The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-21

eminent, honest men are often mistaken; and
there is perhaps no better evidence of true great
ness than readiness to change even these,
when the judgment becomes perfectly satisfied
that false ones have long been valued as true:
Opinions-they still take wider range
Find, if you can, in what you cannot change.
THE WINGS AND THE CURRENCY.
The restoration of the currency through the
Intervention OF the General Government has
always been cardinal principle with those who,
under the Harrison flag, contended against the
misrule of the late Administration. Such be-
ing the case, why is it that some plan of admir-
nstering the fiscal concerns of the country is
not devised? The Exchequer scheme has been
before Congress for more than four months, and
yet nothing has been done, pro or con. If the
system recommended by the Secretary of the
Treasury be not in the opinion OF Congress, the
proper thing, in the name of common sense, let
that body agree upon something that is better,
and can receive the sanction of the Executive.
We have all along heard of the dreadful state
Of exchanges and the calamities to which it
" in both branches of the National Legisla-
ture, but without any thing defntive being
done to cure the evil. Can it be that certain
gentlemen, whose influence is al-powerful, are
determined to keep the currency question un-
settled, that they may use it as political instru-
ment for the attainment of their own ends2 Is
the country to be brought still lower and lower
until at length, like criminals on the rack, they
will be ready to accept of a Bank as the only al
tentative to prevent financial dissolution? The
suspicion is harsh one, perhaps, but it would
seem not to be without foundation, when we
look at the course pursued in Congress.
How does the matter stand2 The Wings
have confessedly well aScertained majority,
and can do what they please SO far as Congress
is concerned. They know the points on which
the President entertains scruples, and, whether
those scruples be well founded or not, they
should be satisfied that as they arise from the
construction which he puts on the Constitution
with reference to State sovereignties, they are
likely to continue. 1t may be urged that the
opinion of one man should not be suffered to
control those of two hundred. This may be all
very true, and were the question one of mere
expedienc there would be, apart from the pow
er conferred on the President by the Constu-
tion,;n proprety in his individual opinion over
balancing so many; but unluckily for their argu-
ment, the state of the case is entirely different,
and we have point of conscientious conviction
on the part of the President to get rid Of Let
us, however, admit that the Executive may be
wrong as regards the Banks the country to
continue to suffer rather than Congress shall
adopt any other expedient How far is it COM
petent and right for Congress to say we cannot
| have our own way, and therefore we will not
take any other, let the nation suffer as 1t Wilt
Two wrongs never yet made Alright, and however
the President may be in error, the legislative bo-
dy ought not to permit itself to become accessa-
nv to an injury inflicted on the constituency
which it represents 1t would seem to us thai
the readiest way on the part of Congress te
prove that the President has laid himself
open to censure, would be to relieve the
People to the utmost of its power, ant
leave them to judge in the premises
If, however, it be the determination Of certain
politicians to charter bank at all hazards, ant
TO make every other consideration yield to tina
object, the sooner the thing is known the better
and we will answer for it that they will get
lesson from their constituents which they will
never forget. One would think that late cleo
tions might have thrown some light on thi
matter. Why is it that the friends Of the lat
| administration have carried all before them p
have they gained additional strength, and i
their number increased? Not at all. II Their
be change in their aggregate vote, 1t is for thu
worse, and yet they are victorious, because tn
Wings are dissatisfied and divided. Men will
not go to the polls when they see their wishe
frustrated and receive stone when they expec
| to get bread. Should things go as they hav
done, and as, in all probability, they will g.