Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-04-09
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""a "ofe especially the Wing voters OF the Dis
trie, so that they may act understa ndnRly in the
Judgment they may form, in selecting between the
i candidates now before u.s.
| Rsa fact worthy to be remembered, that Mr.
uner held his seat in the last Congress by the &C.
| nerosity OF the Wing party. n is well known TO
that gentleman and his friends that his course in the
preceding Congress, in yielding his support to that
weak and dangerous scheme of finance called the
, SuoueaNiry, met the decided disspprobaton OF a
large majority of his Wing friends who had elected
nim-lhai II was only by the most earnest entrca-
ues ana persuasions, that sufficient number could
DC prevailed upon to support him at the last election,
10 procure his success. IL Is further well known,
that many yielded their support most reluctant to
nun, as an alternative only, TO prevent the election
OF arother gentleman much more obiec onab BILE TO
thim, Than was MIR Hunter. Strong hopes were
entertained, however land the writer was one who
induleed such hopes) that the majority in the last
congress would have been 50 decidedly adverse TO
TINS abominable pet scheme Of Dir Van Buren, that
MI Hunter could, by his course upon that do u,
no injury. The further hope was INDUCED that by
renewal OF the confidence OF his Wing friends
Mr. Hunter would act with firmly and decidedly
upon all other questions IL SO happened that the
elections which took place in several of the States
IN the course OF the summer and fall of the wear
1889, eventuated in n manner different from the
calculations which had been confidently made. so
that the question OF treasury or no Sub ttea
suryr made TO depend upon the representa-.
ton from the State of New Jersey. The scenes
which were enacted in the Capitol at the commence
re
now matters of history, and within the recoi-
lection of every reading man IN our country. The
ioulest outrage ever perpetrated upon Consttu-
ton and upon the rights of a sovereign State was
committed during that stormy session,
In organizing the House aud election of its Off
GERS, it so happened that a very decided man on
neither side OF that nglating question could be G.
ecIed Speaker; MIR Hunter, occupying that blessed
state OF neutrality "betweenlty," which il seems
to be his pride and pleasure occupy, was by the
Ing been chosen from his District as whis rem
resenta,ive, the Wings in Congress en- nasse voted
for HIM, by which his election was secured Bv
this neXpecicd elevation, Mr. Hunter was placed
ia a situation where he might have procured enyia.
BILE dstincton-in fact have placed himself in the
front rank of statesmen and patriots. Had he con.
formed 10 the invArablc practice of his oreteces.
sors, and directed the Clerk administer the oath
OF office to the legally returned members from New
Jersey, he would have saved the Constitution from
the foul outrage which was inflicted upon il ami
done justice as State Rights politician to a soye
reign member Of our Coniederacy. But being IN
debted IN part for his Office Speaker to few of
that party who seemed resolved to carry the Sub
treasury scheme At the expense OF the Constitution
and OF precedent, he determined TO go back TO the
proceedings which had taken place in the CapitoI
previous TO his election, by an unorganized body of
men, who had then no constitutional power TO act
IN the premises and to throw the House again INTO
confusion and disorder, by leaving II to them TO de-
eide the question which he Speaker had the mol
aud which as in duty bound ought to have decided
But not satisfied with his departure from his duty
here, invite the attention OF my Wing friends TO
the character the Committee which he afterwards
appointed TO investigate this subject Can II b.
said that MIR Hunter thought both parties wrong
and therefore made the effort TO appoint an equal
number on both sides and then TO give the casting
vote TO neutral7 MIR Hunters course upon thai
New jersey question before his election TO the
Speakers chair, and the expressions OF his opn-
IONS since, were adverse TO the position taken by
the friends of the Administration. Why then did
he not take decided stand, and appoint such n
Committee would do that which he behaved
which he knew TO be rghtl To his want of deci-
sion IN the selection Of that Committee, is in sreat
measure 10 be ascTbed the success OF the Van Bu-
rem party in perperaIing the foul deed Of oustn nj
least three, 1t not Ave OF the lawful representatives
from New Jersey from their seats ~ Congress. Bur
the writer might have felt disposed TO excuse hin,
for all ths-to have ascrbed to his nexperience
and want OF Judgment, rather than to dis position
TO favor the views OF our adversaries. But when
the next great question came up-that question
which enlisted the feelings OF almost every man wo
man and child in this confederacy IL allude TO
the contest for the Presidency what ask was IN.
