Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-09-23
a. tho hear, of our confedesacy, and which cons,-

at tho heart OF our confedesacy, and which const-
tutcs tho living principle OF our Union. Before
tue appointed day arrived Tor the meeting Of Con-
gress, and at the expiration of but one short
month from the date OF his inaug uration, our be-
loved President was snatched from us by the
grasp oil death: too soon for the happiness of his
country, but not too soon to awaken in our bo- |
SONS deep and awful sense of the irreparable |
loss which we have sustained in the deprivation
ola great and good man-not too soon to convince
us how long and how bitterly our country is DOOM
cd to deplore this heavy misfortune. In this our
calamity, we hoped to find consolation in the |
character and principles Of him whom the Con- !
stuon had designated TO fill the Office of the de-
parted chief. 1t Is true, that towards that indivi-
dual, even at the moment of his selection for the
vice Presidency, no very earnest public atten-
ton had been directed and 1t is equally true
that but aPassing regard was bestowed upon the
current OF his previous life and opinions. We
only knew him as one protesting to be member
of the Wing party, and as seeking to identify
himself with those great leaders of that party
whose opinions and principles were deeply en-
graved In the most conspicuous acts of our polti-
Cal history, and were read and understood by ey-
cry citizen In the land. In this connection,
where he had sought to be prominent, we dis
cerned what we conceived, and what doubtless
he meant, to be pledge of faithful adherence to
the cardinal doctrines for which we struggled,
and with which the hopes of the country were
indissoubly bound up. We hoped to find con-
ISOLATION also in the fact that his accession to the
| Presidency brought him into communion and in
innate political fellowship with the chosen van
guard OF the Wing party-the first selection
made by General HARRIsoN of Cabinet, distin-
guished for its paramount ability, integrity, and
hdelity to the glorious cause In which we had
conquered-a Cabinet eminently crowned with
the public confidence, in whom all men trusted
as In the very embodiment of the principles of
the party TO which they belonged: who were in
separately associated with its glory, and in whose
generous and honorable relation to the President
we had the security of wise and prosperous couu-
sells, and he the pledge of cooperation which
should enable him to accomplish all that the ma
ton desired. These hopes were still further en-
/sfVohed by the encouraging tone in whichsihe
President referred, i'll his first address to the Ma
ton, to the sever glorious example, afforded him
by the Fathers OF the great Republican school,
and the declaration Of his determination to walk
In the path which they pointed out.
In the indulgence OF these hopes, Congress- en-
tered upon its labors. BY adopting rules for the
despatch OF business conformable to the emergep.
ny Oh an extra session, and in view the great a.
mount OIL Legislation which the times required we
nave been enabled to achieve all, and even more
IMAM all, that our constituents could have deman-
ded at our hands. The leading and great me,-
sures OF this session have been under discussion.
In Congress and out of it, for many years past,
anu litte remained to be said beyond repatition
OF former debates. There was nothing in the
circumstances opposition of either party i'm Con-
gress TO require, or even to justify protracted dis
cusslons; and the majority, therefore, felt them
serves entitled to give to the extra session the
character Of a Congress of action and decision
rather than one of debate; and we feel assured
that In this effort we have done no more than res
pond to the just expectations of the People.
FIRST III urgency amongst the bills passed dur
Ing the session, and that to which the public COM
mand most imperatively drew the notice of Con-
gress, was the repeal of the Sub-Treasury Law
| Of Lam
Bill. This was followed by an act converting
The Debt which the preceding Administration had
entailed upon the country into Loan of twelve
millions OF dollars, which is limited for its re-
demptlon to period of three years. Associated
with this measure was the Revenue Bill, render
ed necessary not only provision towards the
extngulshment of the loan, but also indispensa-
bic Tor the supply OF means to meet the ordinary
and necessary appropriations of the year. The
Bankrupt Act, SO earnestly and so long solicited
by large and meritoriouS class of our citizens
has been passed under circumstances which cam
not but reflect the highest honor upon the Repre-
sentatIves of many sections of the country. AS
measure standing alone, it might perhaps have
been destined to further delay; but being
brought, as 1t was, into that series of measures
| which were supposed to embrace the scheme of
relief which the nation at large required, it met
| from Wing Congress that support of which the
| chief argument and highest value are derived
from the respect which every felt to be due to
| "co'PfeheiSiVe pollcy, whose scope should In
clude every interest in the nation. 1t is a trial
Tor the benefit of the country, and remains to be
| altered or improved, as the public wants may
hereafter be found to require. The Importance,
In the present posture of affairs, of attending to
the national delences suggested the measures of
establishing Home Squadron, of repairing and
armlng the Fortiications, ofproviding for the de-
fence of the Lakes; and of bringing the nation at
large into state of readiness against hostile az
gression-in regard to which measures, as great
Immunity prevailed in Congress, we may safely
assure ourselves they will meet the undivided ap-
proDation OF our constituents throughout the
whole Union.
| This rapid review, elow-citizens, will exhibit
what we have done. What we have failed to do
| remains to be told.
It's with profound and poignant regret that we
find ourselves called upon 10 invoke your atten-
ton to this point Upon the great and leading
measure touching this question anxious en-
deayors to respond to the earnest prayer of the
nation have been frustrated by an act as unlocked
for as tits to be lamented. We greve to say to
you that, by the exercise of shat power in the
Constitution which has been regarded with
suspicion, and often with odiun, by the People
a power which we had hoped was never to be ex-
hlbited, on this subject, by Wing President
we have been defeated in two attempts to create
Fiscal Agent, which the wants of the country
had demonstrated to us, in the most absolute form
OF proof, to be eminently necessary and proper in
the present emergency. Twice have we, with
the utmost diligence and deliberation, matured a
plan for the collection, safe-keeping and disburs-
ing OF the public moneys, through the agency Of