The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-21
MIR. DAyIs,s REPoRT.

by Mr.. DAVIS d hentucky, III winch ne Cilti-
cises the Exchequer plan as submitted by the
Secretary of the Treasury and as modified by
the labors Of the committee. We do not en-
ploy language capable of giving offence when
we say that it does not surprise us by any orr
ginaty of conception or novelty of argument,
for, judging by internal evidence, we conceive
that il contempates TO make no pretension TO
either Its tone and style, when assuming the
title of a report to the House, surprised US not a
little.
In some passages, it exhibits not merely the
violence of political parsanship, but something
like the rancor Of personal feeling, and, alto
gether, it is not paper possessing the attrl-
butes which should characterize state paper
written and presented in his Representative ca
pacty, and intended TO imbody his opinions on
a great Government measure, and assigning
the reasons why they have been adopted. 1t
ha, not met the report of the Secretary in the
spirit 10 which it was written-a spirit Of mod
Grafton and compromise, 1t bears too strongly
the impress of faction 1t would not be dltii-
cult to give groof Of this assertion, did we sup
pose it necessary to furnish any long extracts
from the report.
Its preliminary paragraphs demonstrate re-
markable ingenuity in fault-fnding-a pecu-
liar aptitude to take offence. His attention
was strongly arrested by the following passage
in the report:
"The people have right to require that what is to
be done should be done without further delay in order
that they may accommodate themselves to the policy
of the Government" &c.
His remarks upon this sentence manifest
singular captousness-an the language of the
concluding sentence exhibits but little Of the
dignity Of state paper, commenting on mea-
sures proposed by The Executive. He thinks
that ''the Executive and its Departments would
be quite as well employed In the performance Of
their duties as in framing for Congress hypo-
thetcalreproof" Weleave this sentence without
comment. 1.-THE Secretary of the Treasury has
offended the dignity Of Congress by simply
urging upon it the necessity Of prompt and de-
cisve action on some financial measure, he and
his colleagues in the Cabinet must feel them
selves sufficiently punished by the retor Of Mr..
Davis, who advises them with so much tart
ness to attend to their own business. We have
always been under the impression that the Ian
gage of the Secretary's report. so far from be-
ing arrogant and dictatoral, was peculiarly cha
racterlzea by its modesty But we suppose,
that we must now acknowledge that we stand
corrected
We must observe, en- passant, that we do
not condemn Mr.. Davis for an honest adherence
to the principles which he deems corrective
design to make no severity of comment on any
train of argument by which he endeavors to
sustain the correctness Of those principles, We
make no remark whatever on his obstinate at
tachment to any incorporated bank, though he
must be aware that such an institution has been
more than once disapproved by the popular
voice. We do not venture to remind him that
the passage Of his favorite bank bill through all
the legislative branches is impossible. We do
not call his attention to the fact, that perverse
attachment to dogma, and the determination
to reject every system that is not in perfect uni
son through all the details with the one to which
he is attached, is unworthy of the patriot and
the statesman. We do not tell him that it is
his duty, when his own favorte scheme cannot
be adopted, oyeld his prepossessions for the
good of his country, and in the spirit of compro-
mise to take such plan as shows a probability
of effectng the most of those objects which he
thinks ought to be fulf led but we condemn
him for making a state paper the vehicle of in
sidious charges against the Administration, in
stead of giving it the character it ought to bear
"a manly exposition of his own views on
finance.
The whole report shows the impress of VIC
lent and reckless partsanshp. 1t differs in cha
racter very remarkably from that of the majority
Of the Committee. Whatever errors of doc.
trine, or falacy of reasoning, ingenuity may de-
tect or dissent may think it can discover in the
latter, those the most irreconcilably opposed to
eprnciples 1t lncucates, will at least ack now.
ledge that it is characterised by liberal views
and patriotic spirit. So much cannot be said
Of the state paper Of Mr.. Davis. Its intent can
not be mistaken. Its whole purport appears tc
be, not to disprove, by fair train of argument
what are sound principles Of currency, but wha
inconsistencies he conceives to exist between
the details ofthe bill and opinions expressed a
different periods by the Secretary of State.
PARTIES IN THE HousE.-Haid as the times are, gu
rsbles are excited occasionally by the humor OF thu
Baltimore Suns letter writer Here is specimen
This afternoon in the House, during debate on
point of order Mr., Pope said, such was the state o
matters now that he could tell his friends from hi
enemies. The fact Is, said he, we are all hoch
Po'ch;" Mr. P. can far into milestone as mos
people This state of parties in the House remind
me OF case where a number Of men accidentally tum
wed into heap, SO that their limbs got mixed.
quarrel arose the identity of a certain leg whe
Cne OF me dlspuants said, I'll swear its my leg for
van 'ellh by the patch on the knee