The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-11-16
THE MAIDS ONIAN
MEssRs. GILMER AND HUNTER.

MEssRS. GILMER AND HUNTER.
The following letters from these prominent
members of Congress from Virginia, written in
answer 10 invitations to public dinner given to
Col. HuBARD, NJ c.. we copy from the Enqui-
rer:
CHARLorrEsviLLE, Oct. ., loal.
Gentlemen received this evening your invitation
10 dinner at Curdsyille the 10th inst, in honor
of your Representative, Col Hubbard, and thank you
for the very kind terms in which was communicated
Ii would afford pleasure TO unite with you In this
testimony Of cordial respect for your representative,
and should fail avail myself Of your polite in
valion hut for my engagements at the session OF our
Circuit Court, which commences next week, and will
continue for some time. A long absence from home
has rendered attention TO my domestic Affairs an
indispensable duty, and regret that II will not be IN
my power to be with you on that occasion
The disastrous consequences Of the late extra SEES
sion and Of It's leading measures, CANNOT fail TO eoai
mand the anxious attention Of the people OF yonn
Randolphs district. Accustomed as they have oeen
10 hold the Federal Government in all its Departments,
10 rigid account for all the powers granted under tne
Constitution, and to resist all encroachmehts Oh TUG
rights Of the States tho prerogaiises OF 'ne people
they may well be among the first TO SOUND inc alarm
at the outrages which II has been auempea 70 Poip
trate under the sanction Of law and popular opinion
Il is now apparent that the extra session was design
ed 10 foresa public sentiment with regard to measures
which il was alleged to have decreed-measures
which were never until very recently, avowed as the
tests Of party association or political or'hodoAy.
single instance may be cited, as an example to prove
the design Of establishing new political faith, under
the name and the excitement Of former party organlza
ton. The issue of National Bank was studiousy
disavowed before the late Presidential eleciion--can-
dldates for the highest Offices in the Republic were no
minated and sustained anti Bank men. Ihey
were elect ed and installed SUCH majority OF the
Representatives and Senators Of the party, by whom
these candidates thus elected awaited themselves
of an extra session. called for very different purposes
ostensibiy to press National Bank under various
forms as question already decided in the Presiden-
taI Election. The President, in conformity with the
tenor Of his whole political life and with the expecta-
tons warranted by the canvass was compelled on two
occasions u suspend the enactment Of Bank bills by
interposng power with which he is clearly invested
by the Constitution and under the Aoemn sanction OF
his oath For this he is denounced by his party aban-
doned by his Cabinet, and arraigned before the coun-
try peridlous traitor; and It Is now proclaimed,
the highest authority, that, in order 10 carry an
unconsi utional measure the constitutional power OF
the veto must be abrogated. 1t is determined to
change forms of Government, either by the in
sdious process Of construction, BY altering the
Constitution when virtue, too stubborn to be con-
strued into vice, interposes
Under these circumstances, without regard to for
party associations the public man and the private
citizen longer al liberty to suppress his own con-
victions of duty and il is not surprising, that parties
who once united these questions ofthe constructive
powers of the Legislative Department of Government
should unite again The Executive is not to be dread
ed, until Congress shall have broken down the ram
parts Of the Constitution, and invited aggressions by
their example. The history of our Government,
from the close Of the last to the present time
proves his. The present is suspicious period for
accomplishing those practical reforms in the admins
trave policy Of Government for adopting the vir
tues of economy and public expenditures and respon-
sihty in public Offices which have been loudly
called for, and which experience has shown to be
necessary hope, then, before the public mind is en-
listed in premature struggles for the Presidency, and
before we pressed into the service Of any political
cheftain under the new issues rendered. some
thing may be done to define and limit the powers Of
the Executive branch Of Government, TO reduce and
regulate its patronage and to reesablish the ancient
land marks Of the Constitution. | am as ready as
to lend hand in this good work but, as Re-
preventative ofthe People, feel hound TO maniiesi in
my own course that respect for the Constitution which
/ from others. | do not care to alter the Con-
st,ution to increase the powers Of Congress
the President but prefer restrict each Department
to safe exercise ofts legitimate functions annex
sentiment, gentlemen, which you will be pleased to
offer in my name to the company.
Your obedient servant
THOMAS w. GILMER.
To Messrs Grigg, Baldwin, Hooper, Curd, Smith,
Cooke and Allen Committee.
II Genuine Reform--consists not in violating the
fundamental faith Government but in lessening the
burdens ofhe people, and increasing the responsible
ties of their agents.
LoYps', Essex Co, Oct. 10, lS4l.
Gentlemen regret that other engagements will
prevent me from accepting the invitation with which
you have honored me- and which have lately received
If circumstances permitted, it would give great
pleasure to meet you upon such an occasion, and to
extend my acquaintance in district distinguished
for its early steadtast and able support Of those prnc
pes which are now derided as "ybstractions" And
yet rejoice TO believe tina, with Truth "the strong
riding champion in their favor, they have nothing tc
fear from their adveIsares whatever may be their re
sources either in wit argument Indeed the in.
creased vehemence of the assault would seem to show
that they fear what they affect TO despise Well may
they fear the result when the American people shall
have once instituted a fair comparison between the
school which they rdicue and their own For it will be
found be but the old which has once before been
tried between the schools Of Jefferson and Hamilton
The system which would administer the Government
for the good of the whole and not Of part; which
would construe Constitution is and tenn
porary necessities may desire it to be- and which looks
to equality in the benefits conferred as well as the bur
thens imposed by the Federal Government has at leas
nothing to fear from comparison with one, which
however intended, may be said to be the opposite in
nearly all Of its results. A National Bank with III
enormous amount Of indirect and unequal taxation
upon labor and production, and with its immense
powers over the people, and the Government concen
tated in the hands of those who are responsible to mel
ther-a Distribution amongst the States Of the Pub
lie Lands, OF common property derived "a well by pur
chase from the customs as by cession-in other words
Federal taxation for State purposes-and Proecly,
Tariff which seeks directly to benefit one portion of III,
community at the expense of another, and which find
in e1travagant public expenditures the very food j
lives upon, address themselves as il seems to be- I,
none of the just or Republican sympathes of thu
American people. These measures appeal directly L
human cupidity, unempered by of justice, an,
that appeal If successful result general mise
ry and national depraviiy. Governments only b.
maintained by powers which independent of thei
subjects, or else by the justice with which they are adj
minIstered They are secured by the fears, or the,
ale maintained by the affections Of their people.
they look to the first they seek the of preserv
ing that power by UNEQUAL laws which divide snciri,