The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-17
New York, July ID, l94l

You have doubtless noted the last hyseric, perhaps
ought to say heroic the Editor of the Courier and
Enquirer. "What private griefs he hath alas know
not" Anthony says in the play. But this we all
know full WELL that he is accustomed to fits and starts
and all kinds of eccentric movements. His individual
opinions are of little moment at any time; but the
editor of Wing journal, one would suppose that he
would exercise sufficient discretion TO keep him from
premature declarations and denunciatons which, if
they amount to any thing at all, calculated to in
lure his party than he do it good in years of
service. Placing himself in open collision with the
Whg party, he says lhat certain members of the Ca
binet have neither been true to the country To-
their fame, they would have retired from office
the moment they called upon TO compromise their
principles on the state of expediency" To illustrate
his position, he propouns the following leading ques
ton, in reference to Messrs. Webster, Ewing and
Granger-W neither they are not bartering their prin-
cples and the wishes of the people, for their places in
the Cabinet? pass by much of his commonplace
slang whang, to meet this question. Whether he
Judges these gentlemen by his own rule of action, in
regard to retaining obtaining place. is not material
In the first place he confounds the position and duties
of American Heads of Department, with the ministers
| of the monarchs of Europe. In the theory of mo-
marches, the Prince do no wrong He acts under
the advice of his minister's and they are directly and
personally responsible for the acts of the Crown OF
course they not prepared to admire any
recommended by the Monarch they must at once, re-
sign their places, incur all the responsibility Not
under the Constitution of the United States The
PRESIDENT SeCrG-
taries on any question: and whatever he does is done
on his responsibility It's therefore, not xpected
that Secretaries will resign their places whenever they
happen dissent from the President any question
Meanwhile is true that the President is in the habit
of consulting with the members of his Cabinet on
most questions and should it unfortunately SO happen
that any of the Secretaries differed Numerically with
the President most of the leading questions it would
be highly expedent for them to resign at once But
not so if they CHANGED to disagree on single question
n; oft ha ~
President and his ministers at variance on the
Bank quest on there would be occasion to break up
the Cabinet.
But, in the present emergency the members of the
Cabinet not only to have regard to the oexpress
ed and weknown sentiments of the President, as
CO. ordinate branch of the Legislature but to con-
slider the constitutional scruples of a respectable
proportion Of the Wing members of each House,
and the prejudices of the Opposition against the
branching principle As wise and practicable states
men, they are bound to consider the conjunction
of circumstances Admitting for argument sake that
they would prefer bill granting the branching po,oer
to the fullest extent yet are they in duty bound take
a comprehensive view Of the whole ground; and if in
their opinion, the very measure cannot be secured,
they it to the people to unite in recommending any
fair compromise that will secure the next best This
opens at once the compromising principle proposed by
Mr.. Rves, and sanctioned by considerable proper
ton Of the Wings of each House. 1t is then most
extravagant assumption Of the editor ofthe Courier &
Enquirer to suppose that members Of the Cabinet have
compromised their principles to retain their places
Much has been said in regard to the Presidents
cepting the Wing nomination. if he not prepared
TO 60 all lengths in favor Of the alleged Wing doctrine
in favor of Bank. But is not the editor aware that
Mr.. Tyler has always been opposed to National
Bank With the whole Wing party on most other
questions, yet he has committed himself explicitly
over and over again, on the Bank question and with
his sentiments before the nation he received the Whg
nomination unanimously at Harrisburg In the true
spirit of compromise he has yiedei the main question
in regard the establishment of Bank, but he re-
sent of the States. Is IL now expected that he will
yield every principle and his long established
opinions for the sake of retaining his place?" If he
could conscen.iously yield up his established sent
ments should rejoice. But with his present opinions
it is his duty sustain what he believes to be the con-
stutonal ground, and the Wing party has no reason
| to complain. ..
| The editor Of the Courier & Enquirer has deemed
it proper to tilt against Mr. Rives, and to inti-
mate that he has "hioarted the 1oishes and desires
! of the Wing party" Far otherwise. Knowing that
| the Wing party desire National Bank-knowinp
that portion of the party opposed to the branch
ing principle and believing that such principle would
not receive the sanction Of the Piesden-what does
he dol Bindly urge bill that would be likely to be
vetoed Not at ALL But in true spirit Of honorable
compromise-as practical statesman he proposes
modification calculated to expedite the passage of q
| Bank law II may not suit the Wall-street brokers
but concilates important States and disarms the
Opposition of their sting and ability to produce mis-
chief in the event Of no bill What is the head and
front Of his amendment Merely require the assent
| of the States to one principe-and when once ac-
coded to, they are precluded from recession. But,
say the recusants, if we once pass law without
| the branching power, we are forever precluded
/ from its assertion. l do not so understand it.
We yield the point at present, merely a matter