The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-04
REMARKS, OF MR.. CUSHING,
OF MASSACHUSETTS,,


In Committee of the Whole on the state Of he
Union, on the Post Office appropriations oitt'
august rs, 1S4l.
Mr.. CusuNo said he was conscious the members OF
the Committee anxious TO take the qutston ana
he would not have risen address them but for some
reflections on the character and conduct OF the FRESH
dent of the United States which had been introduced
into the debate by the gentleman from Tennessee,
(Mr Arnold and the gentleman nom Virginia, (Mr
House and the country than the subject properly un-
der consideration. Before replying however, TO the
remarks Of those gentlemen, being up, he would make
some observations as TO the bill itself
THAT part Of the speech which relates to tina Pos
Office Department is omitted
Mr. C. said he would now leave the immediate
question of this BILL and TO the subject OF de-
bate viz the remarks made this morning by the gen
teman from Tennessee, (Mr. Arnold0 and the gen.
teman from Virginia, lMr Bolts Mr. y. nae leain
ed in this House TO regard both these gentlemen with
personal respect and he should say nothing on TINS
occasion incompatible with that sentiment he con
ceded to them the privilege OF thinking ana sPeaAs
for themselves nay, was not thing TO DC conceue
to them-it was their right their indeteasibe right 70
speak on this aoor with freedom and independence,
whether their sentiments were in accordance WIN ms
or not il was their right, az representatives, ~ se
people TO express their sentiments. God ioipiu tna'
he should desire to prevent tneir dong ~ ~ Hnnse
~
when the gentleman from Tennessee INT: Arneia)
uttered tho expression supposed to have reference
the President Of the United States, upon when .ne
gentleman had been called 10 order. Mr. " ,dd not
know that he could have concurred IN arrestiny ING
remarks Of the gentleman from Tennessee, u ne nad
been present The opinions and the conduct OF tne
President of the United States az any rate ms ON
cal opinions and conduct, were far subject Oh cf
cistp. OF censure nav, OF obloquy, In TINS house,
ay member Of il chose to descend to the of ohio
Guy in such relation As to the precise terms ~
which any official Of the present were TO be cnar
acterized by any member Of the House, thafWas 2
question more concerning the honor OF the'memper
himself than that Of the President the gentleman
from Tennessee used the language which ne mat. 70
had heard ascrbed to him, be il Bad taste or bad
temper even in debate here 70 be tolerated hs one
Of the vices of liberty, to be sure; but yet IN the
suppression Of which there might be danger ot sup
pressing liberty itself; and he was willing " ac-
cept the evils Of freedom along side OF ITS oIesangs
He believed that those blessings would incompafably
outweigh any Of the necessary evils attendant upon
them and he was willing TO accommodate himself TO
those evils, rather than run any nsA 2! ioslng oso
blessings And therefore it was not the particular
phraseolopy; was not the spirit even, Objectionable
as that was) of the remarks of the gentleman from
Tennessee, those of the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr Bolts with which he now found fault II was the
idea expressed by both of them which he took
certion and he did this not only with feelings OF
regret 50 far az regarded them but still more out OF
rn for the peace and harmony OF the great party
10 which they in belonged; and II was ~ be-
half Of the interests Of that party and not the inte
rests Of that party only, but those Of TIE Union and
of The people Of the United Stateswith whose pros
pery that of the Administration was in his opinion
idenied-il was in behalf of these great interests
that he responded to the remarks Of those gentlemen
The gentleman from Tennessee had applied % the
President sundry expressions of general obloquy,
which had neither point nor meaning IN themselves
and he had then said turning to the Opposition mem
beers Of the House. the President belongs to you and
not to us. And the gentleman from Virginia SAID
he looked upon the conduct OF the President as
treachery the vest and basest Mr. Q. said ne be-
leved these were the very words and the gentleman
from Virginia mods his assent. Now, as to these OPP
MONS expressed by those gentlemen, Mr. Y. SAID ne
Joined issue He denied that those impntat,ons were
lust or true in any sense whatever and he challenged
argument upon this issue These general expressions
~ the gentleman from Tennessee and the gentleman
from Virginia amounted to nothing; they were notn
inr bat bald and naked declarations Of their opinion
no. only opposed q: opinion e ,nsi opn n
President Of the Uned States open to any charge
az treacbery and he challenged members to q candid,
fair and impartial argument upon that point wherev-
er and whenever the House would give him falr
Mr. g: sa;d that twelve months had not elapsed
since The peope of the United States were convused
from Maine to Louisiana by that great contest which
ended in the triumphant success Of the Wing party
and in the election Of the saned Harrison, ana no,
W,
heads of the Government. Il the greatest poiti
cal revolution which took place In this country
the greatest in personal AZ in mere party change
for il The election Of 1900, when Thomas Jefferson
succeeded John Adams az also IN that OF 1879 wnen
a ndrew Jackson succeeded John Qincy Adams
there was not that complete disruption of continuity
- the persornei Of the Administration as when Hai.
son ,ucceeded Van Buren,. In this last case, there
was a total change not only in regard TO measures
r. th.t revolution, Mr.. c. eontended, as he felt sure
,h a.rtIem an from Tennessee (Mr. Arnold) and the
1entieman from Virginia Mr. Botts) conteaded, for
the success OF great principles and for the success o.
the men representing those principles, and IN whose
those should q %Ss
for whom be, in common with those gentlemen had
snL an and written and lab0red were placed in pow
er and therefore there il no question here as to men
hut only az to principles and If the allegation OF
gentleman from Virginia is justified BY the fact,
mnst ba upon some question Of principle that those
men were to be charged with treachery to their party
their friends, and their county.
What were the principles in the vndication ofwhlch
the Wing party came into poweri 10 Judge wha
vere their principles it necessary to inquire how
thew were constituted Of what men, and processing
whsst op;nions4 Go back, for instance, to the tim
when the organization of the party commenced-g'
back 10 lis date and inquire and trace i down TO IN
hour Of It's final trial who composed WeIe .ne.
men Of one identical opinion Were they men who's
consciences could be compressed and stamped dowi
10 The mould Of caucus decree3 Were they men Q
tha, sameness of miad and judgment which could ONLY
srise fIom placing them in some intellectual bed 9
Procrusies by which all should De redOceo me giea
and ,he ANAL alike to one unvarying measured IN
,he contrary was not that party founded in the hrs
place on tie great principle Of opposition 70 the then
AJmnstrstion, and Of opposition purely And that
Opposition involving not identity Of opinion not slav
ish sameness Of thought snch as belongs only % tnf
mare tools of despo,sm and not to reemen, possessed
Of conscences OF honor and opinions of their owns
He affirmed that there never any such standard
Of stagnant-mnded slave hearted sameness OF opinion
in tha ranks Of that victorious party And was not the
marty founded in the second place. that Other great
ea Of reciprocafon of catholic forbearance for the
varyinp opinions Of banded together for the per-
s,rnauce Of great patriotic duty Of yiddng the
country Of the eorruptions aud misrpe Of the then
Adm;r;.tration3 He commended that there was tina
r.oer.l understanding peryading the party, Of mutual
rssncr and Differences for each others opinions This
Wa the result OF necessity The party could not have