The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-21
TO THE PEOPLE
OF TnE
TWELFTH CONGRESSIONAL. DISTRICT
OF VIRGINIA. H
CnARLoTrEsylLLE, Oct. 6, ls4l

CnARLoTTEsvlLLE, Oct 6, 1s41.
FELLOW CITIZENS:
was elected your representative last spring
under circumstances which rendered il impossi
Die Tor me to consult you personally, as to your
opinions or wishes on the questions which have
engaged the attention of Congress during the
recent extra session, and which now demand
the serious consideration Of the country. In the
lew days intervening between my final nomina
no.. and the election, could do no more than
publish letter reviewing briefly the position was
induced to occupy before you, (more in Difference
TO the wishes OF others than my own, } and stat
ing distinctly the opinions which had long en-
leitalned as TO most of the subjects on which
have since been required 10 act as your repre-
sentative. Though have attempted to see
and consult with those whom esteem il an ho-
nor TO represent, as freely and fully as | could
since the close OF the session, have deemed II
due, rs well TO you as 10 myself, 10 omit no
means which will enable me 10 lay before you
my views as TO the interests which you have
confided TO my charge. Iregard government as
the highest earthly trust, and one which cannot
be properly appreciated or discharged without
mutual candor and confidence between the
agents and their principals. That men will diff
fer, as to the objects and the means of this trust,
IS natural, but these differences, if tested by the
standard Of reason, instead Of prejudice, viii
only lead to the establishment of truth and the
public good
beg leave TO recall your attention to a few
extracts from the letter which published TO the
district before the last election. After abiding
to The death OF Gen. HARRISON, add,
III is of great consolation and encourage
ment under these circumstances, that the Executive
trust of the Federal Government has Jevolved on one
who Is well known and justly appreciated in Virginia,
and who comes up to the standard prescribed by
own Jefferson, in honesty capacity and fidelity 10 the
Constitution. venture to say that John Tyler will
never dsappont the confidence which has been repos-
cd in him; that he will regard his own and every
other Office under the Government as a sacred trust
created for the country and for the public good and
not Tor a party or for private emolunent. Without
denying the utility and necessity Of parties in free
government may be assumed the result of our OBJ
sersation aud experience, that without regard to us
iorms any Government becomes despolic whose pow
es are held or administered exclusively for party"
Commenting on the positions of political par
ties at that Time, said:
"A union has been effected throughout the United
States among Of various shades of political opin-
inn nsto fundamental principles of government, which
had for ITS object side to sustain, and the
other to expe The late Administration. The late Pre-
sidentai Election, while II affords strong guaranty
that the contemplated reforms in the abuses of the Fee
deral Government must be accomplished, affords
also an opportunity indeed 1t creates also necessity,
fol parties To occupy towards another, and to-
wards the great measures of Government, positions al
once more natuIa and more patriotic. For years
past parties have been acting more in reference
than To measures, and hence we have found that on
the accession Of the last TWO three Presidents
power the country has seen one party pledged ad-
to support and another oppose every act of
their Administration right wrong We have now
an Administration which must rely on the wisdom
and justice OF is measures for popular support
.,ta
The present Administration to the tests of the Cons
tuition and OF fidelity to the public interests Demo
crat, il is hoped, will condemn without fault or re-
fuse TO give il fair and impartial trial"
As tony own views, remarked that
Without intending TO solicit the vote of any man,
should he reluctant to receive il under misappre-
henson OF my opinions. As representative and an
individual, have been opposed to the charter Of Ma
tional Bank, because | have sufficient reason
to regard either as power specifically granted,
necessary and proper means for carrying into effect
any granted power. Neither the power to coin mo-
ney, To regulate the value thereof lay and collect
taxes, duties &c, orto regulate commerce. involves, in
my opinion that of ulang the currency, exchanges
individual corpo ate obligations, any other repre-
sentative OF credit which private contracts the laws
Of the States may sanction. The banking system OF
the States is bad enough and calls for radical reform
either in its organization or administration but the
remedy, think, must be looked for in the State Gov
efnments. So long sufficient amount, either of
specie, Of State Bank paper equivalent to specie
can he furnished, the Federal Government will not be
without the means of exerting its fiscal powers in col
Letting, keeping and disbursng the public revenue.
regard the principle which contempates separation
of the revenues of the Government from the funds of
the banks, as a sound one &c, &c
might quote farther proofs of my recorded
opinions on the currency, and almost every
other subject which has been considered during
the extra session. You will judge then of my
surprise at finding myself arraigned before The
bar of public opinion as unathtul to any ex-
pectation which my conduct or declarations had
ever warranted. have sough in vain for any
definite charge, or any shadow of roof to sus-
tain such an accusation, and it seems that |
have offended rather in not dong what por-
lion of my constituents wished To have done,
than in doing what all had a clear right to ex-
pect me TO do.
You have seen that my anticipations as to the
effects of the extra session on the positions OF
parties, have been already to some extent rea-
lied. believe that when the designs of those
who had the chief agency in calling that session,
and in controlling lis measures, come to be fully
those anticlpaIions will be still far
ther realized, and that parties will again divide,
as every rejecting man has seen they must, ac
cordlng TO their views of the government itself
and the purposes for which it was created
More or les prejudice results generally from all
party conflicts, but this subsidies Tor the most
part and reason resumes her sway as soon as
men discover where the public good requires
them 10 differ or agree.
The extra session was called ostensby only
to replenish, what we were told was an exhaust
ed Treasury. Without inquring whether the
res ources of the Treasury provided AT the last
regular session were not ample to meet all pro-
per expenditures until Congress would meet I'M
der the acquisitions of law in December next, !
any one may see that il this had been the real
obIect of the extra session IT might have closed
when loan had been authorized more than sui |
ficient to supply any alleged deficit in the reve-
nue.. The first measure, however, which was
proposed was distribution of the entire pro- |