Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-15
arEECH OF HON. II. A. WISE.
tcoxrmuEp.l

Mr. Chairman: wound up yesterday one branC
OF discussion. or, rather, concluded one reason u
supporting this bill friend OF the coming Az
mnisrston, to provide il with the means to get
long, anu would place IL, as TO means, the SAN
footing with those now in power. L admitted thei
is deficiency, and contended that Treasur
notes are the only means OF Immediately supply
ing u.
! now proceed to my second rcasonfor supportin
this bill so -,
3D. To prepert an erira ssssiou--The effect 4
this bill, II u pass with the proper amendment
must be 10 obviate all ssity, and to strip gentle
nsn. of all excuses and pretenees for that, to me
drsadjai called session.
Sir, have an Instructive dread, inspired by ex
perence, OF an extra-a called session. ! veutur
TO sssert-and appeal TO the sagacous of the par
" % confrm the opinion-tbat the called session o
1887, did more than any other acts overthrow
the present dynastys tHercseveral members OF The
Van Buren, party nodded assent believe, am
certain, that, If tried again. il will be fraught with
mischief to the wing party from disappointment tC
the whole country. Asa Wing, and as a friend &c
General Harrison, depreeate it as fruitful source
OF agitation con ention, Confusion, error and ruin
Mr. Van Buren, struk on this unwise expedient with
the most cal ,miious results. He found the public
mind, after the suspension of specie payments, in
restless and and dissatisfied state, the finances in
wretched condition, commerce decayng or dead
and, instead OF breasing the storm, he yielded 10
his fears and called Congress to relieve him. What
was the RESULT Congress, did nothing, and he lost
public confidence; when, If he had shown nerve; il
he had taken upon himself due responsibility; il
he had summoned caution and courage, instead OF
Congress, 10 his relief, he would have gone through
with all the difficulties which surrounded him.
Why is a called session always dangerous2 Be-
cause, Sir, your very proclamation admits your
wesknesS, and that weakness is ever increased by
the fears and alarm it creates in some, and by the too
high expectations, which are sure to be dlSappoint-
ed, eKces IN others. No captain must, long as
he can possibly avoid IL, admit doubt or a danger
TO his crew or his passenses. II he trembles, or
throws up his command 10 any other man. in the
midst Of difficulty danger, he disquafes himself
and Justly throws away the confidence in him up
on which alone he can rely in any emergency for
success. Mr.. Van Buren's called session did moth
ing and lost all; and so 1t will be with US If zoe
',toiotc i'm his footsteps"
Sir, the state of the public mind and the state of
the times both inauspicious 20 a called session.
What are they?
| remarked yesterday, Sir, that the country could
not expect too much from the wisdom, virtue, and
patriotism of rulers; that we ought expect every
thing from men placed in the highest seats OF pub
lie trust and confidence. But, Sir there is such thing
expecting TOO much from measures. We may
expect too much relief or relieftoo impatently and
TOO soon, from the wisest policy OF Government.
The expectations of the people for immediate,
sudden relief, are too high already. They cannot
be realized by the wisdom of man. Years are the
days OF nations. Soon IN the history of Govern
ment IS long, remote IN the life OF individual and
there is not one individual in a thousand who re.
fleets upon this truth so essentially necessary TO be
we'll un iersood aud impressed, TO foIfy confidence
IN any policy, and to secure il patient waiting Tor
its results to be developed before il either be con-
demned or approved. No remedy on earth is worth
a farthng without the aid of the great renovator-
Natures own physclan-the Wis medicatrix natu-
re" The quick. Sir, always relies upon the nos
trum-lhe phi or Poieder is every thing with empi-
ricism; but the regular iaculty-the secundum ar.
