The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-23
From he Boston Mercantile Journal
CONGRESS AND THE PEOPLE.


We are again and again asked the question, on
whose head rests the responsibility Of the present as
organized state of Congress- Ito whom are the cou
Try look for remedy what shall the people =,
this nation do, while from every section OF our alu
are ascending the cries and complaints OF the many
individuals who have fallen, are aling benean NV
weight of their burdens We ask, then, IN the NAME
ofthe outraged dignity of American character, ~
graded and debased by their chosen representative
the Capitol, by brawls, threats, and lahguage, WI
would disgrace bar-room congreg a''on J
them, in the name of whole nation oi sunei9's, 49, T.;
sufferers too, from the or s. negligence a'u ,he wei
Congress- neglect of their oaths and Tie pun. ~
fare and then factous opposition TO any neu9" IL
relief cominr from ajcertain quariei-"e "sN $50"
the representatires Of the people, where he -
btity should rest and TO whoui 'he poP ~ ones,;on
G,r relief2 And while we ask them TINS quesuooi,
vh;l we would have every man answer u as oes' ns
own conscience may dictate, we have worn 70 say Us
10 the Ipht in hch the people are looSihg !" 'n'
matter and we assure them that sooner VI a'ei Va.
voice of their indignation will make itself heard Lei
tl,m beware lest they trihe with the patience OF the
We can give an ex PLANTATION, and, we believe, true
one OF these apparently inexplcable proceedings OF
Congress- in a few words. They originated IN feel
ing Of hostility to the dent the first seeds fwheh
were sown at the extra session. by The vetoes oil the
President to the bills to establish National Bank
These vetoes, is well known, excited the ndgna-
ton of many of the Wing members OF Congress, as
Executive, u, the close OF the session. This denunc'
alton was required, or approved, or confirmed
by the voice of the people. Their representatives,
acting under the influence Of passion, rashly TOOK
step, which their cooler judgment would have taught
them To have Stunned. But having taken TINS step,
they could not fall back and it is to be regretted
that they felt compelled to 90 ward right or wrong
Congress met at The regular session, and the mem
bers have shown determination to cherish the same
feelings of indignation and dlstrust whch tney -
r.. ~ mid
duct thus far through the session, appears TO have
been wholly governed by those feelings Nearly eve
nv measure has been linged with this spirit ana IN
stead Of inquirng whether any proposed measure was
for the public benefit the first inquiry has been by the
most factiuus of our own party, Will aid in max
inc Mr. TYLER popular Z" and by the regular opposl-
ton Will this tend to distract the Wing party, and
widen the breach between the two parts OF the same
paIty?p Look at neAry every movement SINCE tue
opening of the pr, session. and especially during
the past month"; and all will be found to have the same
character. And now while our strongest mercantile
houses are daily yielding to the pressure OF the times
while the whole people are exasperated almost beyond
endurance, and Congress has become u by-word OF
contempt throughout the whole land, these ioise Re
personalities () of the dear, sovereign people, are
spending TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS
4 DAY-and some days, we believe, have actually ell
fected the glorious patriotic work OF cutting Oh nun
dred dollars year from the 800, $500 or $500 saa-
nv of clerk or doorkeeper, who has wife and halt
dozen children to support out of his already stin'ed
earnings. Or perhaps, some OF the most morough
among the members have SO arranged matters, that
Mr. Webster or Mr.. Forward shall not have ,theiI
aContnrent" until they have satisfied the House
that the two evys paid neg boy for sweeping the
dirt from the sidewalk opposite the Department build.
ings, was the smallest possible sum for which 1t could
have been performed!
But away with this trfng. We tell the represen-
,aves of the people that they must do something for
the pood of the PEOPLE They must do something
for the deranged currency; we care not In what
shape it comes, SO it be Tor good; and any system
which will bring relief even il il should meet NE ia
Qfths President, should be opted ny me REPRE-
sen,atives of the People in Congress. We believe
we speak the voice Of the Wing party generally,
when we ca on our Representatives to bring forward
and pass the Exchequer bill as proposed by Mr. Cush
ing, or that proposed by Mr.. Tallmadge, with such
amendments AS may be thought desirable, provided
thew do not affect the important principles OF the bill
We believe but echo the demand OF millions,
when we say-Do this NOW. DO something while
particle remains of our prosperity We call on them,
in the name of an outraged and deceived People,
to cease this merely tactous opposition TO every
measure known to be favored by the Executive, and
to do more for the People, and less Tor the sake
of policy prejudice, or President.mak'ng. we
call on them to break off this habit OF wrangling
and quarreng for rities and do some 'oorS Tor the
nation Let them establish currency by an Exche-
ouer or any medium which will receive the approval
- tho President. Lot thom, by promptly enaotag
laws TO raise of twenty-sx millions by dis-
criminang duties give protection to our home indus
Try, and place the Treasury on stable footing Let
them try 10 change the House from for party
politics and factious harangues into place where
our Representatives may meet to consult together for
the good of THE PEOPLE.
And we believe also that the people have duty to
perform, in order induce this Congress to change
their course and be faithful to their duties This, in
our opinion and also speak the opinion of many
of our soundest men, best be done by their united
voice in PUBLIC CAUCUS which shall bring together
large mass of the people enforce the consideration
of these subjects and by being echoed from every
town and village land where present diff
cutes felt, (and where they not felt with all
their force of distress and arrangement y shall unit
edy send such peal Of public opinion into eur halls
of legislation as shall awaken from their apathy even
the most h. rdened wrangers among them