
pie, and proved by Mr.. Poinsett's own words,
that 1t was not abandoned, but that il would
not be pressed now, and only waited the ex-
preston oftho popular wil''.to be urged a.
gain. The event of Van Buren's election
would be the signal for its revival. lie con.
victed the President of endorsing it, by his
own words. He said the President was in
the predicament that the devil once was:
| The devil was sick, the devil monk would be
The devil got well, a devil still was he.
Van now would vomit this bitter pill up
because he feared popular Indignation: but i
elected, he would again swallow it whole