The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-07
DEBATE ON THE VETO MESSAGE.
MR. RIvEs' SECOND SPEECH. IN REJoIN
DER TO MR. CLAY.

Mr.. RlvEs rose, and said he must be permitted 10
express his surprise at the extraordinary exhibition OF
vehemence We had just witnessed from the honorable
Senator from Kentucky. He was wholly al loss 10
conjecture what there in any thing he had said,
| to provoke towering outbreak Of wrath and elo-
quence. In the remarks he had made in reply To the
honorable Senator he had limited himself strictly TO
a defence Of high public funciionary, who had felt
himself called by the most solemn of all obligations
to exert a great conservative power placed in his
hands by the Constitution of his country against an
| imadversions and reproaches which he believed In
his conscience were altogether unmerlted II was an
act OF justice, which should have despised myself
(sad Mr. r. If could have set still in my seat, with
the materials of justification abundanily existing
in my own knowledge, and have Withheld from the
humblest of my fellowcitizens, when thus assailed
The Senator from Kentucky may have jealouses
and suspicious in his mind TO my course here; but
if he has permit me TO say to him he does great
injustice. concur, with great cheerfulness, in the
self approving sentiments he has pronounced with
much emphasis, in regard to his own high character
for courage and patriotism am the last person. let
him be assured, that would impugn, in any manner,
his just claims upon the consideration and respect of
his country But while admire and render the
homage due TO his courage and PATRIOTISM as well
his distinguished talents, he will excuse for saying
cannot agree TO take my lessons in political ethics
from one who invoking the name OF Deity and point
ing TO heaven, boldly intimates that he would win his
way, even TO that holy place, by violation of
the Constitution he had sworn To support, and who
holds it up the highest act of public virtue to
trample under foot that sacred insli ument when it
may be supposed TO stand in the way of some pecu
mary interests Of the country
The Senator shakes his head But, sir, is this not
fair and unexaggerated statement Of the case2 The
bill which the Senator from Kentucky would have
had the President 10 sign, his convictions TO the
trary notwithstanding, is one which the President
most deliberately believes is violation of that Constr
tuition, which, when entering upon his Office, he took
solemn oath 10 preserve, protect, and defend.
Yet the Senator from Kentucky, assuming (graiui-
tously, as humbly think that majority OF the poo
pie are favor OF this measure (Which, | showed
when | addressed the Senate before, had not even
been approved by majority of their tatives
insists that the President ought 10 have carried out
this imaginary will of the majority in despite of
his deeprooted convictions of the unconstitution
Atty of the act and in disregard of the solemn
ton of his official oath Ii this be the political
stry of the honorable Senator from Kentucy, must
say, with all my respect for the disng Senator
cannot consent to take him for my guide and nslruc
Tor in question OF conscience of constitutional
obligation. choose rather, humble the comparison
may seem to the honorable Senator TO look to the
straightforward example of John Tyler, who, in
needing the still, small voice of conscience" amid
the importunate clamors of party dictaon, and in
manfuly standing by what he believes to be the Con-
siituton of his country in the face of threatened de-
nuncation has exhibited moral courage as high,
and heroism of principle as undaunted and GER
ainly worthy OF The respect and applause of moral
and religious people jealous of their liberties and 10y
to the great charter which secures them, that spe
cies of laudlnaian bodness which sacrifices prlnci-
pie expectancy and which coniounds conscience,
in public affairs, with PRIDE ranity, egofism, and even
crime, and which we have just heard vauntingy
celebrated the heroic strains of the Senator'S
eloqueDce as public rirtue!
l will venture to say farther, Mr.. President that |
large majority of the American people, whether they
agree with Mr.. Tyler not in his construction of
the Constitution have too habtual respect for
sclenous opinions and principles of action not 10 ho-
the integrity and frmness with which, at every |
hazard 10 himself personally he has sought in faith
full discharge of The solemn obligations of his oath of
Office maintain the Constitution of the country
violate.
The Senator has INDUCED his fancy in regard to |
certain cdbdi which he says il is alleged 10y Rumor !
Gan authority he seems prone to quote, Of late) has
been formed for the wicked purpose of breaking up
the regular Cabinet and dlssolving the Wing party.
Though the Senator is pleased to acquit Of being
member of this supposed cdbal, he said he should in
fer, from the zeal and promptilude with which have
come forward to defend the motives and conduct Of
the President, that was, at least, member of his
Priry CounciH thank God, Mr. President, that
in his gracious goodness he has been pleased give
me heart to repe injustice and 10 defend the inno-
cent, without being laid under any special engage
ment, as prvy councillor or otherwise, to do justice
to my irllow-man and if there be any gentleman
who cannot find in the consciousness of his DO.
som satisfactory explanation OF natural an i'm
pulse for envy him neither his temperament nor
mis- philosophy If Mr.. Tyler instead OF being a dis
tngulshed citizen OF my own State, and filing at
u
liiy which entities him to candid Interpretation of
his official acts at the hands Of all his countrymen,
had been total stranger, unknown to in the rela
tons of private or political friendship should yet
have fell myself rreslstiby impellcd, by the common
sympalhirs of humanity, To undertake his defence to
the best of my pior ability when have him this
day powerfully assailed, for act as verify be-
eve of conscientious devotion TO the Constitution Of
his country and the sacred obligations Of his high |
trust.
The honorable Senator complains that in my reply |
to him. | unjustly represented him censuring and
arraignIng the CONDUCT of the Chief Magistrate. He
asks II he used such language as perddy. did not
say that he used the word perfdy but that his acga
tons resolved themselves substantially into the charge
of peifdy against the President. And is not this
true appeal to those whosheard him. and would
appeal to the honorable Senator himself in his cooler
moments, if twohlrds Of his speech did not consist
of lmputaons, more or less direct, the President
for violation OF his faith, express i'm, lied TO his
party and the country Did he not begin his speech
with reading and dwelling upon passage i'll the In
augura Address Of the President, which he contend
ed amounted to engagement TO the nation to sign |
such bill as had been presented to him If So |
what Is his veto message, before US, but a viola
ton of that engagement, or in Other words breach
of faith, an act OF peldy 10 the nation Again did
the honorable Senator say il the course which the
President las taken could have been anticipated
either by the Harrisburg Convention or BY the people
at the polls, he would not have received individual
vote in the former or single electoral from the
latter. Does not this imply diseng enuous suppress
sion, something like fraudulent concealment of
his opinions by the President, which, il true, would
under the circums ances have been grossly inconsis
tent with the principles of good faith How little
foundation there is for any such imputation, fateI
myself must have fully demonstrated TO the satisfac.
ton of the Senate the remarks had the honor TO
make in reply to the first speech Of the Senator from
Kentucky
The honorable Senator also insisted with great
earnestness that the veto of this bill under the cir
cumstances which the President stood was so cx.
ceponable proceeding that rather than IL have H.
sorted TO it, 1t would have been better for him TO have
GRADED The responsibitu Of bis high stat on by nor