The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-27

other OF the parties IN congress, and probably with
that which al the time has the majority. Thus Con
gress will in fact govern the country, by union Of
the Legislative and Executive powers. The system
which was tried under the Confederation and was
universally condemned, will be revived, and like
powers will be exercised BY Congress in a form the
more dangerous because IT will he indirect and IT.
responsible am sure need not pursue the cousld-
eratons which this topic suggests Disorder and
archy must follow the destruction oil any one Of the
important balances and checks of the Constitution
And would avoid the horrors which have else
where attended the abolition of the Executive pow
er, endeayor TO preserve II here, in the last
citadel Of freedom.
Such were the difficulties Of rs position when the
President assumed the administration of the Gov
eminent. Reared at the feet Of Jefferson and of
Madison in the strctest principles of the Republican
faith, those principles had become portion of him.
self, and he could more depart from them than he
could sever himself from his moral nature.
When selected as candidate by the party that
elected him, other pledge expected or asked
than such his whole public life afforded The
party composed Of men of various creeds on
many points, but those possessing the Republican
ism Of Jefferson are believed to have constituted
very considerable portion, If not majority. When
therefore, he met the representatives of this party m
Congress, he had right to suppose that an admins
tration conducted upon his well known principles,
would at least receive fair and just, II not ardent
support He called on 10 bring those prin'
cples into action. Among them, and of the
most cherished, was denial of the constitutional
power of Congress to incorporate National Bank.
He admitted its authority, a local Legislature TO
establish bank in the District OF Columbia, and he
conceded that such bank would possess the same
thorsty to send agencies and branches into the
States which the Supreme Court had decided apper-
tanned to a State institution-tha is, with the assent
express implied, of those States. This view was
distinctly presented in the bill submitted by the then
Secretary Of the Treasury Mr.. Ewing at the request
Of the Senate maintained by the President in all
bis communications, and particularly and specially
noted by him on an amendment to bill submitted to
his consideration by member of Congress during
the discussion of the matter
| do not deem the occasion fit one TO enter into
examination of the various statements and con-
troverses that have arisen this subject. The
foregoing explanation of the immediate occasion OF
the open outbreak which ensued between the Presi-
dent and the greater portion of the representatives, in
Congress Of the party that elected him, is deemed
sufficient. But should do injustice TO my own feel
ings, if did not express the deep conviction pro-
duced in my mind from thorough investigation OF
the subject, and from having become familiar with
the statements of all parties, that there was much Of
mis- AXE and misapprehenson between those who were
honestly willing to understand each other, some OF
accidental, and more of Intentional misrepresen Ia
ton of the language Of the President in the various
conversations held with him and that throughout he
manifested a sincere, hon ST. and steadiast adher-
to the great constitutional objection which he
had for years. repeatedly, in public and in private,
announced a fundamental article of his political
creed Nor can l permit myself to doubt that, If
similar frankness had been exhibited by Others, If a
spirit Of peace and harmony had prevailed, and if
small portion of the berality and orbearance for
dissenting views and opinions which the Wings
claimed the attribute Of tie party, had been
cised towards the President, the violent
have witnessed and which have scandalzed free Co
vernment, would not have occurred and the rela-
tons between the President and the representative
who had been elected on the ticket with him,
would have been such TO produce peaceful, vigo-
rous, and successful administration of the Govern
ment, and accomplish all that the interests of the
country required.
In proof Of the absence of all selfish, interested OF
ambitious motives the part Of the President in the
course which his convictions of duty prompted |
may now advert to a fact long known to me, which
has been promulgated in the newspapers of the day
youched for by at least Wing editor, stated by a
Representative in Congress from Massachusetts in
speech lately delivered at Newburyport, upon aqioy-
y, and hitherto not denied. That fact is, that pre-
vious to returning the second Bank bill to Congress
with his objections, in full view of the assaults 10 be
made upon him, and with the purpose of removing all
cause Of agitation well as TO secure himself against
unjnst uipuiations the President submitted to his
then Cabinet, whether he should in the message then
about to be transmitted to Congress, re-
solution to retire from public life at the expiration Of
the existing term and that against his dong So al
the members of the Cabinet then present prot, sted
on the ground that such annunciation would not
have the effect to produce peace quiet but would
only change the direction Of faction that no had
u
not been elected President, and obligation existed
that should interpese any barrier between him ard
direct vote of the people.
In connection and yet in contrast with the pre-
cedng, is another fact of extraordinary character
which, though known by many has lately been dis
tnctly promulgated. 1t is Swallowed in letter Of
Mr.. Ewngs IN the statement by him of proposition
having been made to the President, that the majority
who had passed the first Bank b would consent to
postpone the second to the next session Of Congress
hat he
time no hostile movement would be made on the part
of the President. The full Gaming of this statement
has now been developedby the declaration Of a mem
Der OF Congress, that message was carried from
the Wing leaders in Congress to the President TO the
effect that if he would engage not TO disturb any
members of his thee Cabinet in the enjoyment of
their Offices, the second Bank bill should be post
poned. The answer to such proposition may be
easily conceived The effect Of the proposition
to prove the identity Of the members of the Cabinet
whose places deemed in jeopardy, with the hos
tile members Of Congress, and if the design was TO
precipitatc matters, IT was most efectual
You Will require aid to determine which Of the
actors in those scenes exhibited lofty disnercscd
patriotism, and which evnced any tenacty for place
desire for power These facts full of instruc
tons, and furnish key TO many mysterious trans
actions
After the outbreak referred to, the President
modelled his Cabinet and from that time his admins
traton may be said to have commenced. 1t began
and has been continued thus far, without the support
of any party acknowledging him its political chief
or bound to him by those political associations which
under every preceding Administration had enabled the
Executive 10 look at least for favorable predspos-
tons in large portion of the members of Congress
to sustain his measures, The course of events
which deprived him Of this usual and accustomed aid
of an administration, also liberated him from those
mere party influences and party obligations which
become reciprocal from party service. He at
full liberty TO consult the interests of the whole peo-
pie of the great masses, without reference TO the ex