The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-16

Presidency brought him into communion and inti-
mate political fellowship With the chosen vanguard OF
the Whig party-the first selection made BY General
Haaslsos Of a Cabinet, distinguished for its para
mount ability integrity, and fidelity TO the glorious
cause in which we had eonquered-a Calumet emit
nently crowned with the public confidence, IN whom
all men trusted as in the very embodiment oil the
principles OF the party to which they belonged who
were inseparaby associated with It's glory, and IN
whose generous and honorable relation to the fresi
dent we had the security Of wise and prosperous eoun
ses and he the pledge OF Incorporation winch shouiu
enable him TO accomplish all thai the nation desired
These hopes were sill further enlvened by the en-
courseine tone ia which the President referred in his
first address to the nation to the glorious ex
ample afforded him by the Fathers Of the great Re-
publican school, and the declaration Of his determine
ton TO walk in the path which they pointed Out.
In the indulgence of these hopes Congress entered
upon its abors. By adopting rules for the despatch
ofbusness conformable tie emergency Of an extra
session. and in view OF the eft amount OF legislation
which the times required, we have been enabled 10
achieve all, and than all, that our cons.l-
tuens could have demanded at our hands. The lead
ing and great Of this session have been un
der discussion in Congress and out of Il, for many
years past and little remained TO be said beyond re-
petition Of former debates There nothing in the
circumstances or position of either party in Congress
require, even to justify protracied discussions
and the majority therefore, felt themselves entitled TO
give TO the extra session the character OF Congress OF
action and decision, rather than of debate and
we feel assured that In this effort we have done no
than respond to the just expectations OF the
People.
First in urgency amongst the bills passed during the
session. and that 10 which the public command most
imperatiyely drew the notice of Congress- was the re-
peal of the Sub-reasury law Our next care was the
enactment Of the Land bill. This was followed by
an act converting the debt which the preceding Adj
ministration had cntaed upon the country in loan
Of twelve millions of dollars which is limited for its
redemption to period Of three years. Associated
with this measure the Revenue bill, rendered ne
cessary not only provision towards The extin-
punishment Of the loan, but also Indispensable for
the supply of means TO meet the ordinary and necessa
~ appropriations OF the year. The Bankrupt act, SO
earnestly and long solicited by large and merito-
rious class of citizens has been passed under cr
cumstances which cannot but reflect the highest ho-
nor upon the Representatives of many sections of the
country. As measure standing alone it might per-
haps have been destined To further delay but being
brought was, into that series OF measures which
were supposed to embrace the scheme of relief which
the nation at large required it met from Wing Con-
press that support of which the chief argument and
highest value are derived from the respect which every
one felt TO be due to comprehensive policy, whose
scope should include every interest IN the nation II
trial for the benefit of the country and remains TO
be altered OF improved the public wants may here
after be found 10 require. The importance, in the
posture Of our affairs Of attending TO the national de-
fences suggested the measures Of establishing Home
Squadron of repairing and armiDg the Fortlhcatons
bringing the nation at large into state of readiness
against hostile aggresson--in regard TO which mea-
sures as great unaninty prevailed in Congress, we
may safely assure ourselves they will meet the undi-
vided appreciation Of our constitutes throughout the
whole Union.
This rapid review, ow-czens, will exhibit what
we have done What we have failed TO do remains
to be told
Il is with profound and poignant regret that we
find ourselves called upon TO invoke your attention to
| al.
touching this question our anxious endeavors to res
pond to the earnest prayer Of the nation have been
frustrated by act unlookedfor it is TO be la
| mented. We grieve to say TO you that by the exer
else Of that power in the Constitution which has
been regarded with suspicion and often with odium
by the Pcople-a power which we had hoped ne
yer TO he exhibited, this subject, by Wing Pres
dentwe have been defeated in two attempts to create
| Fi-cal Agent, which the wants of the country hae
demonstrated to in the mort absolute form Of proof
to be eminently necessary and proper in the presen
emergency. Twice have we, with the utmost dill
gence and deberaton, maturcd plan for the collec
/ ton, safe keeping, and disbursng Of the public mo
neys, through the agency of corporation adapted L
that end and twice has II been our fate to encounter
the opposition the President through the application
| of the veto power. The character of that veto ir
each case the circumstances in which il admins
tered and the grounds upon which it has met the de
cided disapprobaon of your friends in Congress,
sufficiently apparent in the public documents and the
painful interest with us, and will doubtless acquire
with you, from the unhappy developments with which
| il il accompanied. We constrained to say tina
we find no ground to justify in the conviction tha
the veto Of the President has been interposed thin
question solely upon conscientious and weconsider
ed opinions of constitutional scruple to his duty II
the case presented. On the contrary, too many proof
have been forced upon observation to leave FIRE.
from the apprehension that the Pres dent has permit
ted himself 10 be beguiled into opinion that, by thin
afh Is he m be tn
vert the policy Of his Administration into channe
which should lead to new political combinations and
accomplish results which must overthrow The present
divisions of party in the country, and finally produce
a state Of things which those who elected him, al
least have never contemplated. We have seen, from
early period Of the session, that the Wing party
did not enjoy the confidence of the President. With
modification We have observed that his associa-
tione seduously aimed at free communion
with those who have been busy to PROSTATE oul
purposes rather than those whose principles
seemed to be most identified with the power by which
he was elected We have reason TO believe that ht
has permitted himself to be approached counseed
and Influenced by those who have manifested least in
tercst in the success of Wing measures What were
represented to be his opinions and designs have been
freely and even insolenty, put forth in certain por
lions and those not the most reputable Of the public
press, in manner that ought TO be deemed offensive
to his honor as certainly was to the feelings of those
who were believed TO be his friends. In the earnest
endeavor manifested by the members Of the Wing
party in Congress to ascertain specifically the Presl
dents notions in reference to the details of such bill
relating to Fiscal Agent would be likely to NEE,
his APPRECIATION the frequent changes of his opinion,
and the singular want of consistency in his views
have baied his best friends and rendered the hope
adjustment impossible.
Congress, early in the session, called upon the Sc
cretary Of the Treasury for the plan Of Fiscal Agent
the result Of this call bill which reported in
detail with argument in its favor, and il was, as
have right to regard it, received by all the bill
Of the President In fact il known to contain
provisions, in reference to the assent Of the States
which corrcspondcd with the private opinion of no
member Of the Cabinet. This bill the President had
even informed more than member of the House
he would be willing to sign if passed by Congress
yet il contained provision for local dissountng in