Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-09-18


the chances of error are much greater on
the side of one man than on that of the
majority of a whole people and their sue
cessive Legislatures during long period of
time. yield to the irresistible force of
authority. ! will not put myself in oppo-
sition to measure so mperatvely deman-
ded by the public voice. and so essential to
elevate my depressed and suffering coun-
trymen.
And why should not President Tyler
have suffered the bill to become law with
out his signature! Without meaning the
slightest possible disrespcct to him. (nothing
is further from my heart than the exhibit
ton Of any such feeling towards that dis
tinguished citizen, long my personal friend)
it cannot be forgotten that he came into
his present office under peculiar circum-
stances. The people did not forcsec the
contingency which happened. They vo-
ted for him as Vice President They did
not, therefore, scrutnizc his opinions with
the care which they probably ought to
have done and would have done. if they
could have looked into futurity. If the
present state of the fact could have been
antcipated-if at Harrisburg. or at the
polls. it had been foresccn that General llar-
rison would die in one short month after
the commencement of his administration:
that Vice President Tyler would be ceya-
ted to the Presidential chair; that bill.
passed by decisive maioritics of the first
Wing Congress, chGrtering a National
Bank. would be presented for his sanctions:
and that he would veto the BILL do | hazard
any thing when | express the conviction
that he would not have received Il solitary
vote in the nominating convention. nor one
solitary electoral vote in any State i'll the
Union!
Shall be told that the honor. the firm
ness, the independence of the Chief Mag
istrate might have been drawn in question
if he had remained passive, and so permit
ted the bill to become law! | answer
that the office of Chief Magistrate is sa-
cred and exalted trust. created and confer
red for the benefit of the nation. and not
for the private advantage of the person who
fills it. Can any mans reputation for firm
ness. independence. and honor, be of more
importance than the welfare OF a great Peo-
pie! There is nothing in my humble judy
ment. in such course. Incompatible with
honor with firmness, with Independence.
properly understood. Certainly, must
respectfully think. in reference to a meas.
ure like this. recommended by such high
sanctions--by five Congrcsses--by the au.
thority of five Presidents--by repeated de-
ciSons of the Supreme Court-by the &C.
quiescence and judgment of the People of
the United States during long periods OF
time--by its salutary operation on the in
terests of the community for a space OF
forty years, and demanded by the People
whose sutfrages placed President Tyler in
that second office from whence he was trans.
lated to the first, that he might have sup
pressed the promptings of all personal pride
Of private opinions, if any arose in his bO
son. and Yielded to the wishes and wants ot
his country. Nor do believe that. in sucl
a course, he would have made the smallest
sacrifice, in a just sense, of personal honor
frmness, or Independence.
But. sir. there was still third alternative
to which allude, not because | mean It
intimate that it should be embraced. but be
cause | am reminded of it by a memorable
event in the life of President Tyler. Il
will be recollected that. after the Senate
had passed the resolution declaring the re
moyal Of the public deposites from thu
late Bank of the United States. to have
been derogatory from the Constitution an(
laws of the United States. for which rcso
luton President. then Senator Tyler. ha,
voted. the General Assembly of Virgins
instructed the Senators from that State t.
vote for the eXpun-ing of that resolution
Senator Tyler declined voting in conformi
ty with that instruction. and resigned hi
; seat in the Senate Of the United States
This he did because he could not conform
and did not think it right to % counter t
the wishes Of those who had placed him i
= the Senate. If. when the people of Virgin
ia, or the General Assembly of Virgins
were his only constituency. he would not Sc
= up his own particular opinion in oppoSitip
to theirs. what ought to be the rule Of hi
conduct when the people of 2d States
: whole nation-compose his constituency
= Is the will of the constituency of one Stat
to be respected, and that of twcnty-siX to h
: wholly disregardcd! Is obedience due or
" to the single State of Virginia! Til
President admits that the bank Uuestio
deeply agitated and continues to agiratc ii
/ nation. 1t is incontestibc that il was ii
, great, absorbing and controlling question
l in all our recent divisions and exertions.
| am firmly convinced and it is my deliberat
: Judgment. that an immense majority. n
| less than two thirds Of the nation. desil
: such an institution. All doubts in this re
} pee, ought to be dispeed by the recent d
!, cisions Of the two Houses Of Congress.