The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-18
KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE.
SECOND SPEECH


ROBERT WICKLIFFE, ia,
on The Teto Porer, delivered in Committee 81
The Whole of the House Of Representatives
January, 1912.
Continued
Mr. Chairman: OF all the baeiul effects Of the
Veto power none seems 10 have struck the imagins-
,on ~ the gentleman with greater than he hu
initiation OF the National legislature, which It has
produced Whose cheek, he excaims, did not Jingle
with shame when they saw the hopes and inteIes Ut
a great people crushed the voice OF their repre- 'enla
tives suppressed, and answering President pre-
suming TO that ii he had been called upon he
could have furnished the p an of a National Bank
Unfortunately, the Consti ulon requires that the tx
ecutiye SHALL recommend to Congress such measures
he may deem necessary Tor the national welfare
Did the gentleman's cheek Jungle with shame when,
at the late extra session he the Senate oil the Un-
ted States call upon the Secretary OF the treasury o
his plan Of National Bankl Does he remember
upon whose motion that call was made commend
hun To his prudence. If Mr.. Buchanan or MT Ben
ton had prop lsed these amendments would the us
tlnpushed member have stood forward their champion
on This floor 2 Would not those doctrines which are
now proclaimed as Wing, have been denounced as
Democratic When however, the gentleman hu
cues the idea that the abrogation OF the Veto power
would be dangerous TO the rights and Interests Of the
Souher Stales he suffers himself TO be carried be-
yond bounds by the spirit of party. When that ca
Iaslrophe which such fatal step VIII inevitably pro-
duce shall at lat take place when, by the desruc-
lion of oil political checks and constitutional BARRIERS,
the different sections OF the mon shall be arrayed IN
deadly host lily ains each olhe and the of lib
erty shall set in eternal darkness, the member VIII be
reused from his ethargc sumber and perceive the Ia
taluaon under which he has labored bis heart Will
be filed with torture the calarities and ruins which
he has contributed 10 produce. He will regret The
paucida blow which he has aimed al the institutions
Of his fathers and will perceive, too late the wisdom
hr has been unable TO comprehend and SIGH tor the
protection OF the ,dfce he has been too eager to de-
molisb Like Marus amidst the runs OF Carthage
he will mourn over the broken fragments OF now
peri hing once glorious, but tor men like him. nmor-
tai Constitution
Mr. Chairman: Amidst the eulogies which the
member from Louisville pronounced upon ihe old
Cabinet regret that he should have deemed it ne
cessary TO disparage the patriotism and abilities of
the official advisers of the pres mt Administration. II
| may be permitted to except one oi the mem
beers of that Cabinet, Of whom delicacy iorb DIS
me to speak, confidently assert that IL Is the
ablest Cabinet which any President has sum
moned around him since the days Of Washing
ton. The annual reports of these officers at the
commencement Of the present session OF Congress,
are the most luminous and profound documents that
adorn the political history OF the nation' has not
the NAVY gained new strength and derived fresh lus-
ire from the presiding genius and patriotic govern
ment of Upshr' After reading the report on the Ex-
chcquer BILL who needs any addltlonal evidence OF
the extended learning and profound abilities OF For
ward Who does not know that the name OF SPen-
Ger is synonyme for ndomitable industry and match
less perseverance 7, And what forum would not be
adorned by the classic glowing, and splendid eo-
auence of Legarei He however, who stands at The
head of this Cabinet the object OF the bitter ST de-
n,nciation and abuse by the member from Louisville
and his political associates At period when this
country was threatened with war by the most power
full kingdom in Europe-when whole nation de-
manded his experience and abilities at the helm Of
affairs, he preferred the calls OF his country TO those
of faction, and for this he is raduced When the
Wing party was threatened with dissolution, and
Wing Congress declared open war against Wing
President he exerted himself by night and by day
TO procure reconciliation and to unite even the
most discordant elements for the general good and
this is the sin for which he can never be forgiven.
When high public functionares degraded themselves
in the eyes Of all honorable by the PRONUNCIATION
OF Cabinet secrets and unmeasured abuse of Chief
Magistrate to whose misplaced confidence they were
indebted for their continuance in Office, the Secretary
N the ewes of those who condemned his .o,,r,. 90
M;a;ster Does the member from Louisville Pefcsi,e
~ -:a-.isus attitude in which he stands! Does ne
not tho fi, 1.f attrihntnQ merrfnary motives to
q distinguished gentleman, who IN single argument
before the Supr, me Court has received larger sum
than he will in the whole course of his life, be able
to make at the Louisville bar When compare the
lavish praise that was formerly bestowed with the
low abuse that is heaped by the men upon
this distinguished officer perceive too plainly that
a change has come over the spirit OF their dreams
Even the member from Woodford (Mr kinkead)
has printed speech which he never delivered, and
disappointing those who expected from him greater
discretion has Joined in the general hue. This
combined assault upon the fame of a statesman
whose genius the pride, and whose equence is the
ornament of our common country will rec, il upon
those who have been engaged in the unholy crusade
His renown is reared upon the broad basis of the
Constitution and well may the statue he proud of the
pedestal and the pedestal proud of the statue. When
the member from Louisville shall have mingled his
dust with that Of his forgotten ancestors, and with
all those who have joined him in this debate shall have
sunk into that oblivion from which not malice |
and detracton will enable them to escape, the name |
Of Daniel Webster will grow brighter and brig liter
with each revolving sun, and that career which was
guided by the spirit of our immortal fathers, will be
crowned with the de 4thless applause of grateful and
admiring posterity. The same che in the temple of
fame which contains the names of Washingon Ha |
milton, and Marshall, will be inscribed with that of
Webster and hand in hand will go down to the latest
poserity the memory OF the father the advocate the
G FOUNDER and the defender of the Constitution
Mr.. Chairman 1t will afford amusement to the |
to compare the different authorities quoted by
gentlemen in support of the new doctrines which they
have espoused know not whether they lay greater
'tress upon the Hanover speech, and proposed amend
nens Of the Senator from Kentucky or the messages
and opinions OF the late President Jackson. Here
,r, is a new page in political history. The eop-
.rd has changed his spots, and the lamb lies down
With the lion. After gentlemen have batted for
weve long years against the doctrines Of Jackson's
after they have for nearly quarter of
century denounced him military usurper, and
lis party Of designing knaves, how comes
they have encamped upon the ground which was
ormery occupied by their political enemies In the
treat campaign in which they will shortly engage,
lew principles will be adopted and new recruits
eceived into the ranks. The army will not con-
list of veteran warriors and their legitimate de-
pendants, but of spurious of mingled com
,exion and origin. And to prodigies that we read Of
n ancient mythology, our own country will give birth
o whole race-lhai OF Jackson Wigs and Clay
Mr.. Chairman: The first argument advanced by
he Senator from Kentucky & Mr.. Clay).in favor Of
he abrogation of the Veto power, il, that the Exc
uve has attacked the treaty making power. He
contends that according to fair construction of the
Constitution, the Senate ought to be consulted in the