Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-08-17
SPEECH OF MR.. WELLER,

An me House or KepreSentGtLre $, July
10, lS4l-On the bill autho rizing a
loan Of twelve millions Of dollar s.
Mr.. Chairman have no expectation
that any thing may say will affect the
vote of this committee upon the question
now pending; but | have constituency
at home deeply interested in this, as well
as the other questions proposed for our
action, and am anxious that they should
fully comprehend the length, the breadth
and depth Of what you are pleased 10 cal
"Whig reform"
This is an extraordinary session Of a
most extraordinary Congress. We have
been called from our respective homes
TO legislate under the burning rays of a
midsummer sun. The eyes Of our CON.
mon constituents are fixed upon us. From
the centre Of this Union TO its remOtest
frontier, the most intense interest is felt
in our action. The measures proposed
at this session, if defntively acIed upon
must exercise powerful influence, for
veal or for wo, over the destinies of this
Republic. Their effect will be seen and
felt upon the prosperity not only of The
present, but of future generations. You
are now 10 decide whether the General
Government shall be held to the Repub-
lican principles infused into its Constitu-
ton BY our Revolutionary fathers, or
launch off into the wild, visionary, and
aristocrsiic schemes of the Hamitonans
of 1891. The Federalists of the old
school, so long in the minority, are now
looking to you for the establishment of
such measures as will enable the few to
govern the many-measures which will
build up and sustain one class at the ex-
pense Of all others, and give to the mon-
eyed arstocracy a commanding influence
over the legislation Of this country, VIII lie
on the other hand, the old Jeffersonian
Democrats, who pledged themselves TO
the sacred cause Of equal rights in the vi
olert contest of 1900, and who, though
now in the decline Of life, with hands wbi-
tened BY the frosts oG age, remain true
10 their first love, are looking with fear
fIl apprehensions to the result. They
have seen you triumph in the popular
elections by fraud and deception, and by
a resort to means calculated 10 degrade
and debase American character; and they
have fears that those inestimable prlnci-
pies, for the preservation of which they
have so long and so manfully struggled,
win be sacrificed. would TO Heaven
that could this day, through the Con-
aress,ot the United States, give them
some assurance that those fears were un-
founded would that could tell them
that nothing will be done to compromise
those Democratic principles which have
thus far made them greA and happy peO-
pie; butt dare nOt-ths signs of the times
forbid.
We have, Mr. Chairman, assembled
for the purpose Of aiEording the party now
in power an opportunity of redeeming
some Of the numerous pledges made Ia
the people anterior to the last Presiden-
tial election. Among other things, you
promised retrenchment and reform; that
YOU would reduce the expenditures of the
Government, and abolish all unnecessary
Offices. The variety which you so sue.
cessruIly raised against. us was-extrava
gance. In every portion of the, country
she party to which | am attsched was &C.
nounced, 10 the most bitter terms, for its
extravagance in the expenditure Of the
F., public money. This subject constituted
the theme Of every Wing editor anc
brawling stump orator in the mighty
West Every wherein the social CIR
Gle, upon the stump, id the public taverns
in the halls Of juslice-yea, eveH IN 'h'
sacred pulpit---we were denounced as un
faithful guardians Of the public purse
These charges were so constantly TeIter
ated, that doubt not a considerable Por
tion Of the people gave credence to them
have now in my hand one Of The mos
potent arguments used upon this subleC
--a paper,which was posted up for II
spection in almost every shop, grocer!
tavern or house Of public resort in m
districie-a document which might b
seen protruding from the pockets Of III
horde Of paltry demagogues who traver'
edmy State in the late canvass, inhamin
the passions and aroHsing the prejudice