The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-07
MR.. CUsHING's ADDRESS
TO HIS CONTINENTS.

ainid the cares OF the busiest Congress of our
tunes, II has been impossible for me 10 discharge
ny individual letter. in order 10 render TO all
an account of my stewardship thus far as your
kepresentative,-to address you in this form on
the great public questions, which now occupy
The thoughts OF the people of the United States.
A few words only, beforehand, in a personal
relation
II has been my anxious endeavor, at the late
important session, so TO act in all things as TO
guard your honor and interests, and those of our
great common country.
My votes in the House Of Representatives,
on the several measures before Congress, speak
for themselves.
In respect Of all but one Of these measures,
there was, you know, perfect concord Of action
on the part OF the two Houses Of Congress and
the President. Concerning one OF them, he and
they differed.
On the great political question,--as 10 what
course OF conduct should be pursued by Con
gress In view of this difference, what judgment
ought TO be passed on his action, and on the
| consequences Of that dflerence,--it would have
been easy for me 10 shun apparent responsible
ty, leaving events to their own course.
But contingencies arose, thereupon, in which
to be passive was to yield way, as it seemed to
me, to bad and foolish counsels, and inaclion
became in its effect the worst of action, and to
acquiesce tamely in ng-doing was TO make
ones self as truly responsible for 1t to partake
IN It's preparation.
Besides which, in my estimation of The duties
OF one in public station if he have clear convic-
tons OF right, he is bound, time and place fitting,
TO strike in behalf Of the good cause.
On account my conduct in these questions,
involving as they do great PERSONAL and political
interests, and stirring the passions Of men, much
oboquy has been cast upon me by presses out
OF my District, and for the most part out of the
Commonwealth OF Massachusetts, which have
volunteered TO influence or TO anticipate your
judgment on yonr Representative.
be il so. have nothing 10 say in that re-
gard. contentedly submit myself, therein, TO
the sober sense of the people, and the allrecli-
Tying influences of time.
II is the public question, and that alone, which
demands immediate attention. | proceed at
once to that
A Caucus Dictatorship has been set up in
Congress, which, not satisfied with ruling that
body to the extinguishment OF individual free
dom Of opinion, seeks to control the President
in his proper sphere of duty, denounces him be-
fore you for refusing 10 surrender his independ-
ence and his conscience TO its decree, and pro-
poses, through subversion Of the fundamental
provisions and principles Of the Constitution TO
usurp the command Of the Government
II is aqucstion, therefore, in fact not Of leSis-
latiye measures, but Of revolution.
What is the visible, and the only protested,
origin Of these extraordinary movements?
The Wing party in Congress have been ex-
tremely DESTROYS 10 cause a law to be enacted at
the late session, incorporating National Bank.
Encounering, in the Veto of the President, a
constitutional obstacle to the enactment Of such
a law at the late session, certain portion of
the Wing party, represented by the Caucus
Dictatorship, proceeds then, in the beginning,
to deno,Ince the President
Will you concur in this denunciation of the
President
The answer TO this inquiry resolves itself into,
first, a question of expedency; and, secondly
| one Of principle.
First, as question Of expo dency, ii involves
the following (among othe) points OF the cui
bono:
To do so, dissolves the Wing Administration
composed of two necessary parts, namely, a
united Wing President and Wing Congress.
Is not Wing Administration of more inn
portance than to have Bank at a gipen mo
ment Of time 2
Is it not worth more, for other purposes OF
good it may accomplish, than any mere corpo-
ration
The Wig Administration dissolved, will
any other Administration give you Bank2
In what does it advantage the Wing party,
to sink itself into minority in all or any of the
States Of the Union
Separating from the Wing Administration,
what is to be the condition of the Wing party
Is it to be an Administration or Opposition
Party organization is secondary or incl
dental fact; but constitutional order, in the re-
gular action of government and laws, is ne
cessdry TACT.
| This regular action of government and laws,
seeding Wings (be they ever so many) cannot
stop, if they would. II must and will go on
| DO they desire to 90 on bihOu them? If so,
by and through whom2
| When Lord Grenvile broke up the Wing
party of England, in 1907, by the unreasonable
| pressure OF some great question, and its conse-
qucnt loss,-" Why" said Sheridan, ''did they
not put it of, as Fox did? | have heard Of
men running their heads against wall but
this is the first time ever heard of men build
ing a wall, and squaring it, and clamping it, for
the express purpose of knocking out their brains
against it.n This bon mot of Sherdans will
apply to the Wing party in Congress, it, on ac-
count of the failure OF the Bank bill nj the late
session, they seccde from the Administration,
and set up as Tertiam Quid in the Govern
ment, neither Administration nor Opposition.
| As such Iertium Quid, neither Administra
ton nor Opposition, having no substantial issue
with the President but the Bank question, in
how many of the States can the seeding
Wings expect TO maintain majority by means
of the merits exclusively of the Bank question
The Bank question apart, is II possible to
build up or maintain great political party on
the basis of rcsentmcnts, or of surmises, suspl-
cions, or gossip injurious 10 the Administration?
Is not the country at present DESTROYS OF poidi-
cal repose? Anxious to attend to business? Is
il possible to work up the people into political
fever, and keep them init for three or four years
to come, in aid of the resentments and personal
chickering's of few politicians here 2
The first access OF passion over. VIII the
Wings continue to think that the occupation of
attempting to bite of ones own nose is pleasant
or profitable
VIII il aid the Bank question 10 heap on il
sundry great projects of revolutionary change
in the Constitution Of the Federal Government