The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-18
all the operations Of Government, betray a spirit
of petulant self-denal. the counterfeit Of self

govern ent n member OF TINS committee Inprecaes
Executive condensation by putting the whole conn
try stripped and scourged, the of trial. who
can longest bear the agonles OF destituion-thus poi
soning the very wells of public sentiment arousing
ruthless revolutionary counteracon, 1.-THE people are
not wiser than some of their Representatives. Party
element and help OF patriotism, may be proslituled
TO anarchical dissension. The undersigned trust
that revolutionary views not common III Congress
feel sure that they not accel table TO The
people.
Ii is not for this protest to explain or enforce the
Ell ecutve objectous. Letting them speak for them
selves vndicaie rights and deprecale
wrongs by Congress. Without directing to any cel-
measure deemed proper by the frustrated ma
jorlty-any appeal 10 the people-we should spare
hen this protest, but for the character temper and
tendency OF the counteracton Inflicted, hur1u
ly on the Chief Magistrate as on republican insu-
tons. The present proceeding with all It's angry an
tecedens and violent results, 10 without example,
without warrant, and of evil example.
The deplorable condition of the Treasury Of the
United States notorious not only Without money,
but, has been said without law for raising it, The
Presidents exposure of this penury is Illuminating
truth, which unrelenting opposition wrings from him,
TO justify the repeated mscalled veloe|, also wrung
from him by the same pertinacious opposition A
complicated scheme Of IN many PARTICULARS high pres
SUE impos calculated to revive appeased dissension
and perpetuate indispensable discomfort forced through
Congress by memorable legislation, carried by majo
rty of vote if all had been present. of but four
1t was is returned by the President with objections,
for reconsideration The House of Represe itative
which ought to be thankful for the opportunity of it,
urns upon him with indignant Pronunciation he Is
threatened, and only threatened, with lmpeachme nt
and by false analogy to The memorable affair Of Eng
lish ship money, Is told, contrary to the genius and
the letter of our mild laws that his head ought t. be
b ought to the block. Discord proclaimed as the
order OF the day. Cancellation is said be disgrace
tu, and concession out OF the question The under
signed taer themselves that these arebut hasty ebu
iions through the safety valves of free Government
w hen appeal to battle Is menaced cannot believe
that the battle of bloodshed OF civil contempa-
ted but presu.ne nothIug worse than conflict by the
ballot box, not the cartridge box. The columns OF
this Capitol and of The pubic press ALBUMS magazines,
and various other repositories of the ardent tempera
ment which betray. itself In such appeals, may
cuse the suggestion that, possibly, they intended
neither for the cartridge Gox the ballot box but
mere for the band box. DuIing the nearly twelve
months Of rksoms and lnglorous sstOn of this Con-
gress, the great annoyance of the community, APP
peals to pas sion have been much more com than
TO By the eminent mover of this committee,
of the great subjects of deiberaion have hardly
been spoken of-banks, ex, hequer finance, bank
ruptcy, tariff-upon any and all OF which his wisdom
and experience might have afforded edifying discourse
cs, while all the minor topics of personal, party, and
especially Presidential exasperaiion have failed
to be vexed with mpacable and interchangeable agta-
ton.
Ii has been said in the course of indignant ha-
to raise it and that the Chief Magistrate like pro-
higate King of Great Britain, collects revenue with
out law. Party wish did perhaps beget mistaken inn
preston to that effect to which professional
opinion gave color But mature consider alton, and
the true philosophy of interpretation satisfy the I'M
dersgned and they believe the most distinguished ju-
rists of the country that is untounded apprehension
TO think that Congress could have intended, by
any act or OMISSION to leave Government without ali
ment for its subsistence. This important question
will be settled by the Supreme Court Of the United
States in whom the undersigned, with the great body
of the American people, without distinction of party
repose confidence. The aspersion of that tribunal
inferred from English history, is not only unjust dis
but inaccurate historical recollection.
Even the twelve Judges of England did, as has
been said unworthily submit to royal dctation, but
many of them, although their tenure of Office, sala
res, and perhaps lives depended on the Kings plea
sure, manfully resisted his rapacious will. In the
United States, the public money, which the President
is audably anxious to raise by law, through the ordi
nary means, could not be employed in his profigate
indulgences, in war other offensive application,
and we trust that the Judges of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, in no way dependent on the
Executive, whenever they come to the solemn adiu-
dcation of this vital question: will deal with it they
did at their late session with another which, proba
bly,, provoked the unjust mputation on their recti-
undertaking this question of impost, they did
that OF slavery, with integrity and independence.
The undersigned hope they will come to the conclu-
sion which all lovers of their country must DESIRE
that instead of deserving capital punishment, the
President is entitled to the thanks OF dspassonate
for anxiously enforcing the law concerning imposts.
Nor will we omit this occasion, while indicating
that Court, for expressing grateful Acknowledgements
to it. for having contrary to many prepossessons, by
Independent judgment, sustained the most delicate
provisions of Union against the clamors and pre-
JUDGES OF negrophilism. Finally, the undersigned
assured, that whatever the Court does they will
moi leave, as has been strangely imagined they must,
the determination of this great question Of law to the
arbitrament of juries. There is hardly Juror In
the country who does not know that property liberty
and order, are best preserved by maintaining that
venerable jurisprudence which, in civil cases, leaves
uries only questions of fact, and refers to Judges
questions of law. The undersigned have fear of
the Judiciary. They dread no veto dictation from
a President They are not alarmed by crises of par
ty. American republican annals continued Sc
ries of formidable conunctures without detrment to
the republic, antagonism without commotion, State
and individual conflicts without civil any I'M
wholesome catastrophe. The charitable ballot-box is
always at hand with inestimabe relief, to vent all
passions We are happy to find that a portentous
committee, the offspring of Indignation, proposes
fatal act, but its proceedings will go out in harmless
explosion. Eloquent invective, angry denunciation,
philippcs of speech and print, nhict fatal blows
on the solid bulwarks of this great empire, which ad
steadily in greatness, increasing in population,
production and power, rejoicing in peace and plenty,
while antagonist parties and ambitious individuals,
struggle for its honors with fierce but harmless re-
elimination. Republican government would else be
bere of its rational attractions and manly support
the noble excitements Of free press, free Speech
and universal suffrage, admirable substitutes for the
stagnant tranquility frivolous recreations and dread
full energy of despotsm Let the battlements of this
Capitol continue to rock with sautary agitation Our
reliance is in the majestic strength and serenity of
sovereign people.
The undersigned cannot believe that Congress will
ad journ without enacting law for revenue. They
will not afford the President great triumph. The
public distemper is easily remediable, that those
in power never can answer to the community for
longer failing to apply the remedy. The minority is
not responsible, the President, even the SEN
ha IF lie eli lv