The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-09
EXTRACTS FROM THE
SPEECH OF MIR. GRAVES,
OF KENTUCKY,


The Union bet,peea Messrs. Calhoun, Pick
ems & Co. and Mr.. Fan Buren, Anaiyz ed
Notwithstanding the abuses to which it has
been my unpleasant duty TO allude and denounce,
such have been the allurements of power insinu-
ating itself through the hundred thousand ave
nues along which the Executive patronage flows,
that the President has been able to maintain his
majorities in both branches of Congress. 1t is
painful and mortifying, beyond measure, to be
constrained to admit these melancholy truths.
Who can take cool and dispassionate retrospect
of the scenes around us for some time past, and
resist the solemn conviction that all of our free
institutions which is worth preserving will soon
have passed away, unless we. can arrest the
mighty torrent Of corruption which is sweeping
over the whole face of the country and leaving
in its train the traces of mildew, decay and
ruin!
But, Mr.. Chairman, in thinking over the con-
sequences that are likely to grow out Of the de-
generacy OF the times and the present state OF
the country, il has occurred TO me there is one
topic which have never heard analysed public
w. and which, from its peculiarly and import
ance, connects itself with, and forms most i'm
portant link in the chain by which the passing
political events Of this day will stand connected
in history. allude to the late strange combina-
ton of parties, by which those in power have
been thus long able to retain it. II is in refe
renee to political results that have grown out OF
this strange combination that allude to it, and
not for the purpose of giving personal offence,
TO avenge private grief, for | have none to
avenge. / deal with public men connected
with the institutions OF my country, and only as
incidents to political events. consider in these
results great and momentous as they are, the
whole country is interested and hence they
matters with which it is legitimate and proper
the Representatives Of the people should deal,
with all that freedom which their importance
In IF he nd
unaccountable character of this combination in
all its unnatural deformity allow me to present
what, a few months previous, were the relations
of the different divisions of this coalition, com
posed of the distinguished Senator from South
Carolina, to whom have alluded, and his fol-
lowers, on the one part, and Mr. Van Buren, and
his followers, on the other.
When entered this Hail. for the first time,
at the beginning of the Congress before last
young, and Of rather an impulsive and ar
dent temperament had been educated in
school of plain dealing, where language is used
n medium of thought, and where we speak as
we wish TO be understood. | had been, through
life, warm and rather violent politician, and by
some thought to be too much of partcian. SO
il was however, upon entering Congress, when
party feeling ran high, heard nothing said in
debate against those in power which was too
highly seasoned Tor my palate Indeed, thought
heard no persons sincere and so entirely I'M
disguised in speaking exactly what they thought
of men and measures, as the Representatives
from South Carolina. Others were doubtless as
sincerely devoted TO the great principles Of liber-
ty, and equally impressed with the imminent
danger with which it was threatened. but still
felt restrained from using strong and as often
sive language, by their notions OF selfrespect
and different estimate of the respect due TO
high functionaries
thought if there was any one delegation in
Congress that was doing more than another to-
wards displacing those in power, and restoring
the Constitution il was that from South Caro-
lima. Such was the honest Indignation that
fired the opposition speeches of two Represen-
tatives from that State, particularly, (Messrs.
Calhoun and Pickens. that thought, if il be-
came necessary, they would face the cannons
mouth-yea, march up TO the stake, and be
burned aivc--to redeem their bleeding country
from the vanda hands of the spoilers!
shall never forget the Indignation with which
the eloquence of the honorable Senator, in Fc-
bruary, 1886 fired my breast against the Admi-
nistratlon, for retaining in office one who was so
mbecile or corrupt as he proved the Secretary
OF the Treasury TO be, from his own report -
lie proved, as before shown, that the Secretary
IN his report, made within wenty-three DAYS of
The end OF the last quarter of the wear 1895 for
the most disgraceful purpose estimated the pro-
bable means of the Treasury for that ouarter NJ
near seven millions less than they turned ont 10
be- and at less than hall of what he must have
known, when he was making the report had ac
luaily then been received recollect dstinct,,