The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-23
MIR. WEBSTER AND HIS POSITION.

MIR. WEBSTER AND HIS POSITION.
The disappointed editor Of the Courier and
Enquirer is reading lessons Of political morality
and consistency to Mr.. Webster. A few words
will put this matter right before the public.
The late Cabinet were appointed by Gen.
Harrison. President Tyler found them in Of
fee The relation between the President and
the Cabinet should be confidential. The mem
bers should not only harmonic with him, but
with each other. 1t is not to be expected that
seven intelligent and independent minds shall
perfectly agree in all things, or that their Judg-
ments or opinions should concur on every ques-
ton which may be presented In the admnlslra-
ton of public affairs, but the members of the
Cabinet should have a community of feeling,
and mutual confidence resulting therefrom
When Mr. Tyler came into office, the first
question was whether he should retain the old
Cabinet FIVE turn to the statements made by
Messrs. Ewing and Bell, it will be found that
he explained to them fully his position in rea-
ton TO a Bank of the United States. He told
his Cabinet that he did not believe that Con-
gress had the power to create corporation IN
the States, and that thus believing, he never
would sanction any bill asserting that power
Hence Mr.. Ewing's bill provided that the Bank
should be located in the District of Columbia,
and required the consent Of the States for the
creation of branches. This was so fully under
stood, that Mr. Ewing himself says that his bill
was modified so as to meet the Presidents con-
stitutiona opinions and he further says, that the
President could not have signed the first bill be-
cause il was, in his opinion, violation of the
Constitution.
If we turn to Mr.. Bells statement, we find
that in the conversation of the 18th, Mr.. Ew-
ing, Mr.. Badger, Mr. Webster, and himself
pledged themselves that they would exert their
influence, not only TO get up such bill as he
could consistently sign--that is, bill which
should conform to the Presidents constitutional
opinions-but that they would exert their intiu-
ence to prevent the passage of any bill which
the President might suppose, would be after
wards amended and made the basis of such an
institution as the late Bank of the United States.
Now what was the conduct of Messrs. Ew-
ing, Badger, and Bell? When the bill was
prepared, and the President called upon his Ca
binet to fulfil their pledge, and if possible post
pone it until the next session, did these gentle
men fulfil that pledge2 So far from 1t, they
met Mr. Clay, they acted with Mr.. Clay's eau
Gus, and united with the Presidents enemies in
the attemptto dictate to and disgrace him. On the
contrary, Mr. Webster acted in good faith. He
advisedihe Senators from Massachusetts, to post
none the bill, and exerted his influence, he
had promised he would use it. TO protect the Pre-
sident against the attempt to force him to VIC,
late the Constitution.
Such was the part acted by Mr. Webster II
that emergency, and the part thus acted at tina
time is fully appreciated by the President ant
Mr.. Webster's present colleagues The ru
mors about Mr.. Webster's leaving the Cabine
are gotten up by those who desire it, becaus
they believe that by doing so he will be compel
ed to throw his influence, and that of his power
full friends, into Mr.. Clay's scale. They woul
create jealousies between Mr.. Webster and til
other members OF the Cabinet, that they ma
thereby provoke him to resign. They kno,
that Mr. Clay and his partisans have it in the
power to defeat any scheme for bank whic
the President can approve, and they thus fore
see that Mr. Webster's hopes and wishes, /
this particular may be defeated and woul
place him in position to compel him to resis
Mr.. Webster's past course is an earnest OF VIII;
he will do, under such circumstances. He di
fers with the President on the powers of Coz
gress over this subject. He will therefore
what he can, consistently, to obtain Bank, b,
when he shall find, as he probably will find th
the course of Mr.. Clay and his partisans have mao
il impossible TO obtain a charter, then he w
doubtless do what he can consistently doto fav
suchlegslation as will best promote the great en'
which he desires to obtain through the agenc
of a Bank The abors of the malcontents W
be vain--the efforts to excite jealousies will
defeated-the Cabinet and the President W
act together, and in harmony.
= he Nashville papers are warmly discussiI
the question, Who shall represent Tenness
j. the United States Senate ~ Two Senate