The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-23
70 himself and his fellow-citlzens by exclaiming
IN ,he language Of renowned Roman ambas-

70 himself and his fellow-citIzens by exclaimng
~ ,he language Of renowned Roman ambas-
sador:
Wy country knows qualifications for great en-
roy'neh's but virtue and ability she has entrusted me
"n 'he command OF her armies, she has confded to
ny care me most important negotiations. My
uynen Know the many opportunities | have had 10
enrich myself without censure thew are CONVINCED of
my uisnieresed zeal for their prosperity and il have
ay 'ning to complain Of in the return they make me-
- only The unbounded excess of their applause"
were you surprised sir, TO learn that the peo-
PIE Oh the District OF Columbia had turned poll
'icians-that they had arrayed themselves in a
prompt and Incorporating opposition to the
parry IN power-a party which had so long revel-
ieo IN corruption even amidst the loudest thun-
uers OF the eloquence of man. Ii so, sir, that
surprise must have been speedily removed when
you rejected that il was here that the heaviest
p'oWs OIL Executive vengeance had been struck
iieie that me chains OF remorseless despotism
c'anked me loudest; here that the desperation OF
party madness was most conspicuously and
aiarmingly exhibited here that the records OF
government were wantonly soiled by the degra-
uhg process OF expunction, and States bereit OF
their sovereignty al the midnight dctatons of of
Tended power Above all, sir, that surprise must
nave subsidized when you reflected that il was
mere that we saw the purse of the nation seized
by one hand, whilst the other was prepared TO
grasp that sword by single Establishment oil
which there would have been erected the brist-
ling bayonets Of pensioned legions, ready for an
onward march over the broken pillars, the scat
tered leaves, and bleeding institutions Of Con.
stitutional Liberty.
misguided majority in Congress, solemnly
sworn to support the Constitution of the United
States, IN all the amplitude of its provisions, in
all the grandeur and glory of its spirit, and in all
the patriotic utility of its purposes, has been so
misled by the impulses fparty recklessness as TO
deal out upon the defenceless People of this Dis
trlct the heaviest and the most destroying egsla-
I'VE anaIhemas because we expressed and pub
lished our honest convictions and our impartial
Judgment in regard to public men and public mea-
sures--"a right sir, which, in the language of
that memorable Declaration to which the name
Of your own departed sire is lndelibly impressed,
is "a right inestimabie 10 freemen, and fornai-
ddbie TO fyrdnts only
But, sir, alowme tosay if you please, that we
have not been remorseessy prosecuted and out
rageously punished for having held public meet
lngs, for having published political principles, or
for having avowed political preferences, but be-
cause our meetings, our principles, and our pre-
lefences were not OF the modern democratic or
thodoxy.
such, SIR, IS the voice Of complaint which we
lake TINS occasion TO pour INTO the ears OF him
who Is so soon and so fortunately TO become our
constitutional protector. Such sir is the cata-
logue OF enormous offences and unexampled
wrongs which we held high up before the coun-
try, that her orators might invoke upon the perpe-
traitors that retrbutiye rebuke which has been 50
seaso ably administered by your exaltation to
that high trust wherein we pray that you may be
providentaly sustained