TEN DOCTOR Sir, expects most from Natures own
power 10 restore herself, and nothing without her
aid-or rather expects 10 give relief but from
aiding the laws OF nature. Ii you violate these
laws, counieract or exceed them, or hasten them
beyond their own course, you Kill the patient, Sir
The public expectation Is already doing that dan.
gerous thing; the stimulus is too high. Tue people
for the cAutery, the knife. the severest draslics
or as.rinsents. i, Sir. am for time-time for Ma
ture to restore a weak patient, TOO delicate 10 be
Iampered with, and for good nursing. Any sort Of
violent treatment will throw this country again
into spasms, after being much, very much weakened
too by previous convulsons. Instead of soothing
and allaying excitement rs we ought, gentlemen
propose 10 raise expectations already high, still!
higher, and TO add fuel to hre which threatens 10
consume US. The ieverishness OF the pnbIic mind
ought to be allayed. Neither stimulus nor deple
ton Is required; either will be deadly the nation
needs repoSe. Time-a pause is required for a safe
and radical change OF policy. The affairs Of ma
toN cannot be managed in day, like the affairs Of
the nursery.
If there be n special session, it will be looked to
for a cure fall evils. Every thing will be expec-
ted from il. And what, If nothing should be done7
Is not certain that nothing could be done to meet
tae general expectation for immediate and almost
miraculous relief Sir, the state Of the times is
obviously opposed TO an operation Of the wisest
measures, even ilthey be adopted at a called ses-
sion this year. What is our present condiIion2 The
present Administration goes out leaving a perfect
wreck behind. The commerce OF the country is
Urecked-the finances OF the Government are de.
ranged and bankruPt-the whole monetary affairs
OF the nation in dilapidAIon and ruin-a large ba.
lance OF foreign debt unpald--ihe States grooming
under geo millions of debt-the Federal Govern.
ment issuing Treasury notes--domsstc debts un-
safe and difficulty OF collecting them-distress
pervading all casses-confdence IN trade DESTROYED
the capitalists hoardng-the debtor classes un-
der the hamner-eHchanges high and unequal-no
uniform cUrrcncy-and the banks attempting. IN
the midst Of danger, distress and distrust to re-
sumo specie payment; many Of them under very
doubtful circumstances Of sogencyi Such is our
condition. And yet, gentlemen, without waiting
for further developments Of new causes or effects,
hre Tor rushing upon measures the very nature OF
which must increase the pressure Of the times. An
increase of the tadd must Immediately add TO the
arrangement OF cOmmerce-a distribution must add
10 the deficiency OF the Treasury Nntionn Bank
must cause a still greater and more caGsc eOntrac.
ton. There never was a time when the resump-
ton Of specie payments the creation Of Nation
oil Bank did not produce contraction and pressure,
and there never will be. What would both at once
not do7
Gentlemen must red ct that all of their measures
% be set IN operation at Once-they are oil IN
"feri"-aiI 10 begin de moro. Is il MT likely that
Of them would fail 10 pass, or, # p sseJ would
fail of their endsl Then, II nothing, or wrong be
done or disaster be the first effect Of right me ,ures
even Of called session. who oil those now contend.
ing Tor the authorship OF measures would then con-
tend for the authorship Of the mischief the ptfty
or the count ~ Who would assume so boldly 10 bs
he snswe,abeto the bitter dis prominent Of the
Ptople7 Sir shafts the worst of all popular feelings
10 contend wilh-the disappointment Of the People :
You cannot reason with II must overthrow
you, Sir, u you incur and encounter g.. IL wreaks
vengenee, SIR, AZ biting u is bitter, no matter
whether u be just or UNJUST The Government,
Sir, ~ a mammoth concern and should move slow.
ly IN developing its measures-the deye Opment Of
measures should wait awhile the development oC
events. You should see whether these banks can
niintain their effort 70 resume.* You should yaH
snd see how many Of them will fuI. You should
wait until q restoration Of confidence revives trade.
and credit aud currency. II you do nothing az c l.
led sess on, there will be disappointment lf you do
somsthing, and distress continues, as II likely will
these W.! lie disappointment II you DO nothing, or
something good or bad, and disasters follow, YOU
will be destroyed. Then you must, for a called
session 20 be successful, be csrtain--there must b,
no doubt-you must he certain 10 do the right
thing, 20 adopt exactly the right measure, what.
ever Il he, which must be FOL owed Immediately by
the right and desirable effects, you will eyre
glous'y lah 10 sausiY the expectations for relief
How many chances there are against you, the in.
surante Offices might possibly solve.
Some gentlemen seem 20 apprshend that 80 IA,
from the pressure continuing, relief will come Of IL.
solL-Ihey dread that-such arc the mighty "a.
eources q this country and the irrepreae,ii. -,