course pursued by MIR. Hunter While every
Wing and Wing press IN the Union were inyeigh-
ing against the abuses Of Executive power and
other gross violations of duty, the part of the
Executive and his ofhcers-whle the whole country
was groaning under the distress and calamity
brought upon 1t by the msrule md mismana cement
Oi the COMMUNICATING every patriot bosom J
was warmed and animated, and every arm neryed
in the desperate struggle which was waging be- !
tween the friends OF freedom and the Constitu- |
lion, the one hand against the friends of |
power and spoils, on the other-What position |
did Mr. Hunter occupy Did he bring his talent, |
TO aid and rescued Did he say one encouraging
word TO excite 10 vctoryl Did he even occu. |
py his wonted position of neutrality So far as hi,
Individual vote was concerned, that not cast al
the polls But, so far as his influence extended
usE pNtr hraFh ren xuas 81, "A
thrown into the scale of our adyersaries1 Read the
extracts fIom his Circular addressed To !
his constituents, from Washington, bearing date the |
18th OF June, 1910. After contrasting several of
the opinions Of Gen'l Harrison and Mr.. Van Blu !
rem when he came 10 the subject OF a United States
Bank, he very gratuitously told us that Gen Har-
rlsOn twill sign n bill for United States Bank
should Congress pass 1t; whilst MIR Van Buren,
would not only veto such a charter, but advocates
what is commonly called the Sub-TTeasury." Tbi,
assertion was made by MIR. Hunter, with the know
ledge on his part, that Gen' Harrison had inyaria
bly, expressed himself opposed TO the charter of a
National Bank, upon constitutional objections;
whereas, upon that question, MIR. Van Buren, was
rather IN the attitude Of non commttasm. But
this was not all which Mr. Hunter said in that Cir
cuaT, to aid the Van Buren, cause in our district
Ia another paragraph, after speaking Of the Bank
rupt Law recommended by Mr.. Van Buren, he
uses this language There IS another question,
however connected with the currency, OF more dan
ger, in my opinion--l mean the u. States Bank.
a Bankrupt Law might lie repealed but the char
ter OF a Bank must continue throughout the period
prescribed for its existence. The banking system
would thus be recognized, with a power which il
would be almost vain TO resist. Fer this Tsassn !
should poie for NJ. Ym Buren,, II ! voted at all.
but cannot consent 10 vote for either"
You thus perceive, my Wing fellow. citizens, that
while independent, neutral representative, nf-
fected to feel kind Of preference between the two
candidates for the Presidency, this Monster" the
United States Bank, like the Ghost Of Banauo
haunted him at every corner, and forced him into
the expression Of his preference for Mr. Van Buren,
which was relied upon, used by the friends of Mr.
Van Buren,, aud in my opinion effected more in
carrying our Congressional district, against Gcn'l
Harrison, than any other cause. Having taken hi,
position, not TO aid, he said the election Of either
ca ndidate 10 the Presidency, because he differed
from both-what does Mr.. Hunter tell you was 10
be his future eourse7 upon this present occa-
sion" 1.-The Presidential question: 81 have the mis-
fortune 10 differ with both parties, and under these
feel that could not IN Justice IN
either offer myself as candidate. This must be
the answer TO the question, 10 my Offering for re-
election. to0id be Injustice both 20 you and nyssiI
II we're 10 do so. IL would he injustice to you, to
make my name the obstacle TO Jair race beiiosen
ne parties, when each Of them will desire one who
can represent them, not only IN principle, but in
their party sympathies and attachments.-H would
be unjust 20 nv Oton character 10 offer again. offer
pursuing the course Whieh shall faks.-tf I were
10 do So should subject mysslfto the pieion Of
trimming beipssn The fioo parties known to be near
ly divided, IN the district which have the honor 10