The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1841-09-23

A1ess iac eshns anu pace ny 90
dy across the path lhai leads nv country
70 prosperity and happiness. This i !
sort Of courage widely different from TIA,
which . man may display in his private
conduct and personal relations. Person.
u or private courage i totally distinrs
from that higher and nobler courage which
prompts the patriot 10 offer himself yo-
iuniary sacrifice 10 his conniry's good.
Nor did ! say, as the Senstor repre-
senis, that the President should have re-
signed. iniimated no personal wish or
desire that he should resign. referred
10 the fact Of memorable resignation in
his public life. And what l did say was,
that there were other alternatives before
him besides vetoing the bill: and that II
was worthy Of his consideration whether
consistency did not require that the exam
pie which he had set when he had con-
stitnency Of one State. should not be fol-
lowed when he had constituency COM
mensuraie with the whole Union. Anoth-
er alternative was, TO suffer the bill, with
out his signature, 10 pass into law un-
der the provisions Of the constitution. And
| mus. confess see. in this, no such es-
Gaping BY the back-door, no such Jumping
out of the window, as the Senator talks
about. Appreheusions of the impulation
of the want of frmness sometimes impel
us TO perform rash and inccnsideraie acts.
IL Is the greatest courage 10 be able to
bear the impuialion Of the want of cou-
rage. Bnt pride, vanity, egotism, so Hn-
amiable and offensive in private life, are
vices which partake Of the character of
crimes in the conduct of public affairs.
The unfortunate victim Of these passions
cannot see beyond the liIlle. petty, con-
temptible circle Of his own personal inle-
rests. All his thoughts are Withdrawn
from his country, and concentrated on his
consistency. his 6rmness, himself. The
high, the exalted, the sublime emotions
Of patriotism, which, soaring towards
Heaven, rises far above all mean, low, or
selfish things, and is absorbed by one
soul-transporting thought Of the good and
the glory of ones country, are never felt
in his impenetrable bosom. That patri-
otism which, catching its inspirations from
the immortal God, and leaving at an inn
measurable distance below all lesser, gro
yelling, personal interests and feelings,
animaIes and prompts to deeds Of self-sa-
crifice, of valor, Of devotion, and Of death
iiself-that is public viriue-;hat is the
noblest, the sublimest Of all public vir-
tues!
said nothing Of any obligation on the
part of the President 10 conform his judg-
ment to the opinions Of the Senate and
House of Representatives, although the
Senator argued as il | had, and persever-
ed in so arguing, after repeated correc-
tons. | said no such thing. | know
and respect the perfect independence of
each department, acting within its proper
sphere, Of other. departments. But re-
ferred to the majorities in the two houses
of Congress as further and strong evil
dence of the opinion Of the people of the
United States in favor Of the establish
ment of Bank of the United States. And
commended that, according TO the doctrine
of instructions which prevailed in Virgil
MIA, and of which the President is a dis
ciplc, and in pursuance of the example
already cited, he ought not to have reject
cd the bill.
have heard that, on his arrival at the
seat of the General Government to enter
upon the duties of the office of Vice Pre-
sident, in March last, when interrogated
how far he meant to conform, in his new
station, TO certain peculiar opinions which
were held in Virginia, he made this patri-
otto and noble reply: Il am Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, and not of the
state of Virginia; and shall be governed
by the wishes and opinions of my consii-
tuents." When | heard of this encourage
ing and satisfactory reply, believing, as |
most religiously do, that large majority
of the people Of the United States are in
favor of national bank, land gentlemen
may shut their eyes to the fact, deny or
dispute, or reason it away as they please,
but it is my conscientious conviction that
two thirds, if not more, of the people of
the United States desire such an institu-
ton, | thought beheld sure and certain
guaranty for the fulflment of the wishes
of the people of the United States. |
thought it impossible that the wants and
wishes Of a great people, who had bestow-
ed such unbounded and generous conf
dence, and conferred on him such exalted
honors, should be disregarded and disap-
pointed. 1t did not enter into my imagi-
nation to conceive that one, who had
shown so much Difference and respect TO
the presumed sentiments of single state,
should display less towards the sentiments
of whole nation.
Ihope, Mr.. President, that, in perform
ing the painful duty which had devolved
on me, have not transcribed the limits
of legitimate debate. repeat, in all truth
and sincerity, the assurance to the Senate
and to the country, that nothing but a
stern, reluctant, and indispensable sense