Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-30

O1ngfess, and rtheciirs m very injurious manner
uf on the motives which govern us IL may be worih
our while attend little to this; aud brief exam
inition Of what passed the occasion TO which
aliudc may not be without its before the coun.
try. IL may give Us the ability Of idenuhing oPe
rauons and sentiments OF certain gentlemen thu
hoor with movements elsewhere, and which. as they
go to stamp deeply on the public mind and feelings
sentiment OF dsltust and contempt for the Con-
gross OF the United States, it may become us to
repsl and disprove, come they from what quarter
| they may.
| hold in my hand report OF the proceedings Of
a great popular meeting held in New York, the
commercial emporium Of this Countrywide great
and populous, the wealthy and powerful centre OF
IT'S trade, and, Ms suppose, Of political influences
also Let me refer this House to an expression Of
opinion there given to duty as legislators,
eomrnred with our legislative action during the pre-
| sent session.
MIR III. here quoted pretty extensively from a
New York paper containing very full report OF
the speeches delivered at late political meeting in
that city. One of the speeches, after expressing
confidence in the political honesty Of President
Tyler, IN refnsin: measures proposed to him by
congress, concluded by quoting, IN the way OF
consolation, an old proverb which declares that
"bsggafs most MT be choosers."l
Now here (said Mr. NJ it's attempted TO make
us believe that the sentiment prevails without this
House that the Congress of the United States is
bound by its obligations to the Constitution and
the country TO postpone, 10 set aside, TO lay down
aud surrender all their own peculiar opinions, II
they chance TO have any, at the foot OF the EXecu
tive power, and TO CT, dry bread ('housh the Pre-
sidcnt has butter enough) If he will he pleased
10 grease either the sds the other; and this
ath ugh, according TO the speakers own express
admission, the President is IN tho wrong and we
arc a, the same time charged with legisat;nc from
personal prejudice, and without a due regard to the
duties and powers prescribed to us by the Con,,i-
luton.
Now, in regard to this particular MEASURE of the
'usn ball, the chairman 81 the Committee OF Ways
- I'll 4
count OF the successive steps taken l'y that com
niiitss in prerarns, Introducing, and urging il for
ward in the House-o its origin with the Treasu-
~ Department-Df the e,cer haste OF the commit
tee TO expedite its progrcs., and OF the manner in
which the peculiar TRENDS and organs 90 The Exc
cu;ive hung themselves Ike nllstones 10 impede Us
PROCESS; how thew have thrown every conceivsh r
lmpedment which ingenuity and long experience
IN the tactics OF legislation could suggest that it Is
needless for me 10 follow HIM. But, row, this sans
| gentle man turns uDon and says tina, the mes
sure reported as an sm-nin,ent Nv the committee,
| allow, the sale of The Government bonds II ns-
ecssary, below par, has beer introduced from the
peculiar hostility ut the CONN ittee The President
and HIS Accumulation; ard ~ denunciation Of the
action o. the committee, ~ al eccneBt leal.ns.
and peculiar friend OF the President Is 10 be con-
neced with other political movements out Of doors;
and ali our eager efforts 10 comply with the wishes
OF the Treasury Department, and furnish i, yruh
speedy relief in Us difficulties are rs, 10 be check
cd and mpejed wi;hia this House. and then TO be
charged, without The blouse, 10 a hNcd and tcsdly
hostility 10 the President Of the United States
The argument by which this charge il sustained
u as curious as the charge tSef. The committee
and ITS Chairman, 1t seems well knew that The nlea.
sure proposed was vile, dishoncrab.a dscraccful
measures and, as it came from the Treasury n.
