The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-08-06
MIR. MADISON's OPINION,

The devil can quote scripture for his purpose -
So the Bonk-whigs cite the opinion of Mr. Madison
in favor of National Bank, as high authority TO
support their system of money oligarchy. II were
well ifthe errors of great mind could be forgot
ten as they are forgiven,
The elder Adams, who it has been aptly soid
was as fond Of checks and balances rs Lord Ches
terield of the Graccs, declared that council con-
siSting of one branch had always been found sui-
cient in federal government. Now that for moro
Than half century we have seen and re, the prac-
teal results of a federal Legislature, consisting of
two branches, we do not believe that any man Gun
he found, bold enough or weak enough, TO re-as-
sers the doctrine Of the elder Adams, although
sanctioned and canonizcd by his name. The go
pnon OF Nlr Madison" in favor of Bank, has of
late been called in question by one of the most Wig
orous writers of the present day, who if sometimes
bold or visionary, always makes his readers think.
TO all those who have swallowed the "opnion
of Mr. Madison merely because it was gilded with
his name, we recommend the attentive perusal of
the following remarks
Mr. Madison, in his Justification of himself for
having signed The bill Incorporating the late Bank
of the L. States, when he opposed Bank on the
ground of its unconsliluiionay, alleged that
'power repeatedly exercised by Congress, and ac-
qulesced in by the people, should be taken us con-
s,itu'ional." A more dangerous rule it is not easy
to conceive Of If The stress be laid on the acqui-
escence Of the people, VIRTUALLY abrogatcs the Con-
situlion for it leaves the majority free to pass any
law they please, that the people will tolerate
which is precisely what the case would be, were
there no Constitution at all. If the stress be laid
on the repeated exercise of the power it asserts
that wrong by repetition becomes right. lfon the
repeated exercise by Congress, it claims for the
simple majority in Cangress the power Of determine
ing what the Constitution shall he, of altering or
amending lt,--a power which, according to the
Constitution itself, belongs only to the concurrence
of the several States OF ut least TO three fourths of
them.
The adoption of this rule by Mr. Madison, we
presume, accounts for the fact, lha, he is now the
pattern Statesman with those who could once hard
ly find in the English language words Of sufficient
force, TO express Their adherence of him and his
measures; and the fact that he is now the pattern
Statesman with these, should teach the old Repub-
lican States Rights party, that they have too ieeby
protested against the rule to which he in an e,
hour, gave his high authority
MIR Madison was great and good man, whose
services 10 his country are not easily measured;
but the injury he occasioned in this instance, 10 the
cause of constitutional liberty is one from which
we shall be long in recovering II was indeed one
Of those mistakes, to which the wises and best of
men are liable in cases ofperplesity and einergen-
cy but it is one which the earliest opportunity
should be seized of correcting Sdfem .dlr