The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-28

ron THE MADIsosIAs.
THE MANIFESTO AND THE PRESIDENT


THE MANIFESTO AND THE PRESIDENT
| No. a.
The overt act of treason against the great
Wing party Of the country, which is charged on
President Tyler is, that he put his Veto on 'he
bills for Bank On this charge he stands before
the people,
/ To be tried
In that great Court where Conscience must preside
Fearessy he may wal, their verdict.
| The resignation of his Cabinet Ministers, and
the Manifesto of the members OF Congress-
have this measure, with its motives, It's cir
cumstances, and its consequences as the mighty
cause of accusation and punishment.
We have already attempted TO show, that, I'M
der the existing provisions Of the Constitution,
he was bound by every sacred obligation OF du-
" 10 return these bills with objections if, indeed,
| in his heart he held them TO be a violation OF
that sacred charter. The question comes, then,
10 one of intenton-of moral and political hon
| esty--of veracity and personal honor.
| Both bills were returned for the alleged reason
that both infrnged the Constitution. Was this
the true reason To decide this point, il is not
enough to say they do not, in our Judgment in
fringe the Constitution. Was John Tyler honest
in his declaration that, according to his con-
science, they were unconstitutional acts This
is the issue between the President and the Man
| festo.
| But there is preliminary inquiry. Cui bono (?
| For what other motive than an honest adherence
| TO political opinions, long and steadily maintain
| ed could he venture on bold and hazardous
an experiment Did he not at once perceive
that he brought political hornets nest about
| his head a Was his personal CONFERENCE.-The
ease and popularity of his Administration, or
| his future prospects of aggrandizement and ho-
| nor, 10 be promoted, by obstructing the wishes
of his friends without the possibility OF obtaining
the adhesion OF his foes The idea could be
conceived only by madman. Some notion OF
| this kind is thrown out in the Msnifesio, which
we may hereafter attend to; but we put il now
strongly 10 MIR. Berrien or Mr.. Kennedy, that no
sane man would venture upon measure, in OPP
position 10 the almost unanimous wishes OF the
party which brought him into power, when
thereby he could not secure the support OF the
other, or have any hope of personal or official
advantage. The Land BILL the Revenue bill,
and the Bankrupt bill, were in progress, and
Il these he must veto if he would secure any sup
port from the minority. These he approved, to
offend the Tories; and the Bank bills he rejected
to offend the Wings and thus, with poth poii-
| cal parties in hostile array, and set In force
agai-st him by his own acts, he expects strong
political support, and moves in these high con-
Germs from personal motives!!! Credeaf III
dGus Appeiia The suggestion is absurdly ex-
4 travagant. There could be no personal induce
ment, and Of course no selfish motive. The We
to could proceed from no other than a consci
entious and honest devotion TO duty, VIII oh even
they who think il a mistake must admit to have
been honorable But preference of duty to inte-
rest seems strange act in these degenerate
days. The demoralizing effects OF the last Ad-
ministration lead the public mind to admire the
expedient, in preference TO the right; to sacri-
| fee principle TO circumstances, and justice to
convenience. Thus the Hon. Mr.. Tallmadge,
in his extra Senatorial letter. argues upon this
subject. His effort is strong one 10 persuade
the President, not that the Bank bill was accord
ing to the Constitution, and therefore to be APP
| proved as duty, but according to the interest oil
John Tyler, and therefore to be signed as expe-
dent. The country has need Of some splendid
examples of Roman firmness and Christian in
| tegrity, when Senators use such arguments to a
| President of the United States. .....~
repel the accusation of the Manifesto, for there
could be no motive in his conduct imputable to
him crime. He may summon his late Sc
cretaiy OF the Treasury as witness 10 this
point, in relation to the first bill, for his letter
candidly admits that in regard to this bill he is
disposed to attribute the Veto "to pure and no.
norable motives and to a conscientious conyic-
i tOn OIL the part Vi the ITeSI0ent tDdI the Dill.
! in some Of its provisions, conhicted with the
Constitution"
But the Manifesto has more serious though
quite as imaginative charge. The Veto, ii
| says, was exerted " TO divert the policy of his
| Administration into a channel that should lead
| to new political combinations" which diploma
! tic phraseology means, we suppose. establish a
! Tyler party, on the elements Of Wing and Tory.
This imputation is refuted by the present orga-
/ n;y cf ha rnhcof 4 -
sist2 OF Wings, every one of them. Of men
approved by Wing Senate; Of men the more
opposed to the measures of General Jackson be-
cause they once were his friends. On this mat
ter, indeed, other sections of the Wing party
might complain but for very opposite gtound
| from the one taken in the Manifesto II is any
thing but personal party selection At the
head of the Cabinet, still remains the distin-
| guished leader of one division Of the Wing
army, by no means the least numerous or effec.
tive of the allied forces. With Webster in the
Cabinet it is impossible the President can make
overtures to the Opposition. But he had the
matter in his hands. The time was propitious.
The opportunity inviting for an experiment
| The course of the President repels the imputa-
| tion
But if suspicion and speculation open their
eyes to microscopic examination of motives,
what prevents the suggestion, that the Veto, ex-
erted conscientously and in good faith, is seized
upon by aspiring patriots to drive Tyler from the
great race course, where an empire is hereafter
TO be won2
! Let him cultivate the favor by minsternp
to the wishes of Congress, and who better than
he would carry the next field? The one term
principle touches not him. But there are rivals
for the unequalled honor, whose chance is des-
pese.e IS .ha Wing phaianx would he kent entire
in confidence and hope. For every rival over
thrown, the better chance remains for those who
are ready to mount. Let Tyler fall, and the
succession is yet be settled. Pull him down by
this clamor about his motives for Veto, and