partmeni, they brought il forward in the committee,
IN order TO expose ami disgrace the President throus
his Secretary Of tie Treasury. They made 4
parade OF the measure instead OF hiding from, the
publ eve because they believed j; ssraeeful 10
A-,aV.T eH-. =. ~
mcnt, as made and published The Secretary of
the Treasury. made j proposition which was dis
graceful to him and TO the President The Com
miiiee OF Ways and Mesns did not suppress It, but
reported an amendment proposing that measure in
COMMITTEE of the Whole. And this IS an act OF per-
sonal hostility TO the PRESIDENT md it shows ha,
the legislation Of majority here is based upon such
hostility
To evade The nb.urdty Of this. sunpose dis
tnction will he made between the President and
his Secretary Of the Treasury. IL viii he said that
the Secretary Of the Treasury and the Committee
of Ways and Means alone are responsible and not
the President. And have VIC come 20 ihisl Is this
the theory of our Government Is this to be our
practice under the Constitution Why, Thought
n h. been settled after solemn and profound arsu
ment by sol and profound men, that the President
possesses the power of removal from Office for the
very reason that he is and must be responsible for
the conduct oil his officer; and that this would be
very hard II he had not the power to remove then,
hold It now 10 be part OF the Constitution tha,
the President is resi- onsibls Tor all the recommenda
tons OF his Cabinet. Has rot our action here been
based on that assumption Is this the frs. time
that President OF the United ates has been he d
responsible for the official recommendations Of his
heads of Departmeni-ihe immediate members Of
his own Cabinet7 Yet now it seems, we NAV r,
IN our capacity Of legislators on the Recommendations
OF these ofhcers, snpposIng them TO he the recon.
menda.ons of the Executive md vet afterwards the
President veto bill and dsavow IN justification
The official acts Of his own oiiceri
For one, ! deny here IN my place, ard refer 20
oil my past history 10 sustain me in the assertion
that do not act here or elsewhere the peculiar
enemy OF the President OF the United States: nor
Will ! admit th.t have been warped in my oDi.
mons, or in 10Y official course, by peculiar hostility
TO any man. As an American gentleman. have =
perfect right to speak Of all men as on nv private
and personal responsibility. may choose 10 sneak
may have man TO quarrel with, and 10 hate i'll
p ease; bu. never shall private quarrel or love or
hatred oi any man, great or small nor the thirst Of
personal vengeance, nor the desire 10 bias, and
thWart he personal ambition OF any. event Of the
tailcs and most gifted OF those who figure on this
floor, be found capable OF sverving my course or
warplng my judgment TO the great Interests OF
my country, or Of changing the eternal prnepes Of
truth and Justice, as have heretofore held and de-
ared truth and justice 10 te. For one, in discuss
ing tins SUBJECT here expressly disclain all des-n
"pecusr' or common 70 irJIre the President OF the
United States. But when vlndcating the action Of
Co1gress-not because Congress needs any vindi.
ca'ion OF mine but because, m al general censures
on us course, ] am myself mpicaied-I choose 70
infer That the President saw and understood what
was doing Have shown eny disnosri,n IN
lrgis'ato against the President oflhe United S ates
What has been our course IN regard 10 measures
touching which il has beer coniectured that there
viii be disagreement in judgment between this
/ House and the EIecutive7 What did Congress do
at the Extra Session. after having agreed upon and
submitted to the President what this sneaker In the
! meeting al New York calls "the peculiar WHO
measure" and after that measure had Nv him been
vetoed Did they break up 10 wrath7 Did thev
reVoltl Did they raise the cry through the coun.
| try OF Executive tyranny Ard did they throw
on The President the responsibility Of defeating the
great Wing measure No.
| At this stage Of Mr. Ms remarks, n1es,sg. WAC
received from the President Of the United States
which was read
! Mr. MARSHALL resumed. When 7 SAL down
! had been endelvofing TO explain the difficulty
experienced by this House IN ascertaining VIM, ~
| Executive opinions really were. Ind spoken or
the veto message, ard OF the endeavor 10 arcerta
| what form Of bill would meet the wishes Of The
! President. We thought thnt through the msnbe,s
OF ms Cabinet sc had 70 leheth scorersI what L
was hat would meet his views; bot Oh e opipons Of
tic Cabinet have since been rcpudatrd and the,
statements con'radc'ed by the friends Of the Presi
dent And as to that subject M what attitude do
we now siandl The Executive has been called
upon Tor the plan OF such fiscal agent Of the Go.
vernmcnt as would meet his views Of e1pedienev
and consulutionalty. II Secre'nr has made ~
o report; that report hiss been submitted 10 select
committee composed Of the peculiar friends Of the
President, and they have reported 70 us a measure