The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-11
Representdtiues.


boosted so extensively at the commencement of the
extra session, and place the same number upon our
side of the House, and how will the matter stand
Gentlemen can figure it ont as well as myself. But
they will find that ifthey will make these changes,
and add TO our number the Democratic members
who have been elected in the State since the COM
ncncement of that session the Democracy ofthe nu-
ton should now have upon this floor, according to
the recent elections, majority Of thirty five. And,
sir, if we apply the same rule 10 the Senate and
take the twelve from the Wing side, in those States
where the popular voice has declared against
them, and place them upon the Democratic side,
instead of the Federal party having majority Of
seven in that body, the Democratic party would
hayes sixteen, Do gentlemen object 10 this rend-
ton of the account current? Will It deiace the
fair page of that new set OF books Of which we
heard so much from the present Secretary ofState,
while a member of the Senate, and which were to
be opened at the commencement Of Wing domn-
ion Sir,l desire not to taunt gentlemen with their
present position in the country. desire not TO i'll
ilict any new wounds-but, il an excuse were nee
essary for the exposition which | have made, il
could easily be found in the overbearing, Wanting
manner, and the tauning epthets which the De-
mocracy OF this House and the country were COM
PEELED 10 submit to, after their defeat in the Presi-
dental campaign. How often we're we arrOgany
told at the extra session, of the nineteen States that
had declered against us Nineiecn States" was
again and again reiterated Till every possible change
was rung upon the words. | will not go through
with the history of contumey and abuse that the
Democracy had to encoun,er-but no one can for
get the graphic picture that was denated BY the
great head of the Wing party [Mr Clay] near the
commencement Of the extra session, when he rep
resented the Democracy MS a condemned criminal,
placed in the cart, with the rope around his neck,
the coffin by his side, and the eecutioner ready to
do his office.
But, sir, gentlemen seem disposed to console
themselves under the defeat, with the reflection
that it was not the measures the extra session that
brought upon them the disasters which they have
encountered ! grant, sir, that il was moi those
measures solely that caused their overthrow; but
to certain extent it undoubtedly was The man
ncr in which the Wing party came into power is
now matter of history. No sooner was their can.
didae put in nomination for the hsh Office of Chief
Executive of This grcnt and free people Than nro
mitigation was made nv n "commiItee," thai no
declaration of nrnciples was TO be made for the
public eve. and that the pcone must yo,. for their
candidates with something " akin TO uenerous con-
fdence," In accordance with that determination.
different issues were made and di6eren, arguments
urged in the various attitudes. according io the
peculiar feelings and views of the people in the
different section, Of the countrv. While in on-
State hiuh protectiye tariff was urced nc rcsnl,
sure to follow from the oyer,hrow or The Oemo.
cratic por,y: in nno,ber. nreciselv tho onnos;,o
ground was taken, and a low tariff promised to
the people. While some proressed themselves the
! firm riends and advocates ora National Bank
others with equal zeal con,eDded against it. While
Abolition was preached at the North. aud the
Wings declared to be the friends, mar excellence
of the Abolition movements, and the Democrats
denounced as pro slavery, and oppressive; at the
South an entirely different course was taken, and
General Harrison was proved TO be the special
, friend Of the South Federalism was the theme
in some sections, and Democracy in other, while
" extravaganza" Z" log cabins and hard cider :"
were preached and praciised by ALL In every dir
eclion WINS the politician with trumpet tongue, >
blowing the blasts Of "ex,rayurance. y" reform, /"
and "better times" while the cxauist dandy and
The aristocratic gentlemen were walking arm in
arm with those, (who to touch on mos, occasions,
would be vile pollution following in the wake of
some moving log cabin, amid dust and dirt, and
shaking the thirs, with hard cider; and the teeto-
taller, Welding to the pressing necessity for re-
form in our national councils, Joins also in the hur-
ruh, and vets his parchinr Iips with some of the
cheering beverage am recountins no tale of
fiction, sir. | am recilng the simple history orthe
times; when no Wing gentleman considered him
self properly adorned with the ensigns of his party.
unless he carried cane with n miniature hard
cider barrel for its head, or an umbrella similarly
adorned-when no paper was fit TO be written up
on, unless it had the impress of log cabin ut the
head of the sheet. You, Mr. Speaker, will recol-
lect the disgusting spcctlcas which were exhibited
in the main streets in this city. No person could
20 from this Capitol othe Presidents House with.
out having his ewes greeted with at at leust two lor
cabins with all the splendid decorations of coon
skins, bear traps, broken bush hooks, old saddles
with one stirrup, and divers other emblems so dear
" loved, and so warmly cherished by the Bank
aris,ocracy and city Whigery. But, sir, will 70
no further at present with the means which were
used to resuscate raise to yiror, and bring into
mower the old Federal party. Sir, YOU trumphed
On the i,h of March ls4l, YOU assumed the reiuns
of Go .ernment and went on in full tide of success
Gul experiment. On the I7,h of the same month.
before fifteen short DAYS had elapsed without uny
specifically assigned reason, and contrary to The
undoubled CONCENTRATIONS r,he Constitution .your
extra session is called. This. sir. was the tirsi oc,